Who Should Become a Surrogate Mother?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between the years of 1999 and 2013, surrogate mothers accounted for 13,380 deliveries in the United States. During this 14-year period, surrogate mothers were responsible for the births of 18,400 infants, helping thousands of intended parents add to or complete their families.  If you have ever considered becoming a surrogate mother, or if you are simply curious about the surrogacy process, you might ask yourself, who are these women who are becoming surrogate mothers?

The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) notes that the most successful surrogate mothers most often meet the following criteria:

• Are less than 40 years old
• Have had at least one successful pregnancy and delivery of a live, full-term infant
• Have had no more than five prior births, including no more than three births via C-section
• Are in good physical health
• Do not use illegal drugs or abuse alcohol
• Have passed a psychological evaluation

Reasons to Choose to Become a Surrogate Mother

Women choose to become surrogate mothers for a variety of reasons. Who are surrogate mothers, typically?

Women who choose to become a surrogate mother may do so for any of the following reasons:

• A stay-at-home mom or others who are looking for extra income may decide to become a surrogate mother.
• A woman who has enjoyed pregnancy in the past, has had at least one successful pregnancy and birth, and has a desire to help intended parents create families of their own is a good candidate to become a surrogate.
• A woman who cherishes the gift of life and wants to pass that gift on to others may choose to become a surrogate mother.
• A woman who has been a surrogate mother once and has enjoyed the experience may decide to become a surrogate again to feel a part of a special community of life-givers, whether this community is comprised of other surrogate mothers or a supportive surrogacy agency such as Simple Surrogacy.

Of course, this list of reasons is far from exhaustive. There are many other explanations that surrogate mothers have offered for why they made the decision to give the gift of life to intended parents. If you choose to become a surrogate mother, you may have your own reasons for doing so which are not included here.

What Other Criteria Must One Meet Before Becoming a Surrogate Mother?

All surrogacy agencies, including Simple Surrogacy, have qualifications that potential surrogate mothers must fulfill before being accepted into the program. At Simple Surrogacy, these criteria include:

• Being a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Being between the ages of 21 to 40
• Being a non-smoker and not exposed to second-hand smoke
• Being willing to abstain from alcohol during the surrogacy process
• Not taking any illegal drugs
• Having had at least one successful full-term pregnancy and birth
• Having had uncomplicated pregnancies and births
• Having a valid driver’s license
• Having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 33 or lower
• Having a stable living situation
• Having your spouse or partner’s support
• Being willing to take all necessary medications prescribed by physicians during the surrogacy process
• Having no sexually transmitted diseases
• Having no psychiatric problems and not taking medicine for anxiety or depression
• Having had no piercings or tattoos within the past year
• Having had no travel in the past six months to countries in which there is an active Zika virus transmission risk

Want to Become a Surrogate Mother?

If you think you might like to become a surrogate mother, or simply want to explore the surrogacy process further, don’t hesitate to contact Simple Surrogacy to discuss your options. Please call us at (866) 461-4550 or fill out our online form, found here. Our representatives will be happy to discuss surrogacy with you!