As a surrogate, you will give a great deal of your time, energy and, of course, your body to help someone else reach their parenthood dreams. When you prepare for these sacrifices, you may wonder whether you have to make a financial sacrifice as well. Do you have to pay to be a surrogate mother?
Know this: Surrogacy is always free for the women who choose to become gestational carriers. As long as you work with experienced professionals like American Surrogacy, you can be assured that surrogacy will not be a financial burden for you or your family. Your surrogacy specialist and intended parents will ensure you receive the financial support and reimbursement you may need. In fact, you may also receive additional funds in the form of your base surrogate compensation!
To learn more about how much it costs to be a surrogate, we encourage you to contact our agency at 1-800-875-BABY(2229). You can also read more about the cost of being a surrogate below.
How Much Does It Cost to Become a Surrogate Mother?
It’s no secret that gestational surrogacy is an expensive journey. Both parties must undergo screening and background checks, work with separate lawyers and complete certain medical processes — and that’s even before the costs of pregnancy and childbirth are factored in!
But, when you choose to become a gestational carrier, the cost to be a surrogate mother will always be “zero.” Becoming a surrogate is a selfless gesture that will change your life forever, and your sacrifice is appreciated by both your surrogacy professional and your intended parents. Therefore, they will cover your surrogate mother expenses from beginning to end.
This means the following services will always be free to you:
- Background checks and screening
- Medical screening
- Matching with intended parents
- Fertility medication
- Prenatal care
- Maternity clothes
- Counseling
- Transportation (excluding transportation to initial psychological evaluation)
- The hospital stay
- And more
For more information on what surrogate mother expenses American Surrogacy will cover for you, please reach out to our surrogacy specialists today.
Standard “Fees” For Being a Surrogate: Base Compensation
If you’re asking how much it is to be a surrogate mother, you may not be referring to the surrogate mother expenses you might pay. Instead, you may be wondering about your gestational carrier compensation — standard “fees” for being a surrogate that you are always entitled to.
In addition to the coverage of your expenses during your surrogacy journey, you will also receive a base compensation for your services. When you work with American Surrogacy, your surrogacy specialist will ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. Every surrogate’s compensation is different based on her circumstances but, on average, a gestational carrier can receive tens of thousands of dollars, plus more if you have had previous gestational surrogate pregnancies. California surrogates are entitled to an even higher base compensation. Many surrogates choose to use this compensation to help reach financial goals, like a down payment on a house or paying off student loans.
So, financially, the cost of being a surrogate is nonexistent — in fact, you will even earn money for your selfless decision! Remember, our specialists can discuss this financial compensation in more detail when you contact our agency.
The Emotional and Physical Cost of Being a Surrogate: What to Consider
While the financial cost of surrogate motherhood is always free, there are some other, less-obvious costs that prospective gestational carriers need to consider. Surrogacy is a complicated journey, and it will require a great deal from you. Therefore, surrogates shouldn’t just view this journey from a financial standpoint but also consider the emotional and physical costs they may incur.
Again, every woman’s journey into surrogacy is different, but many women experience these sacrifices when they carry a child for another family:
- Physical toll on the body: Pregnancy and childbirth are always difficult, no matter whose child you are carrying. When you become a surrogate, you take on the risks of these processes, as well as the (minimal) risk of your medical protocol and embryo transfer. You will likely find yourself exhausted and drained at certain parts in your journey, and your body may not be able to handle the same responsibilities it could before.
- Practical toll on your family: As you carry a gestational pregnancy to term, you will be required to attend medical appointments along the way. Therefore, you may miss outings with your family or be unable to do the same activities your family has always loved. You will also need recovery time after giving birth. Your family should be prepared to take on the extra responsibilities you usually handle, which can understandably cause stress and frustration. This is why it’s so important that your entire family is on board with your decision before you begin.
- Emotional toll on you: The abovementioned costs of being a surrogate mother can understandably affect your mental health, too. You will be at risk for pre- and post-partum depression, but you may also experience the normal blues of pregnancy, especially when you will not have a child of your own at the end of the process. Your relationship with the intended parents may have ups and downs, and you may be mentally exhausted at times in the journey. Being prepared for these emotions can help alleviate them, but they are something every prospective surrogate should be aware of before starting.
Before you start the process to become a gestational carrier, you will always be informed of the medical, physical and emotional costs of being a surrogate. American Surrogacy requires its gestational carriers to undergo a medical and psychological screening and counseling session to prepare them for the journey ahead. We know that surrogacy is a big decision to make, both for you and your family, which is why we are dedicated to providing the information you need to make the best choice for you. The majority of gestational carriers find that the minimal costs they may experience in this journey are all well worth it when they are able to give the intended parents their baby for the first time.
To learn more about what surrogacy will require from you, please call our surrogacy specialists for free at 1-800-875-BABY(2229) today.