Surrogacy Qualifications and Why they’re important
When you choose to become a surrogate with our surrogacy agency, one of the first hurdles that you’ll have to jump is the qualifications to join. What are these qualifications and why do we, Made in the USA Surrogacy, care about them? Here’s everything you need to know about qualifications to become a surrogate.
Qualification 1: Must Be Between the Years 23-38
One of the first surrogacy qualifications that you have to satisfy is that you’re between the age of 23 and 38. This is important because these are the years in which you’re the healthiest to have a baby. Even though CA surrogacy law requires you to be at least 21 years old, we typically look for more experienced and mature women.
Even though you’re not having a baby the traditional way, your body still needs to be fertile enough for IVF to be successful. The process of surrogacy is also a long one. Sometimes it’s even arduous. Your body needs to be healthy enough to go through a healthy pregnancy without any complications. The intended parents are counting on you.
Qualification 2: Must Be US Citizen
Another qualification that you must satisfy to join our boutique surrogate agency is that you must be a US citizen. This matters for a few different reasons. As a citizen, it’s easier to represent you in court and take care of all the legal matters before the process of surrogacy even begins.
Before our surrogates start carrying the baby for the intended parents, our surrogacy agency sits them down with the parents and a surrogate attorney. Together, they make a contract that goes over all of the legal and custody aspects of surrogacy. As a US Citizen, it just makes the process smoother for everyone involved.
With borders tightening, there’s also less risk of the surrogate being forced to deport while carrying their intended parents’ baby.
Qualification 3: Must Have Had A Successful Pregnancy Prior to Joining
Another important qualification is that you have had a pregnancy before that was successful. Whether you were a surrogate for someone in your own family or the baby was your own, it’s crucial that you had a baby beforehand. This helps us determine whether or not your body is capable of having a healthy pregnancy.
Depending on how well or difficult that pregnancy went for you, you may be able to decide if surrogacy is the right kind of business for you to be in. If you had a difficult time while you were pregnant, for example, then you may experience the same kind of difficulties as a surrogate. Just because you didn’t conceive the baby yourself doesn’t mean that the pregnancy, itself, is going to be any easier.
Because you were already pregnant, you’ll have a better idea of how your body is going to respond when it’s pregnant. This can take a lot of the uncertainty and anxiety out of the process for both yourself and the parents struggling with infertility.
Qualification 4: Have Had No More Than One C-Section
Sometimes being a surrogate means that you’re going to have a C-Section per the request of the intended parents. This isn’t always the case, but it is something that surrogates will have to discuss with their assigned parents. In the event that the parents do want you to have a C-Section–or the doctor suggests it in the event of a medical emergency–the birth tends to go a little smoother if you’ve only had at least one C-Section prior.
That’s why we ask our prospective surrogates to have had only one C-Section prior to applying with our California surrogate agency.
Qualification 5: Live in a Surrogate-Friendly State
While our surrogate agency may be based in California, we accept applicants from almost any state. It’s not a part of surrogacy qualifications to live in California, but you should be in a state that allows surrogacy.
It’s just vital that your state is a surrogate-friendly one. This means that it has legalized the use of surrogate agencies and surrogates. In particular, we utilize the gestational method.
Your state needs to have that practice legalized, as well as other reasons.
It’s also important that you live in a surrogate-friendly state because it means that you have access to great healthcare. For those who live in states where it’s banned, the doctors may be unable to treat you if you attempt to seek their service while carrying a surrogate baby. You may also be hit with fees and other legal punishments for being a surrogate in a state that isn’t surrogate-friendly. Please take a look at this map to help understand which states are surrogate-friendly.
Qualification 6: Have a Body Mass Index of 30 or Below
In order to have a healthy pregnancy, you must also be healthy. That’s why one of our surrogate agency qualifications is to have a BMI of 30 or below. Check your BMI here.
Being overweight can be a serious problem for your health and the health of the baby.
For one, it can lead to gestational diabetes that can greatly affect your health. It’s important that you don’t try to lose weight while you’re pregnant. You need to be at a healthy weight before you become a surrogate and carry a baby.
Qualification 7: Not Taking Anti-Depressants or Anxiety Medications
A really important part of surrogacy qualifications is not being on anti-depressants. Certain medications that are taken for depression or anxiety can have a negative impact on the baby. An increase in birth defects, for example, is one of those negative impacts. There are other ways to help treat your depression and anxiety.
When you want to join a surrogate agency, it may be a good idea to utilize those other sources and stop taking medications while you’re pregnant.
Qualification 8: Non-Smoker and No Exposure to Second-Hand Smoking
It’s extremely important that you are a non-smoker and have no exposure to second-hand smoking either. Smoking can have serious consequences for a baby. The parents who are relying on you to carry their baby safely are already struggling with their own infertility. They need to be able to trust you.
Smoking can also have serious health consequences for yourself. To ensure you are able to give the baby its best chance at growing in a healthy environment, you either need to stop smoking several months before joining or not pick up a cigarette at all.
Qualification 9: Be Financially Sound
While many prospective surrogates join an agency to help supplement their income, it’s important for us that all of our surrogates are financially sound before they join us. This is because we want to make sure that our surrogates can properly care for themselves and their family without supplemental income through an agency.
If you’re not financially sound, then you may find yourselves going through periods of malnourishment. That isn’t what we need for surrogate babies. You must be able to demonstrate your financial stability.
Qualification 10: No Criminal Record
For security reasons and for the peace of mind of the parents, you must also not possess a criminal record. We want to ensure our parents that their surrogates are in stable homes and are of stable mindsets.
Qualification 11: Not Receive Cash Assistance
Along with being financially sound, you must also not receive federal or state assistance. This may be cash or any other assistance program. Again, this just demonstrates that you are financially sound.
Join Us Today
If you think that you pass these qualifications, then apply to become a surrogate with our California surrogate agency today. We have tons of eager parents waiting to meet you.
