Even though it might not seem like it, surrogacy is becoming common not only with celebrities but normal couples too. There are many reasons why people might choose a surrogate mother to carry their baby: they might have medical issues that will affect their pregnancy, same-sex male couples, infertility issues, or even single parents wanting to have biological children. No matter what the reason is, the advancement of medical science and technology now allows people to become parents even if they cannot carry babies.
Many surrogate mothers consider it a blessing that a couple has trusted them to carry their babies to term. If you are planning to become one and wondering how does a surrogate mother get pregnant, this blog discusses the topic briefly.
The first thing you should know before becoming a surrogate mother is that there are two types of surrogacy:
- Gestational surrogacy: In gestational surrogacy, the carrier only carries the baby for an individual or a couple. It is achieved via IVF (In-vitro fertilization), and the egg and sperm come from the intended parents or donors. In this process, the carrier does not have to donate their own egg. It is slowly becoming the most common choice for both the carrier and intended parents.
- Traditional surrogacy: In traditional surrogacy, the carrier donates her egg and carries the baby to term too. This pregnancy is achieved through IUI (intrauterine insemination) from the intended father’s sperm or that of a donor.
Gestational surrogacy is becoming the most popular choice among the intended parents since, with traditional surrogacy, the baby has the DNA of the carrier.
Criteria for becoming a surrogate
Since becoming a surrogate is a huge commitment if you are planning to become one in New Jersey, here is a criterion you should be aware of:
- Even though the specific age varies from the region, the candidates must be between 21 and 45 years old.
- You should have also carried at least one pregnancy to term without any complications. In addition, you should have no more than five vaginal deliveries and two cesarean sections.
- You should lead a lifestyle free of drugs and alcohol abuse and have a supportive home environment.
- As a potential surrogate, you would also be required to go through mental health screening and a complete physical screening, including the test for STI _Sexually Transmitted Infections.
If you are planning to become a surrogate, these are things that you should remember before you commit to the process.
