How to Carry Someone Else's Baby

Not all women are capable of getting pregnant or have the ability to carry a child throughout a pregnancy. Couples who find themselves in this situation have the option of using a surrogate mother to carry their baby for them. Surrogacy is a valuable alternative for couples who want to have children, and by becoming a surrogate mother, you are giving people a gift that will change their lives forever. If you are interested in becoming a surrogate mom, make sure that you are familiar with the process first.

Things You'll Need

• Health insurance
• Maternity coverage

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Instructions

• 1

  Find out what the surrogacy laws are in your state. Each state has its own regulations when it comes to surrogacy, the surrogate mother's rights and the parents' rights. It is important to familiarize yourself with the laws so that you know whether or not you can legally become a surrogate mother in your area.

• 2

  Talk to your OB GYN. Inform your doctor that you are interested in becoming a surrogate mother, and your doctor will assess the condition of your reproductive system to make sure you are healthy and capable of carrying children safely.

• 3

  Think about how pregnancy will affect your life and your lifestyle. As a surrogate mother, nine months of your life will be devoted to caring for the child inside of you. This could mean weeks of morning sickness, potential complications, absent days from work or limited physical activities. Make sure you are 100 percent up for the challenge.

• 4

  Contact a surrogacy agency in your area. Surrogacy agencies are organizations that help match surrogate mothers with couples that register with the agency. The agency uses your personal information to create a profile, which lets agency workers know whether you would be a good fit for a particular set of parents.

• 5

  Complete the application process. You will be asked personal questions about your physical and emotional health, criminal background and information about whether you have health insurance or maternity coverage.

• 6

  Wait to hear back from the surrogacy agency. If they are interested in representing you as a surrogate mother, they will call to schedule an interview with you.

• 7

  Meet with the couples once you are chosen to be a surrogate mother with the surrogacy agency. It is important to have a face-to-face meeting with the parents of the child you will be carrying. The selection process must be mutual, meaning you must choose them and they must choose you.

• 8

  Sign the appropriate paperwork. Paperwork is involved because it outlines the rights of the surrogate mother, the terms of the agreement and the rights of the couple. For instance, some contracts might say that the couple will pay for all of the doctor visits, but that they will not pay for the maternity clothes. All parties must be in agreement for the relationship to work.