Intended Parents of Surrogacy
From a very young age, most women dream of getting married and starting their own family. Often these wishes and desires are enacted through dress up or when playing dolls. It isn’t discovered until later, however, that successfully accomplishing that dream doesn’t happen for everyone. Whether through genetic, biological or medical factors, pregnancy and giving birth isn’t possible.
When intended parents get to this point, there are two avenues that can be taken — adoption or surrogacy. Each can help you gain a family, yet only one can give you a child who is biologically related. Surrogacy is there for those who have embryos left over from the IVF process, and provides a seemingly more natural disguise to infertility. While expensive, intended parents feel as though the cost is worth the last opportunity to have a child with their genetics.
Surrogacy also allows intended parents to be involved in the pregnancy and early development stages of their child. Something that they cannot have with adoption.
Definition of Terms
That said, what does the term “intended parent” mean? As the phrase would suggest, an intended parent(s) is a person or couple who hope to have a child of their own. Their path to surrogacy has been filled with varying durations of failed pregnancies and infertility treatments. Perhaps other factors — such as medical or health issues — as well. Whatever the specifics, though, the intended parent(s) have decided that surrogacy is the best route to making their dreams come true.
Intended parent(s) may be more common than you think, and come from all walks of life. When it comes to infertility, there is no particular age, gender or race that’s too blame. It can affect anyone, and creates a debilitating challenge for would-be parents. For instance, in the United States, 12.3 percent of women from the ages of 15 to 44 struggle to get pregnant. Men who have issues with their sperm or reproductive organs cause about one-third of infertility cases. All intended parents focus a lot of their time, energy and finances into finding any and all solutions possible.This means, by the time intended parents choose surrogacy, thousands of dollars have already been invested.
Qualifications
It’s important to note that there is no “typical” when it comes to intended parents. There is no “cookie cutter perfect” version of who intended parents must be. Intended parents can be: single men, single women who cannot carry due to infertility or health risks, same sex couples wanting to be parents, or a heterosexual couple who are unable to conceive. All intended parents are different and come from varying walks of life.However, during the screening process, your agency may have specific qualifications that need to be met to ensure that you are the best fit. These qualifications can include:
- Be a United States citizen
- Be between 21 and 39 years old
- Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 30
- Not have a history of pregnancy complications
- Not have any new tattoos, piercings, or blood transfusions within the last twelve months
- Not take drugs or medications not prescribed
- Not be taking any medication that may harm the pregnancy
- Have had at least one uncomplicated birth, and be parenting at least one child
- Provide OB/GYN records for previous pregnancies and authorize Surrogacy Choices to request medical histories
- Be a non-smoker, living in a non-smoking home
- Be able to pass a background check
- Complete a psychological evaluation
For additional information, or if you want to know if you qualify, reach out to your fertility specialist or chosen surrogacy clinic to set up a consultation.
Intended Parents of Surrogacy
Becoming a parent through surrogacy is an emotional and complex process, but very rewarding. Surrogacy not only allows you to have a biological child, but it also lets you be a part of the pregnancy journey with your surrogate, and to know that –without a shadow of a doubt — the baby born will be completely yours. After years of trying, your dream of parenthood can be realized!
Sources:“4 Things Intended Parents Should Know About Surrogacy.” ConceiveAbilities, www.conceiveabilities.com/about/blog/things-intended-parents-don-t-know-about-surrogacy.
“How To Be A Surrogate Mother.” Information About Surrogacy, howtobeasurrogatemother.com/how-surrogacy-works/finding-intended-parents/about-intended-parents/.
“What Is an Intended Parent? – Definition from FertilitySmarts.” FertilitySmarts, www.fertilitysmarts.com/definition/1652/intended-parent.