7 Surprising Facts about Gestational Surrogacy
If you are considering surrogacy as a way to help intended parents achieve their dreams of having children, it’s likely that you already know a lot about how the surrogacy process in Colorado works. From matching with a couple or individual to negotiating surrogacy contracts, there are some important and distinct steps in the gestational surrogacy process.
However, did you know these 7 surprising facts about gestational surrogacy?
Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado is here to describe how these facts fit into the gestational surrogacy journey, as well as why they may be lesser known.
Surprising Facts about Gestational Surrogacy
Although gestational surrogacy has become increasingly common in recent years, there are still some facts about gestational surrogacy that not everyone might know. These include, but are not limited to, the following seven facts.
- Gestational carriers are not biologically related to the child
While gestational carriers (AKA surrogates) are solely serving as a surrogate for the intended parents, many people may believe that she is the biological mother of the child who is born, because she is the one who carries him or her. While this is often true for cases of traditional surrogacy, in gestational surrogacy, the gestational carrier is actually not the biological mother. The woman whose eggs were used in the fertilization process is actually the real biological mother! Therefore, many intended parents may find gestational surrogacy even more appealing, because they can have the option of maintaining a genetic link to their child.
- Monetary compensation is provided to gestational carriers
Gestational carriers are extremely selfless women who want other families to feel the same joy that they have experienced from children. However, these women are making a large sacrifice to help other intended parents out. In cases of gestational surrogacy, monetary compensation is provided to help gestational carriers out throughout the pregnancy. They are also rewarded with close relationships with the intended parents and child, and the satisfaction of helping out another family!
- Each state has various requirements for becoming a gestational carrier
The requirements that women must meet in order to become a gestational carrier vary on a state by state basis. In the state of Colorado, some requirements for women who are interested in becoming a gestational carrier include: being between 21 and 41 years old, having already had one complication free pregnancy and delivery, as well as currently parenting at least one child.
For women interested in becoming gestational carriers, it’s extremely important to understand your own state’s requirements when determining whether or not it’s a good fit for you.
- Surrogacy is not legal in four states in the United States
Although gestational surrogacy can immensely help intended parents who may not be able to have children on their own, there are four states in the United States that don’t recognize gestational surrogacy. The four states where surrogacy is not legal are: Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, and New York. In these states, women are not able to become gestational carriers, and may need to go elsewhere to help other families out.
- Gestational surrogacy intended parents can use a sperm and/or egg donor
Because gestational surrogacy uses a fertilization process called IVF, where a sperm and egg are introduced in a laboratory setting, it’s possible for intended parents who are interested in gestational surrogacy to use a sperm and/or egg donor. This is extremely promising for any intended parents who are in same sex relationships or may be dealing with infertility. After IVF is completed, a fertilized embryo is implanted into the gestational carrier who will carry the child to term.
- There is no worry about a gestational carrier wanting to keep the baby
While some people may be fearful that the gestational carrier might “change her mind” and decide she wants to keep the child, this is impossible with gestational surrogacy. Because surrogacy contracts and agreements are negotiated prior to the pregnancy, there is no concern about the gestational carrier wanting to keep the child. When the baby is born, it will be the intended parents’ child.
- Surrogacy agencies can help smooth the process
Surrogacy agencies, like us at Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado, are here to help make the surrogacy process as smooth as possible. We strive to help facilitate the relationship between intended parents and gestational carriers in order to help save everyone time and stress. Surrogacy agencies are also able to help ensure that gestational carriers meet all of their state’s requirements, as well as help match intended parents to gestational carriers who would be a good fit!
Although gestational surrogacy has become more common in helping intended parents have children, there are still many things that people may not yet know. Did you already know these 7 facts about gestational surrogacy? If so, you must have done your research!
Are You Interested in Learning More about Gestational Surrogacy?
If you have questions about gestational surrogacy, or are a woman who is interested in becoming a gestational carrier, feel free to reach out to us at Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado with any questions. We are here to help ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the entire surrogacy process and have support all the way. We also have resources to help match gestational carriers with fitting intended parents! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for more information or with any questions that you may have.
If you are interested in surrogacy and want to learn more about your options, contact Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado by email, phone, or text: Email Us, Text us: 720-371-1099, Call us: 303-670-4673 (HOPE). If you are hoping to adopt, please contact us here.
Meet the Author: Ashley Nies is an undergraduate student at Stanford University who is studying Human Biology and Political Science. Ashley is largely interested in various aspects of health and healthcare, and writes about these topics. She has taken classes on rhetoric, ethics and social media in health, as well as other creative writing classes during her freshman year at Stanford.
Ashley is from Las Vegas, Nevada, and considers herself to be fun-loving and adventurous. She values the importance of combining STEM with liberal arts education and hopes to integrate these in her writing.
Stephanie joined the Adoption Choices family in 2014 as the Child Placement Supervisor. Her love for adoption began in first grade when she made friends with twins adopted from Vietnam. Her heart grew strong over the years for adopted children and ultimately led her to graduate school where she continued her focus to her dream of working in the adoption field. Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2001. Over the past 15 years, Stephanie has worked as a pregnancy counselor and as an adoptive parent counselor for foster care, international adoption and domestic adoption, writing hundreds of home studies for families, and helping build their forever families. Stephanie is married and has three boys ages 12, 9, and 5. Together with her family she enjoys riding bike, playing games, watching her three sons compete in their various sporting and musical activities and go on vacations.
Christy Ikeler, is our Executive Director and Birth Parent Director. Christy has been with Adoption Choices Team for 18 years, since opening the doors in 2002! Christy has a true passion for what she does and her true love is working with and helping each birth parent. Whether she is up all night on the phone talking with them, taking them to doctors appointments, out for their favorite treat, providing counseling or at the hospital during labor and delivery, Christy is very involved every step of the way. She has a contagious laugh and a spunky personality that our birth moms all can bond with and relate to. As an adoptive parent herself, adoption holds a very special place in her heart and she can relate on every level with both birth parents and adoptive parents. In her free time Christy loves spending time with her daughter, gardening, baking and taking vacations with her family. Christy is an excellent leader for our team at Adoption Choices and is truly one of a kind!! As Executive Director, Christy spends time with the staff, birth parents and adoptive families in order to ensure that the agency is running smoothly. She has placed a huge emphasis on community outreach and programs for birth parents. Christy loves the opportunity to lead the agency into a brighter future.
Ms. Mackenzie has built a successful counseling career over the past 20 years, supporting mothers and families, people of all ages and genders, students, community professionals and fellow clinicians. Liv values a diverse professional focus, including the entrepreneurial life of a sole proprietor, the evaluative process of certifying foster/adoptive homes, the insightful and mindful one-on-one one work with enthusiastic clients, and serving as an advocate for underserved populations. Liv is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a BA in Pre-Law and Economics from American University, an MA in Counseling from Adams University and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. Away from work you will find Liv spending time in nature, biking to the farmer’s market and adventuring with her family.
Catherine A. Madsen, joined the Adoption Choices family as legal counsel in 2013. Catherine is responsible for providing legal guidance to the Agency, training and updating staff on developments in adoption law and legislation, and program development. Catherine
Virginia Frank is an adoption attorney accredited since 1991 with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Ms. Frank is a leader in the field of private adoption and has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her career. Ms. Frank has a law degree from Oklahoma City University and a BA in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Cassidie has been with Adoption Choices since 2015, she has her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Affairs with concentrations in both Sociology and Business Management. Cassidie has additional training in Victim Advocacy, foster care and has been working in women’s services for over 10 years. Cassidie has always had a heart for adoption and it was her career dream to work in adoption. She started off doing volunteer work for advocacy programs, adoption organizations and worked in High Risk Maternal Fetal Medicine through the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Cassidie is also blessed to have personally experienced an adoption of her own in 2012, completing her family of five! Cassidie loves what she does as a case worker from initial phone calls, meetings, doctor appointments, interaction with the adoptive families to delivery and counseling. Cassidie has a passion for those in need and strives to help make a difference in the lives of the people she meets. She is a firm believer in being kind, compassionate and open minded in all situations. “Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, there’s no place for judgment. A kind word or compliment can go a long way!” The bittersweet moments in adoption reminds Cassidie each and every time, why she loves what she does!