Surrogacy Disqualifications: What Can Stop You from Becoming a Surrogate in Colorado?
Surrogacy is a unique process that allows couples who are unable to have children to start a family. If you are a woman who is able to have children and would like to pursue surrogacy, you should be aware that there are some qualifications that you have to fulfill before moving forward with the surrogacy process. Women become surrogate mothers for many different reasons. In some cases, people they know are unable to have their children and want to help them out. In other cases, women are just motivated by the ability to serve others in such a special way. Sometimes, women are motivated by the compensation they receive from surrogacy. No matter what you’re motivated by, if you are looking to pursue Colorado surrogacy, keep in mind that there are some surrogacy disqualifications, here are the requirements you must fulfill to continue with the process.
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a surrogate, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado.
Age and Health History for Surrogate Mothers
When you apply to become a surrogate mother, you must meet some initial surrogacy requirements before moving on to the screening process. The surrogate mother must:
- Be between the ages 21-39
- Have had at least one healthy pregnancy in the past
- Be currently parenting a child of their own
- Have no history of postpartum depression following their previous pregnancy
- Free from all mental health issues
- Not be on any medication for depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety (among other mental health disorders)
- Be healthy and free from all sexually-transmitted diseases
- Not smoke or take illicit drugs of any kind
If you meet all of these requirements, you will be able to move forward with the application as long as you meet the other qualifications.
Living Conditions and Background of Surrogate Mothers
As a surrogate mother, you have to be healthy and able to have a pregnancy, but you must also have sustainable and healthy living conditions and a clear background. As a parent, you can’t be parenting your child on food stamps or Medicaid. Additionally, you can’t be on any form of public assistance. You must be a US citizen living inside of the United States to be a surrogate mother for Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado. You must be able to pass a background check, proving you have no criminal history. It is important that surrogate mothers also have a stable support system and lifestyle to protect the child they will give birth to. Additionally, the aftermath of surrogacy can be difficult to deal with alone, and having other people to surround you during that time is beneficial. If you meet all of these requirements, you will proceed to the screening process to be a surrogate mother.
The Surrogacy Screening Process
To make sure you really are equipped to be a surrogate mother, you will be required to go through a screening process before you can officially become a surrogate mother. During the screening process, you will meet with a fertility specialist who will decide if you are physically able to go through the surrogacy process, and you will also go through a mental health screening that will make sure you are mental healthy enough to endure the process if you are able to pass both of these screenings, congratulations! You will be a surrogate mother. Our Colorado surrogacy agency will match you with the intended parents for the baby you will house and move forward with the process.
Why are the Qualifications Necessary in the Surrogacy Process?
It may seem like there are a lot of rules when it comes to surrogacy, but it is important that we have all of these qualifications to keep both the surrogate mothers and the intended parents safe. The pain of losing a child is nothing to play around with, which is why Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado has requirements in place. If you believe you would be a good fit as a surrogate mother, please reach out to Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado to learn more and possibly start an application.
If you are interested in learning more about your gestational surrogacy 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: Kyla’s life has been filled with adventure and transition – both good and difficult. She loves to take on challenges head-on and lead an organized and balanced life. She’s passionate about many different areas and loves how writing gives her the flexibility to engage in research of almost every field of study imaginable. She grew up very involved in theater and music and continues to use her free time to play the piano and sing. However, she is also very interested in how the natural world works and takes any chance she has to spend the day away from crowds, enveloped in the seclusion of nature. Growing up in the Philippines, she’s had some unique experiences that have shaped her worldview and given her a deeper understanding and appreciation for different cultures. She gets excited about research papers, completed to-do lists, and her morning coffee.
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!