Top 3 Questions Gestational Surrogates Might Have about Colorado Surrogacy?
Do you enjoy being pregnant, are from Colorado, and want to give back to others? If you are interested in becoming a surrogate mother, you might have a lot of questions about the gestational surrogacy process. That’s completely understandable! You are making a life-changing and selfless decision, and it’s an emotional, layered, and joyous journey you are about to embark on. You may be confused, scared, or curious about the process of surrogacy in Colorado and what your journey may look like when you become a surrogate mother. That’s why we at Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado have compiled some of the frequently asked questions that can help you in your process. We are here to help with any questions or concerns you may have and help you and the family you are helping succeed.
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.
What is Gestational Surrogacy?
The first question you may be asking is, what is gestational surrogacy? When you are a surrogate mother, you are making a choice to carry a child that is not biologically related to you. That means you are helping an intended individual or couple that may not be able to conceive on their own help to become a family.
This is done through in vitro fertilization (IVF), where the intended mother’s egg is fertilized with the intended father’s sperm in a lab. An intended parent can also use a donor’s sperm or egg, but in any case, the surrogate mother is not biologically related to the child she carries. It is very important that all parties know this because the surrogate mother has no parental claim to the child she delivers. Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado is here to help ensure all members of the party are happy, healthy, and safe during all parts of the process. When you are a surrogate mother, you are just carrying an intended parent(s) child for them. This is a selfless decision on your behalf, and it means you are helping intended parents create a family. It is important to have a working knowledge of gestational surrogacy before you decide on becoming a surrogate mother. We are here to help you with any questions you may have.
What is the Gestational Surrogacy Process Like in Colorado?
Are you curious to know what the process is like in order to become a surrogate mother? First, it’s important to know that there are several steps you need to take before you can become a surrogate mother. To start, you have to sign a contract form which helps begin your application process in being matched with an intended individual or couple. Then, you are matched on a variety of compatibility factors to ensure a happy and healthy pregnancy process.
Once you are matched to an intended parent or parents, you all will do medical screenings to ensure everyone is healthy and safe. This is to make sure everyone is ready both emotionally as well as physically. There will then be legal documents to sign with your chosen lawyer to ensure everyone is on the same page.
After, you will then go through the IVF process. Once this is successful, you are now ready to embark on your exciting journey and carry your intended parents’ child for them! When you are pregnant, you will go through routine doctor appointments and medical screenings to ensure the pregnancy is going well for you and the child.
What Are the Requirements for Becoming a Surrogate Mother?
Before you become a surrogate mother, you may be wondering as to whether or not you fulfill the surrogate requirements. Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado is a professional and high-quality surrogacy agency dedicated to helping parents become families and making sure you are having a successful pregnancy as the surrogate mother. This ensures a healthy and happy pregnancy for you and makes sure both you and the child you carry are safe.
To start, you must be between the ages of 21 to 39. This is to make sure you are emotionally ready to be pregnant, and you and the child you carry are safe. You must be a U.S citizen and live in the United States. You also should have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of no higher than 30. You also have to pass a background check, meaning you do not have a criminal record. We also want to make sure you are healthy and free of sexually-transmitted diseases. It is also important to know that you must have had at least one healthy and uncomplicated pregnancy beforehand and that you did not suffer from postpartum depression following these pregnancies. This also means that you are currently parenting at least one child.
You have to pass a psychological examination and also show that you have not been on medications to treat depression, bipolar, or other mental health-related issues. You have to show that you live a stable and healthy lifestyle, free from alcohol or drug dependency. You also must have a support system, and if you are married, you must have your spouse’s agreement and support as well.
How Does Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado Help Surrogate Mothers?
When you work with our surrogacy agency, you are making sure you are protected throughout the surrogacy process. We are here to make sure you are taken care of physically, legally, and emotionally.
First, we use matching services to match you with an intended parent or parents. You will be able to interview hopeful intended parents to make sure you are compatible. We also provide psychological examinations as well as medical screenings before the process begins to make sure everyone is emotionally and physically ready to begin their journey. We can help provide reliable doctors and make appointments for you to be healthy and worry-free during your pregnancy. In addition, we offer a wide range of counseling services in order to provide you with the emotional support you may need. We also offer legal services and help you find the best lawyer to help you go through legal documents.
At Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado, we are committed to making sure you are taken care of on your life-changing journey. This means ensuring your well-being every step of the way.
What Are Other Frequently Asked Questions for Surrogate Mothers?
If you still have questions or concerns, make sure to check out our frequently asked questions as well as our surrogacy blog. It’s important to stay informed throughout the process, so if you’re feeling overwhelmed or want to talk to our team, feel free to reach out with anything you might need.
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 in 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!