How Are Surrogate Mothers Screened?
If you are considering becoming a surrogate mother in California, you may be curious about the screening journey you will go through in order to be eligible to meet with intended parents. Screening is an important step to ensure you are the right fit for surrogacy and the individuals you may be helping build a family.
Elevate Baby is a California surrogacy agency that helps women interested in becoming a surrogate begin their journey with the knowledge and care to ensure this experience is as special as it should be. However, before you can be matched with intended parents in California, it is important that you understand how surrogate mothers are screened.
What Services Are Included in the Surrogate Screening Journey?
Screening for surrogacy exists to help ensure that potential surrogate mothers are the right fit for the exciting journey ahead if they choose to match with intended parents. Some of the services used to screen surrogate mothers in California are:
Medical, Social, and Drug History
When working with a surrogacy agency, you may be asked to submit self-disclosed medical, social, and drug history information to the agency and the intended family.
Birth Records
Prospective surrogate mothers will need to authorize the release of birth records from any previous pregnancies. This is because surrogacy agencies often require potential surrogate mothers to have prior successful pregnancies with no major complications.
Medical Workup
Prospective surrogate mothers must undergo a complete medical workup to check their blood type and hormone levels. You will need to complete the following medical tests:
- Pap smear
- Uterine check
- STD testing
- Drug screen
If you are married, your spouse or partner will also undergo the drug screen and blood tests to test for infectious diseases. These exams ensure that you are physically healthy and ready to carry a pregnancy to term.
Background Checks
The surrogacy agency you work with will run criminal and child abuse background checks to ensure you have no prior convictions that might impact the safety of the surrogacy journey.
In-Home Assessment
A licensed social worker will meet with the prospective surrogate mother and their spouse or partner, if they have one, in their home. During the visit, they will discuss the following with you:
- Your motivations for surrogacy
- Any fears or concerns you may have
- Your partner’s commitment to surrogacy if you are married
This visit helps the social worker get to know you better and ensures that you are a good fit for the surrogacy agency before moving forward.
Counseling and Support
Prospective surrogate mothers will be asked to meet with a psychologist to determine that they are emotionally ready for the challenges they may face throughout their surrogacy journey. The psychologist will talk about any potentially difficult feelings you may experience during pregnancy and after the delivery. Ongoing counseling and support services will also be available to you throughout the surrogacy journey.
If you have additional questions regarding what you should expect when undergoing the screening for surrogacy in California, reach out to your surrogacy agency to get more information.
What Are the Requirements to Be a Surrogate Mother in California?
Before you go through the screening for surrogacy, you should take the time to look into whether or not you meet the requirements for surrogate mothers in California. In order to qualify for the chance to be matched with intended parents as a surrogate, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must be between the ages of 21 and 45
- You must be in good health and have a BMI under 32
- You should have no criminal history
- You should be a nonsmoker
- You must have given birth to and be raising at least one child
- You must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
After you determine whether or not you are qualified to be a surrogate mother in California, it is important to keep in mind that the entire surrogacy journey from start to finish can take between 12 to 13 months in total, with the first three months typically being spent doing paperwork, legal work, and exams. To get more information on surrogacy and whether you may be a good fit, contact Elevate Baby as soon as possible with any questions you may have.
Contact Elevate Baby to Begin Your Journey to Becoming a Surrogate in California
At Elevate Baby, our team understands that becoming a surrogate is one of the most fulfilling acts of selflessness you can do for intended parents looking to build a family. Elevate founders Kyle Dean Massey and Taylor Frey have gone through the journey themselves and know firsthand how life-changing surrogacy can be for the intended parents and the surrogate.
With years of experience serving high-profile and celebrity clients, we treat all intended parents with the same concierge-level service to ensure joyful and successful journeys. Contact our California surrogacy agency today for more information regarding the screening journey and becoming a surrogate mother by calling (323) 933-8918 or filling out our contact form.
Getting Started
Whether you are interested in surrogacy or egg donation as an intended parent or potential donor, the process can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Begin your journey today!