Chicago Surrogacy Options

Chicago has one of the best environments for surrogacy. Why? Because there is an Illinois statute highly favorable to gestational surrogacy which governs the process from contracts to birth certificates. Gestational surrogacy uses In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to create an embryo using the eggs from the prospective mother and/or the sperm from the father that is then implanted in a surrogate mother, who carries the baby until birth. The Illinois statue applies to single parents and heterosexual couples where at least one person has furnished their own genomes. This means that surrogacy in Chicago is easier for both surrogate mothers and the intended parents to make an agreement that is not prohibited and protects all parties.

When you hear about surrogacy, what usually comes to mind is an infertile couple seeking a way to start a family. This is true in most cases but an increasing number of single men (both gay and straight) are pushing the boundaries of what defines fatherhood and creating families of their own through surrogacy. The number of unmarried single men who are adopting children is growing significantly in recent years. Single men are also using surrogate services in Illinois to start their families. It is estimated that over 1 million households are now being headed by single dads, and the trend is upwards. Some of this growth is attributed to single men adopting and/or using surrogacy to have children.  

Some states specifically outlaw surrogacy, some states are favorable, and many states have no statues at all and leave the entire issue to individual cases in the courts. Surrogacy in Illinois is acceptable and Illinois is one of the most favorable states for surrogacy. Generally, the state where the child is born is the state whose laws apply. So, it makes sense for the intended parents of a surrogate baby to choose a surrogate mother living in Illinois. Picking a surrogacy agency in Illinois is a great way to start the surrogacy process for intended parents.

Once you have picked a state that is favorable for surrogacy, you need to find a surrogate mother, advisably through a reputable surrogacy agency, who has the experience to guide all parties through the process. An agency can help parents find a surrogate mother, help with the agreement between the parties, and make helpful referrals to other parties such as attorneys, counselors and fertility clinics. It can be an overwhelming process, so help from an agency is strongly recommended. Using a direct approach between surrogate and intended parents may seem more expeditious, but the pitfalls are many and process may cause stress and yield disappointing results.

Some agencies are quite large and spend a lot of money on advertising for both surrogate mothers and the intended parents, which makes their overhead costs higher. These large firms charge much more for their services to make up for the higher costs. A small firm can save intended parents thousands of dollars and keep the services much more personalized. Parenting Partners, Inc., is a smaller surrogate agency in Illinois, with years of experience. They have successfully managed many surrogate experiences. The owner is an advocate for surrogacy and is also a parent through surrogacy herself. This experience leads to higher quality surrogacy services and lower costs.

Becoming a Surrogate Mother

How do you become a surrogate mother? First and foremost, you must have a giving and loving heart and want to help others to have a family that they could not otherwise have. It is important to be compelled to help these others for no other reason than to fulfill a need to help. This is not for money or status, it is a physical, emotional, and legal journey to be a surrogate mother and should not be undertaken with the wrong motivations. Talk to friends and family because it is important to have support from those closest to you. If you are absolutely sure that this is your calling, then you are ready to learn more about the process.

First, what is surrogacy? Gestational surrogacy uses In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to create an embryo using the eggs from the prospective mother and/or the sperm from the father that is then implanted in a surrogate mother, who carries the baby until birth. In this type of surrogacy, the surrogate mother is not genetically related to the baby. It is important to note that with this option, extensive medical preparation and management may be needed and increase the chance of multiple births. Once the baby is born, the surrogate mother will allow the genetic parents to raise their baby.
 
Be ready for the process and make sure you are between the ages of 21 and 37, are in good health, have a stable lifestyle, have given birth before and have had a great pregnancy history. Surrogacy agencies typically have different requirements for becoming a surrogate mother, so make sure you understand what is required.

Get a physical evaluation and a psychological evaluation to make sure that you are capable physically and mentally for the surrogacy process.

Understand the laws concerning surrogacy in your state.

Pick a reputable surrogacy agency that offers personalized service and that will work with you to select the right intended parent match for you.

Select legal representation so that you know and protect your rights and specify your requirements as far as how much contact you want with the intended parents, guardianship for unforeseen situations, as well as your wishes about medical procedures. You will also need to have an agreement covering the services of the surrogacy agency.

Parenting Partners, Inc., is a smaller surrogate agency in Illinois, with years of experience and who has successfully managed many surrogate experiences. The owner is an advocate for surrogacy and is also a parent through surrogacy herself. This experience leads to higher quality surrogacy services and lower costs.