Read Surrogate Mother Stories

Considering becoming a surrogate mother in Illinois? What a great gift you will be giving to a family who wants a child but is unable to have one. This is an important decision and it’s best to talk it over with everyone you care about and who cares for you. This journey should not be entered to lightly or for any other reasons other than to help others have the joy of parenting through your hard work. This should not be done 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. If you are convinced that you want to look into it, I would strongly recommend looking for stories of other surrogate mothers who have already gone through the process as they will be your best input into what you might experience. 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.

Some of the best surrogate mother stories and pictures can be found online, but you may have to search really hard for them. Because of that, I recommend the site www.parentingpartners.net to read the stories and see the pictures on that site. Because it is a surrogacy agency near Chicago, it will be a good resource for Illinois residents. 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.

Here are some links to get started reading stories from real surrogate mothers. Are you ready?

My Surrogacy Journey and Birth Story for Ethan – Surrogate Mother Story

Athena's Story - Being A Surrogate – Surrogate Mother Story

A Baby To Love : Chicago Parent Magazine – Surrogate Mother Story

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.

Gestational Surrogacy - Definition

Gestational surrogacy is a term that defines a situation in which a woman carries and delivers a baby for someone else. The woman who carries the baby is known as the gestational carrier or surrogate mother. The parents-to-be are known as the "intended parents" and are typically involved in the pregnancy, are present at the birth, and become the child's legal parents after the baby’s birth. The baby isn’t genetically related to the gestational carrier because the egg usually comes from the intended mother and the sperm comes from the intended father. This is the typical gestational surrogacy situation, although sometimes the sperm, eggs, or embryos come from a donor.

Gestational surrogacy utilizes IVF, or in-vitro fertilization, in which eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory setting and the resulting embryo is implanted in the gestational carrier. 

Is gestational surrogacy legal?

Most states don't have specific laws covering gestational surrogacy, so it's important to work with a licensed attorney in your state who has expertise in third party reproduction. An attorney can advise you on your options and draft a legally binding contract. 

Currently, a handful of states allow gestational surrogacy contracts, but they aren't always enforceable depending on what's legal. Some states require couples to be married, and some don't allow gestational surrogates to be compensated. Also, there may be requirements about sexual orientation.

Illinois has one of the best environments for surrogacy. Why? Because there is a statute highly favorable to gestational surrogacy which governs the process from contracts to birth certificates. The Illinois statue applies to single parents and heterosexual couples where at least one person has furnished their own genomes.

When is gestational surrogacy the right choice?

Gestational surrogacy may be a good choice for a woman if she is unable to carry a pregnancy safely or at all because of uterus problems. Men choose gestational surrogacy because they are single or in a gay relationship.

How do you get started with gestational surrogacy?

Whether you set up the arrangement through an Chicago Surrogacy agency such as www.ParentingPartners.net or negotiate it privately, using a gestational surrogate is a legally complex and emotionally intense process. If you decide to go this route, be prepared to commit a lot of time, money, and patience to succeed.

Though you won't carry the baby, it's likely you'll be very involved in the pregnancy. You'll also probably pay the gestational surrogate's expenses, including medical appointments, health insurance bills, travel costs, legal bills, and agency fees (if you're using one). Here's what happens when you choose gestational surrogacy:

1.      You speak with a fertility counselor to help you consider the pros and cons, sort through your emotions, and explore the potential impact of a relationship with a gestational surrogate.

2.      Next, you decide whether to ask a relative or friend to be the gestational surrogate, or use an agency that can match you with someone.

3.      You and your partner, if applicable, and the gestational surrogate undergo medical and psychological screenings.

4.      Hire an attorney experienced in gestational surrogacy for yourself and your gestational surrogate. Create a legal agreement that protects everyone and describes important details such as compensation, parental rights, legal custody, where the baby will be delivered, future contact between the parties, insurance coverage, and control over medical decisions made during the pregnancy.

5.      You and your partner, or you and the donor use IVF to produce an embryo that's genetically yours and the embryo is transferred to the gestational surrogate.

How long does gestational surrogacy take?

Finding a healthy, willing gestational surrogate can take months or even years, whether you screen candidates through an agency, decide to ask a friend or relative, or search for someone online.

Once you've finalized the agreement and have begun treatment, it can take at least three or four IVF cycles to achieve a successful pregnancy. Each IVF cycle takes four to six weeks.