How to become a surrogate mother

Surrogate motherhood is a type of infertility treatment approach to help couples with severe fertility diseases to become genetic parents. As a rule, this procedure requires three parts: an intended (genetic) father, an intended(genetic) mother, and a woman (surrogate) who agrees to carry and give birth to a child.

Surrogacy itself appears to be quite controversial as it has both supporters and opponents. In many countries e.g. Austria, France, Sweden it is still illegal.

When did surrogate motherhood become legal?

The first mention about surrogacy was in ancient times. In Ancient Rome, husbands could hire out their wives to the married couples, where the wife was infertile and the baby, who was born due to “hired” mother , was considered a legal child of an infertile couple. Of course, there was no legal process. Everything was much simpler and faster. The intended mother was the first, who held the baby after the birth and this action proved her doubtless parental right. The first “modern” surrogacy was declared to be successfully performed in 1980. It took place in the USA and was totally legal. The surrogate mother drafted a contract with an infertile couple and got her monetary compensation for this. In Georgia surrogacy has been legal since 1997 along with egg and sperm donation.

Why women become surrogate mothers

All the external disapproval makes it more difficult for the woman to arrive at the decision to become a surrogate. But still the difficult financial situation urges them to become surrogate mothers as the compensation is quite high. Along with payment, surrogates get a redeeming feeling of mutual help. They not only make money but also present intended parents with Faith, Hope and Love. However, there are the cases of non-profit surrogacy, when women agree to carry and give a birth to the children instead of their infertile sisters, daughters, nieces etc.

Difficulties the surrogate may face

Despite the fact that psychologists work with intended surrogate mothers before, during and after pregnancy, it still can be emotionally difficult to go through the process. The woman can get too emotionally attached to the unborn child and it may be very psychologically traumatic for her to give away the baby. Along with natural hormonal fluxes during the pregnancy it may lead to depression, mood swings that may result in health deterioration both of the surrogate mother and a baby. Also, surrogates may have some concerns about the future of an infant as they give the baby to the people they don’t know and won’t ever meet again. To prevent this, agencies help both a surrogate mother and intended parents to get to know each other before and during the pregnancy.

How to become a surrogate in Georgia

Georgia is one of not many European countries where surrogacy is allowed. A lot of women would like to become a surrogate in Georgia as it is quite profitable. That’s why the candidates are particularly interested in how to become a surrogate mother in Georgia. Generally, to become one, women should meet certain requirements:

1. The woman should be from 20 to 35 years old;
2. Be mentally and physically healthy;
3. Have at least one her own child;
4. Have blood group and Rh factor tests, complete blood count, blood chemistry test, urinalysis, chest photofluorography, coagulogram, hormonal blood test, mycoplasma and ureaplasma culture test, electrocardiogram results, pelvic and breast ultrasound results etc.
5. Have no bad habits as smoking or drug abuse;
6. If the woman is married, she should provide her husband’s legal consent to the procedure;
7. Shouldn’t have any contraindications to carry and deliver the baby;
8. Shouldn’t have any miscarriages, preterm or operative delivery.

The list may vary since all the requirements are negotiated with the surrogacy agency, doctor and intended parents who can add or extract the points. e.g. the surrogate should or shouldn’t be married or have a life partner. It is worth noting, that the industry has quite high demand so it will be not so difficult to choose the right surrogacy agency in Georgia for a candidate if they meet above-mentioned requirements.