Simple Surrogacy: Frequently Asked Questions About Surrogacy





		<script type="text/javascript"> <!-- window.location = "noframes/surrogates_faq_text.htm" //--></script> 1: Why should I apply to be a Surrogate with Simple Surrogacy? ▲ top Simple Surrogacy makes the process of becoming a Surrogate as simple, and enjoyable as possible for you and your intended parent(s). Simple Surrogacy LLC, pays their Surrogate mothers on time. We work with the parents, Surrogate mother, Egg Donor and their lawyers during the establishment of their contract to create a fair and supportable arrangement between Surrogate mother and intended parent. We will make sure your rights as a Surrogate are protected, and insure your are happy with the process. 2: How should I determine my compensation? ▲ top We at Simple Surrogacy understand that while compensation is definitely not your primary reason for becoming a Surrogate, you deserve to be well compensated for your time and effort throughout the process. While your compensation is entirely up to you, we can provide general guidelines to help you decide on your fee. Average base compensation for a first time Surrogate is $20,000. Average Base compensation for a second time or more Surrogate starts at $25,000. You may determine that your fee should be higher or lower, depending on your situation. Simple Surrogacy will help you determine your ideal compensation, and insure your contract reflects your wishes. In addition to base compensation, you will also receive allowances as set forth in your contract, including but not limited to; maternity clothing allowance, mock cycle fee, IUI fee, multiple fee, invasive procedure fee, bed rest fee, and a monthly allowance to cover prenatal vitamins, travel expenses, and any other monthly expenses that arise. 3: How do I receive my payments? ▲ top Payments are made according to the contract and are automatically sent out 5 business days in advance of their payment due date. Simple Surrogacy, LLC was started by Surrogate mothers and Egg Donors who understand the importance of prompt payments when it comes to your own family and taking care of the child growing within you. Reimbursements are paid out on the first of every month based on receipts received for approved expenses submitted up to the 15th of the month. No approval is ever needed for Emergency Room visits for emergencies. A coordinator will work with you to make the process as easy for you as possible while respecting the Intended Parents pocketbook. 4: What happens if I run out of monthly expense money and still have expenses? ▲ top We don't want you to miss your OB/GYN appointment because you could not afford to fill up your gas tank and we don't want you to stop taking your prenatal vitamins because you did not have the cash to pay for them. If you need an advance to pay for IVF transfer childcare expenses or travel expenses we will do our best to make sure your needs are met. Call us and we will help you out. We strongly prefer that we make one reimbursement check a month to you but we do understand that the price of gas and other expenses that arise suddenly can create a bad cash flow moment for a family. We have all been there. For large expenses like airline tickets and motel/hotel stays we pay for that directly and get reimbursement from the parents' escrow account. 5: Who will I talk with at Simple Surrogacy? ▲ top You will be assigned a contact at Simple Surrogacy LLC who will check in on you regularly throughout the process. She will work out with you what is best whether it is by phone, e-mail, mail, whatever works! You will have someone to talk to about your worries, to console you when times are tough,, and to share the joy of the first heartbeat. Yes, you will have your intended parent(s) to share this with but you will have us as well. 6: Who decides what OB/GYN I see? ▲ top Most Surrogates stay working with the OB/GYN of their choice. Occasionally a parent will want a different doctor or hospital because of the availability of neonatal intensive care units (NICU's) or because they wish the delivery near their home or in their state for the birth certificate and pre-birth legal process. For surrogacies that cross state lines it can be equally probable that the parents will come to the Surrogate mother's locale for the birth or that they wish the Surrogate to give birth in their home state. We try to match Surrogates to parents that are within driving distance but sometimes the perfect match crosses the state line or requires an airline flight within state. 7: How does Matching work? ▲ top If you are an approved Simple Surrogacy LLC Surrogate we will work to match you with a parent that shares your pregnancy values. Relationships between Surrogate mother and Intended Parent all vary. We make every effort to manage expectations on both sides of the relationship and make the getting to know you part of the process simple and relaxed. You are giving them the most wonderful gift of their life. They are nervous about getting everything right and have been through so much to get to this point. We try to match the needs of both the Surrogate mother and the parent. Sometimes you will end up with a new set of lifelong friends and sometimes it will be just a pleasant interlude and occasionally it is something you just get through. You will know that for the rest of your life you made a big difference in someone else's life and that the child or children that you bring into the world are the most wanted children possible that will be loved beyond measure. 8: How soon will I be matched? ▲ top Some Surrogates are matched within a few hours and some are a few weeks. Sometimes, it can take longer. The time to match depends on personality, location, rate charged, insurance coverage, willingness to terminate if there are chromosomal defects (ie: Down Syndrome), willingness to reduce if there are triplets or a higher order multiple. We do not see parents that would wish to terminate for gender and would actively discourage that wish from a parent. There is PGD testing that can be done before blastocyst transfer that can allow for sex selection. When parents have arrived at surrogacy as a means for completing their family they have a high respect for a baby's quality of life as well as their very existence. If they can afford to they will probably over test rather than under test to make sure that all is well with the pregnancy. The look of shared joy between you and the Surrogate parent upon the first fetal heartbeat will be one of the sweetest moments in your life. 9: How many tests will I take? ▲ top Surrogates can be tested for all range of things. It all varies by clinic requirement. There are also FDA requirements for testing of Egg Donors and Sperm donors whether they are the intended parent or a known or anonymous donor. Egg Donors and Traditional Surrogates will be tested for a full range of STDs and communicable diseases within 30 days of egg transfer to a Surrogate in an IVF process. Sperm donors must be tested for STDs and communicable diseases within 7 days of the transfer to the Surrogate. This testing requirement came from the FDA and was introduced in May of 2005 and is designed to protect the recipient of foreign organs, in this case the Surrogate mother. For FET transfers of eggs frozen before May of 2005 there will be wavers for the Surrogate mother to sign since testing for STDs within 30 days for the Egg Donor and 7 days for the sperm donor may not have been done. The Surrogate mother will also be tested for STDs and communicable diseases and for life insurance establishment the Surrogate will be tested for Nicotine (Cigarette use, etc.) and illegal drugs. The intended parent also has the right to test at anytime during the pregnancy for Nicotine or illegal drugs. Cigarette smoking can cause birth defects and premature birth. 10: What happens if there is an emergency? ▲ top If there is a medical emergency please go to the ER or call 911. All Surrogates in our program will be given the cell phone number of their coordinator at Simple Surrogacy. Your coordinator is your support system. Please feel free to call your coordinator day or night. We are here to ensure you are taken care of no matter what time of the day or what the situation might be.