Surrogacy Definition and What it Means for You

How the Right Surrogacy Agency Makes a Difference 

As a prospective intended parent or gestational surrogate, you may be new to surrogacy. This guide on how to define surrogacy gives you a clear picture of how life-changing it is for everyone involved. 

  • Surrogacy is a chance to start a family for an intended parent who is unable to do so. 
  • Intended parents and surrogates can share a lifelong bond. 
  • Working with the right surrogacy agency means getting guidance and help from a trusted, experienced and ethical professional. 

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of surrogacy is, “The practice by which a woman (called a surrogate mother) becomes pregnant and gives birth to give it to someone who cannot have children.” 

Surrogacy is growing in popularity as an option for intended parents unable to have children to start a family. However, the idea of surrogacy might be new to both intended parents and surrogates.  

To truly define surrogacy, we have to look past just a specific definition. It’s about a heroic surrogate giving a couple or an individual unable to have a child an incredible gift. 

Did you know you can fill out our online form to get connected to a surrogacy specialist today? You will get more information on how to define surrogacy and how surrogacy helps hopeful intended parents and heroic surrogates match to create a better future.  

Until then, continue reading to learn more about the definition of surrogacy and how working with the right agency is essential. 

What is the Meaning of Surrogacy? [Define Surrogacy Beyond the Dictionary] 

We’ve provided you with the definition of surrogacy. Still, it’s important to help you understand the definition of surrogacy beyond the dictionary. 

First, for a more complete definition of surrogacy, it’s important to understand how different types of surrogacy are defined.

Traditional surrogacy: Traditional surrogacy involves a genetic relationship between the surrogate and the baby she carries.

In this process, the surrogate becomes pregnant through artificial insemination using her own egg, which makes her the biological mother of the baby she is carrying.

This creates complicated legal and emotional challenges, which is why this type of surrogacy is rarely completed today. Instead, the vast majority of surrogacies today are defined as gestational surrogacy.

What is the gestational surrogacy meaning? 

Gestational surrogacy is when the intended parent(s) create embryos to be transferred to the surrogate through IVF.

These embryos are created using the intended parents’ and/or third-party donors’ eggs and sperm, which means the surrogate has no genetic connection to the baby. This process is far less risky, making it the most popular type of surrogacy today by far.

We’ll define the surrogacy process in more detail later in this article. For now, let’s talk about what surrogacy means to both intended parents and surrogates. 

Remember, you can always complete our online form to get connected with a trusted and experienced surrogacy specialist. They can help you define surrogacy and understand the number of new terms you are reading. 

What Does Surrogacy Mean for Intended Parents? 

Suppose you’re an intended parent struggling with infertility, a hopeful single parent, or part of a same-sex couple wanting to raise a child. Surrogacy might be your last option for a biological child. 

You deserve the opportunity to become a parent and raise a child, and surrogacy is the chance to do just that.  

When you work with the right surrogacy agency, you get to experience a safe and rewarding surrogacy journey.

They’ll help you find the perfect match with a well-qualified surrogate — a generous woman who is well-organized, professional and excited to work with you to achieve the most important goal of your life.

What does it mean when you have a surrogate mother? It means you have found a heroic person willing to carry and deliver your baby.

If you’ve decided to work with a specialized surrogacy agency, you will get matched with a surrogate who is eager to join you on this journey for the right reasons. 

After all, you want your surrogate to live a healthy lifestyle and care for your baby during pregnancy as you would. Specially trained surrogacy specialists follow a detailed screening process to ensure all surrogates are organized, professional, and want to be surrogate mothers for the right reasons. 

You also benefit from working with a qualified surrogate with whom you’ll have the opportunity to build and maintain a lifelong open relationship.  

Are you ready to get more information about starting the surrogacy journey and better understanding the surrogacy definition? Then get connected with a surrogacy specialist online today! 

What Does Surrogacy Mean for a Surrogate? 

You might be asking, “Why would I choose to be a surrogate?” 

Prospective surrogates like yourself make this heroic decision out of genuine kindness and the desire to help a couple or individual see the dream of raising a biological child come true. 

Many intended parents struggle with infertility, are single or are same-sex couples who want to raise a child. 

Your decision to carry and deliver a baby for an intended parent is one of the greatest gifts imaginable. You help remove the stigma surrounding infertility and surrogacy. 

Here are just a few of the additional benefits of becoming a surrogate

  • A sense of purpose: You can feel a sense of purpose and personal satisfaction when helping an intended parent start a family through surrogacy. 
  • Create a lifelong bond: Having an open relationship and sharing the experience with an intended family builds the foundation for a lifelong relationship. 
  • The experience of pregnancy: Many surrogates enjoy pregnancy. The feeling of carrying a baby to term can be a big part of the decision to become a surrogate, especially if your family is already complete and you want to experience pregnancy again.  
  • Pride in your decision: The heroic decision to help an intended parent start a family gives you great satisfaction. 
  • Financial compensation: While we know you carry and deliver a baby for an intended family because you want them to experience raising a child, you also receive financial compensation. 

The benefits of surrogacy are numerous as a prospective surrogate. However, there are inherent medical and psychological risks to know. Therefore, we encourage you to fill out our online form to get connected with a trusted and experienced surrogacy specialist to get more information. 

We’re excited for the chance to meet you and help you get your surrogacy journey started and match with a hopeful intended parent today! 

The Definition of Surrogacy and How the Process Works  

Now that you know the definition of surrogacy and how it positively impacts the lives of intended parents and prospective surrogates, let’s talk about the surrogacy process. 

You can find a complete guide with more specific details of the surrogacy process here, but for now, here is a brief rundown of what you can expect: 

  1. Contact a surrogacy agency – Did you know that you’ve already begun your surrogacy journey by reading the information in the article? To round out this important first step, you’ll contact a licensed and trusted surrogacy agency. Get in touch with one here.
  2. Complete the screening process – Intended parents will be asked to provide detailed information and complete a psychological evaluation, while surrogates will complete a thorough medical and psychological screening process to help determine that they are physically, psychologically and legally ready to move forward. 
  3. Find the perfect match – Based on the information you’ve provided, your surrogacy specialist will begin finding the perfect match for your surrogacy journey. 
  4. Start the legal process – Because the legal process of surrogacy is crucial, legal contracts are drafted detailing important aspects of your surrogacy journey. Each party should be represented by their own attorney, who will ensure your contract follows state surrogacy laws, addresses your rights and risks and determines how much contact you plan to have during the process. 
  5. Complete embryo transfer – Your surrogacy agency will partner with the intended parents’ chosen fertility clinic to complete the embryo transfer. You can read more about the medical process of surrogacy here.  
  6. Finalize your surrogacy journey – After the first trimester, the intended parents’ attorney will begin working on the pre-birth order in preparation for post-delivery. Want to get more information on the pre-birth order and how to establish parentage in surrogacy? Click this link, and don’t forget to fill out our online form to connect to a surrogacy specialist right now! 

Again, surrogacy is a much newer and unfamiliar path to building a family for many people.

The definition of surrogacy includes terminology and technical details that only a trusted and experienced surrogacy specialist can help explain. 

The important thing to remember is that through surrogacy, intended parents and surrogates have the chance to share a life-changing journey that brings benefits to both sides.

So, when exploring the surrogacy definition, we hope you now better understand that it’s more than just a term in a dictionary. 

It’s a way for a hopeful family struggling to have children to see their dream of becoming a parent come true. It also gives a special surrogate the chance to experience pregnancy again while providing a life-changing gift to the intended parent. 

You deserve to work with a surrogacy agency that provides every resource you need to experience a safe, ethical and amazing surrogacy journey. Contact us today to get in touch with a surrogacy specialist who can’t wait for the chance to join you on your journey.