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Would You Be A Good Surrogate?

 

The fact that you have even considered helping an infertile couple to start a family puts you in a very special class of women. Someone who goes above and beyond to help others.

Next Step

Find out if surrogacy is right for you.  Complete our questionnaire – quick, simple and online.
Click the “Next Step” button

Thank you for taking the time to learn about the surrogacy process!

A Perfect Match works with intended parents who need the help of a surrogate in order to fulfill their dream of having a child.  We believe it requires a very special type of woman to become a surrogate and our goal is to make sure each of our surrogates is matched with a family and an In Vitro Fertilization Center (known as IVF center) that will treat her with all the respect and care she truly deserves.

What are the rewards of being a surrogate?
  • For some women, surrogacy is a method to earn additional income to be able to stay at home with their own children or even put a down payment on a house.
  • Most of our surrogates LOVED being pregnant, but are done with their own family – why not help others?
  • Some have become surrogates after someone they are close to struggled with infertility. Seeing the challenges and disappointments they have faced has lead them to help others
  • Many women simply love being moms and want to give that gift to someone who otherwise would not be able to become a parent
  • Some surrogates want to help same sex couples become dads as an act of justice and equality
Compensation

Gestational surrogates are compensated for the risks they take on, but most surrogates find the emotional rewards to be much greater and deeper than they had ever imagined.

First-time surrogates receive compensation in the range of $35,000 to $45,000 which includes a base fee of $30,000 plus additional money for expenses which could include maternity clothing allowance, monthly allowance, invasive procedure fee, multiple babies, housekeeping allowance, lost wages and monthly support group attendance fee.

Repeat surrogates receive compensation of approximately $40,000 to $55,000 which includes a base fee of approximately $32-37,000 or higher, plus additional money for expenses as listed above.

Compensation is usually paid out monthly.

Surrogacy Information

There are two types of Surrogacy; gestational and traditional

Gestational Surrogacy:

As a gestational surrogate you are not genetically related to the child.  It involves an egg donor or intended mother, a sperm donor or intended father, and a gestational surrogate.  Through the process of in vitro fertilization the egg is removed from the mom-to-be or an egg donor and fertilized with sperm to create an embryo. The embryo is placed inside the uterus of the gestational surrogate who carries and gives birth to the child. Your healthy body is a temporary space for the embryo to grow.

Traditional Surrogacy:

Involves a surrogate mother who, using her own eggs, is artificially inseminated with the semen of the prospective father. She then carries and gives birth to the child. Some traditional surrogates may also go through the in-vitro fertilization process.  Eggs are harvested from her and fertilized through the IVF process, then transferred back into the surrogates uterus. She then carries and gives birth to the child.  We do not work with Traditional Surrogates at this time because we feel the laws are not protective enough of the intended parents.

As a gestational surrogate you are not genetically related to the child. Instead, the egg is removed from the mom-to-be or an egg donor and fertilized with sperm to create an embryo. The embryo is placed inside the uterus of the gestational surrogate. Your healthy body is a temporary space for the embryo to grow.

Why Choose Us?

We have a lovely office in La Mesa and we welcome visits from our surrogates throughout their application process, matching process and pregnancy.  We hold normal business hours, so you can be assured you will be able to speak with a “live” person when you call or stop by. Our surrogacy coordinators are available by cell phone 24/7 and they really do become a friend to all our surrogates. Your coordinator will be your support through your pregnancy and delivery.  We hold monthly surrogate meetings during which our surrogates enjoy a great meal and conversation with other surrogates. We bring in special speakers to help guide our new and returning surrogates through some of the challenges of surrogacy and provide a friendly place to hear or share personal experiences.  We have our own private Facebook support group — for our surrogates only— that is monitored by our Surrogacy Coordinators.   As an extra treat, we host special events for our ladies such as: spa days, family picnics, and holiday parties.  We go above and beyond to not only provide a strong support system, but to also create a network of surrogates whose friendship, advice and experience along the way becomes invaluable.  While the goal is to provide a couple the gift of becoming a family, we never lose sight of your value and importance as a surrogate throughout this process.

Who would be a good surrogate?

Above all, we are seeking women who have a sincere desire to help intended parents realize their dream of having a child of their own through their generous offer to become a surrogate.  Some of the qualities we are looking for are:

  • Women who are physically and mentally healthy
  • Between the age of 21-38
  • Live in a stable home environment, including mental stability
  • Healthy body mass index (BMI) NOTE: you can go to www.howtobeasurrogate.com/BMI-Chart
  • No criminal background
  • Not receiving any financial assistance from the government
  • Have had at least one healthy pregnancy and birth
  • Being willing to take medications (oral, patches, vaginal and/or injections) for several weeks
  • Must be a non-smoker without consistent exposure to second-hand smoke
  • Willing to abstain from alcohol, drugs, and make lifestyle modifications as requested
  • Your spouse or partner must be supportive of your decision

Testimonials

 

Amy, A first-time surrogate who delivered a healthy singleton in May 2009

My son is the greatest joy in my life. I think everyone deserves to experience that. The love for and of a child is the greatest gift in the world and its heartbreaking to know some people are deprived of that gift. It seems so unfair that while some are faced with unwanted pregnancies others who desperately yearn for a child are denied. In my case, it took me four months to get pregnant and each month that first spot of blood of my period arrived I cried. My weeks of hopes were crushed in an instant and I felt a great sense of loss. That sadness was nothing compared to what many parents looking into surrogacy have experienced- years of trying and never conceiving, a medical condition preventing them from conceiving or carrying a child, or miscarriage after miscarriage. The devastation is astounding. My heart goes out to these couples and I want to help them get their dream of a child. Read More ...

Daniella, Delivered surrogate twins in Jan. 2008 and delivered a singleton in May 2009. She plans to do one final surrogacy in 2010

I think A Perfect Match is GREAT!!!!!!!! I have no words to express my gratitude. Rose is an amazing woman! She takes great care of all her surrogates. The company is so involved and you never feel like you are alone.I work with same sex couples. My first time which was March 2007 I was matched with a great couple. I got pregnant with twins and delivered in January 19 2008. The best decision I could was to become a surrogate! I will tell you its not the easiest thing to do but if you are dedicated and really want to do it!! GO FOR IT!!!! You will never regret it!!   Read More …

Marci, Delivered a singleton in March 2008 and is currently pregnant with a singleton for a sibling cycle with her previous family.

I started looking into surrogacy about 2 years ago when I heard some of my friends talking about it. I knew that I enjoyed being pregnant and had fairly easy pregnancies so I decided to research it a little bit more. After talking to a few women that had been surrogates and checking a few different agencies, I decided that A Perfect Match was the most inviting agency. From the first phone call that I made to them, I was always treated with kindness and no question ever went unanswered. Step by step, they walked me through the process. They really try to get to know you and match you with the right Intended Parents and I never felt that I had to compromise my values or beliefs. One of the greatest things about A Perfect Match is that you feel like you are a part of a “family”. There are monthly group support meetings and an on line support group so you are never alone in the process. There is always someone to talk to or answer your questions. Read More …

Hope, Delivered a singleton in January 2009 and will begin her second surrogacy cycle this summer

I recently received my “surrogate wings” to ring in the new year (1/7/09) and I’m already considering to be matched for another cycle. They warn you in the beginning that it is “addictive” and you think, “No way!! Dealing with the changes of your body and hormones..” Well, that WAS me. I caught myself asking, “What in the world was I thinking?” in the beginning and then each trimester ;P – being matched (wanting to find “a perfect match”), being screened (hoping you qualify), starting medication (needles..OMG!!), and then going through the 9 months (getting “fat”) . Read More ….

What Our Surrogates Have to Say

Daniella, Delivered surrogate twins and then went on to deliver a singleton. She plans to do one final surrogacy

I think A Perfect Match is GREAT!!!!!!!! I have no words to express my gratitude. Rose is an amazing woman! She takes great care of all her surrogates. The company is so involved and you never feel like you are alone.

I work with same sex couples. My first time I was matched with a great couple. I got pregnant with twins! The best decision I 

Read More …

Marci, Delivered a singleton and is currently pregnant with a singleton for a sibling cycle with her previous family

I started looking into surrogacy about 2 years ago when I heard some of my friends talking about it. I knew that I enjoyed being pregnant and had fairly easy pregnancies so I decided to research it a little bit more. After talking to a few women that had been surrogates and checking a few different agencies, I decided that A Perfect Match was the most inviting agency. From the first 

Read More …

Hope, Delivered a singleton and will begin her second surrogacy cycle this summer

I recently received my “surrogate wings” to ring in the new year (1/7/09) and I’m already considering to be matched for another cycle. They warn you in the beginning that it is “addictive” and you think, “No way!! Dealing with the changes of your body and hormones..” Well, that WAS me. I caught myself asking, “What in the world was I thinking?” in the beginning and then each trimester ;P – being

Read More ….

Amy, A first-time surrogate who delivered a healthy singleton

My son is the greatest joy in my life. I think everyone deserves to experience that. The love for and of a child is the greatest gift in the world and its heartbreaking to know some people are deprived of that gift. It seems so unfair that while some are faced with unwanted pregnancies others who desperately yearn for a child are denied. In my case, it took me four months to get pregnant and each month that first spot of blood of my period arrived I cried.

Read More ...

What To Expect – Our 7 Step Process

1. Getting started as a surrogate

Step 1 – Getting started as a surrogate — easy, quick, and online

If after reading about being a gestational surrogate you are interested in applying, the first step would be to complete a quick online questionnaire. (You can access questionnaire by entering your email address on this page)   Your information will be reviewed by our Surrogate coordinator and if you meet the requirements you will be asked to complete an application package and to send photos.  Note:  Please do not get any tattoos, or body piercings once you apply to the program because the state of California requires a surrogate to wait 6-12 months after having any body piercing and 1 year from receiving a tattoo before she can act as a surrogate. This is due to the increased risk of infectious diseases.

Tab 2

Tab Content goes here

I’m interested!  Now what?

If after reading all of the above, gestational surrogacy sounds like something you would like to explore further, simply click on the “Next Step” button and complete a short (approximately 5 minutes) screening questionnaire. Our Surrogacy Coordinator will review your questionnaire and let you know if you are a good candidate or not.  If you are, you will be asked to complete a full application package and the process begins!

Next Step

Things To Consider

 

It is very important that you consider the following before you commit to any family.  Our goal is to match you with a family that is like minded.  Having the same expectations will build the foundation for a strong relationship between you and the intended parents, and agreeing on the unforeseen ahead of time will help the process proceed with less stress and anxiety.

  • How many embryos are you willing to have transferred?
  • How many fetuses are you willing to carry to term?
  • Are you willing to terminate or selectively reduce should all the embryos progress?
  • Are you willing to let your intended parents choose termination if there is a medical issue with the fetus(es)?
  • Are you willing to terminate for Downs Syndrome?
  • Would you prefer the intended parents to attend your IVF and/or OB appointments?
  • Are you willing to let the intended parents be in the room during the birth? In the case of a Caesarean section (C-section) the surrogate chooses who she wants as her support person.
  • Would you like yearly updates and photos on a child you deliver for the intended parents?

This might sound overwhelming, but don’t worry, we will walk you through all of the important issues that you need to consider before being matched with an intended parent.

  In Summary

Surrogacy really does require a large level of caring and commitment on the part of the surrogate and everyone will be counting on her to do all she can to make the cycle a success. For the surrogate the benefit will be financial compensation, plus the satisfaction of knowing she helped someone who might otherwise not be able to have a child. The gift a surrogate offers is beyond measure and we know there is nothing more satisfactory than when the surrogate delivers a beautiful, healthy baby and places that baby in the arms of the waiting parents.

We are deeply committed to each and every surrogacy match and we will do everything in our power to make this a positive experience for the surrogate and the family. We treat our surrogates with respect and we develop a close, caring and supportive relationship with each one of our surrogates and that relationship continues long after the cycle is completed. We really believe the surrogates from A PERFECT MATCH are the best!

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