The Screening Process: What it takes to get cleared to be a surrogate
Welcome to “Who Wants To Be A Surrogate?”!!! I wish it was as easy as a game show, but sadly, it is not. The road to becoming a surrogate is not a short one. The process to be approved to give the gift of life is not easy. That is why working with an agency makes it so much easier than doing it on your own. The hardest part is taking that step and filling out the intake form for the agency. It’s a big step to even consider doing this selfless act for someone else. There is a long application that needs to be filled out for the agency to get to know you and to provide information for the agency to create a profile to show intended parents. Then the medical records to show proof of a healthy pregnancy and finally an interview with the agency and psychologist. So let's break this down into three steps:
Step one, Intake!
The first is to, of course, find an agency and fill out that intake form. This will allow the agency to reach out to you and give them enough information to see if you meet the minimum qualifications to be a surrogate. This is also a great time to get all your early burning questions answered.
Step two, Application & Medical Records!
After the intake call and you meet all the qualifications, you will need to fill out an application. This will allow the agency to get to know you. This will also tell the agency who you are willing to work with and your stance on many things, including vaccination and termination of a pregnancy. Once the application is approved and everything looks good, we will start gathering medical records from your past pregnancies and deliveries. The medical records will prove that you have had good pregnancies and deliveries.
Step three, Interview, Background Check, and Psych clearance!
Once your records are approved you will meet with someone from the agency and they will conduct an interview. It’s not like a job interview, it’s more similar to an informational meeting. This interview will go over basic information and they will explain items such as matching, medical workups, how medication works, how the transfer works if you have to travel and how many times you will have to travel, how and when you get paid, and what to expect when you are actually pregnant and the next steps after that. It’s a lot!! Once the interview is done you will meet with a psychologist and they will evaluate you to ensure you are ready to handle being a surrogate. During this time the agency will also run a background check on you and your spouse or partner and anyone over the age of 18 living in the home.
This just touches the surface of the process of being approved to be a surrogate. There are so many other small key details and much more needed paperwork that you will need to provide. A simple phone call will get the process started and answer most of your questions. The application and medical records will provide all the necessary information for the agency to get the ball rolling in providing the proof you are qualified to become a surrogate. The final interviews will seal the deal and get you ready to give that beautiful gift of helping create a family.
If you are thinking of helping create a family and have some questions or just want to do some simple research, reach out to us. We would be happy to take your call.