If you’re considering building your family through surrogacy, you know that you have an expensive route ahead of you. Surrogacy can be a complicated journey, and there are many moving parts and professionals required in order to complete this process safely and legally. There is not a great deal of options when it comes to making surrogacy more affordable, but there is one big one — deciding to find a free surrogate mother.
Often, the base compensation paid to a gestational carrier can be one of the largest aspects of an intended parent’s surrogacy cost. By eliminating this compensation, intended parents can pursue a significantly cheaper family-building journey.
However, the path to find a free surrogate mother is not as easy as it may seem. There are many things to consider before embarking on this kind of surrogacy journey and, when you learn more about it, you may even discover that it is not the right path for your family.
Below, we’ve tackled a few of the important facts about working with a surrogate mother for free to help you decide what is best for your family-building journey. Remember, our surrogacy professionals are always available at 1-800-875-2229(BABY) if you have any more questions about surrogacy costs, surrogate compensation and the possibility of working with an uncompensated gestational carrier.
Can a Surrogate Mother Do It For Free?
As you research surrogacy, you’ll likely first learn about the most common surrogacy path — compensated surrogacy. In this situation, a gestational carrier is paid base compensation (as well as reimbursement for any medical and pregnancy costs) in exchange for her services and sacrifice in carrying an intended parent’s baby. This process is available through most of the United States, depending on the laws of the state where the gestational carrier lives and will give birth.
However, you may also stumble across another surrogacy process: an altruistic surrogacy. During this process, intended parents find a free surrogate mother — someone who is willing to carry a child without receiving a base compensation. A woman’s medical and pregnancy costs will still be covered in this kind of surrogacy arrangement.
It is perfectly legal for a gestational carrier to carry a child altruistically. In fact, it is required in certain states that prohibit paid surrogacy contracts.
Are There Any “Pro Bono” Surrogate Mothers?
While it is certainly possible for a surrogate mother to do it for free, altruistic surrogacy is far less common than compensated surrogacy. Understandably, many women desire compensation when becoming a gestational carrier. After all, they are sacrificing their own time, energy and body to help someone else, and they often don’t feel comfortable doing so without some token of appreciation.
However, there are still women who are willing to complete altruistic surrogacies. Often, these are women who know the intended parents they wish to carry for. Perhaps a gestational carrier is a sister or friend of an intended mother, and she is happy to make this sacrifice for her loved ones. On the other hand, a woman may wish to become a traditional surrogate (in which she is related to the baby she carries) — a path which, in many states, cannot be legally completed if she receives base compensation. However, traditional surrogacy can be a risky legal and emotionally process that is uncommon today — and, even if you find a traditional surrogate for free, you should seriously consider the risks before moving forward with this path.
If you are looking to find a free surrogate mother, you might start by looking within your own network for an eligible friend or family member who wishes to carry for you. Otherwise, finding an altruistic surrogate is often a path you must take on your own. Many agencies (including American Surrogacy) typically work with gestational carriers who wish to receive compensation. So, to find a surrogate mother for free, you may need to search online and identify a surrogacy situation yourself.
Things to Consider About an Altruistic Surrogacy
For you, as an intended parent, working with a free surrogate mother may seem like the perfect path. It allows you to cut down on your surrogacy costs, of which there will be many. However, before you decide to pursue an altruistic surrogacy, it’s important that you think about this path from the perspective of the woman who will carry your child.
Surrogacy is a lot of work for a gestational carrier. Not only is she sacrificing a year or more of her time and energy to help you, she will also incur certain risks during the surrogacy process. A traditional pregnancy is risky for a pregnant woman, and a gestational pregnancy is no different — especially when you think about the extra medical procedures and medications required to impregnate a gestational carrier.
If a woman does not receive compensation as a token of her intended parents’ gratitude, she may feel taken advantage of — which can greatly impact your relationship with her. Similarly, if you are an intended parent in an altruistic surrogacy, you may feel incredibly indebted to your gestational carrier. These kinds of feelings can quickly cause tension in a relationship, even between friends and family members.
So, before you go looking for any “pro bono” surrogate mothers, we encourage you to reach out to our surrogacy specialists at 1-800-875-2229(BABY). Our specialists can discuss with you the pros and cons of this path, including the responsibilities you will have to take on if you choose to find a free surrogate mother instead of a compensated one. We can also explain the benefits of finding a compensated gestational carrier with our agency and help you get started whenever you are ready.
For more information, contact American Surrogacy today.
I’m desperate for a baby…but I think I’m to old I’m 52
I haven’t had a period for 2 years now
Please can you help me
Teresa fry
Hi, Teresa — Have you spoken with a reproductive endocrinologist about your options? They will provide the best advice on what options are available for your situation. Here’s an article to learn more: https://www.americansurrogacy.com/parents/options-for-infertility Good luck!
Hello my name is Michael. Im 37 yrs old. Me and my partner have been together for 16 yrs. We both are egar to start a family. Please if anybody can help please reach out. We just want a family so bad . Thank you
Hi Michael! If you and your partner are stil interested in starting a family, we would be delighted to assist you on your journey. You can reach out to us today by filling out our form or calling 1-800-875-2229.
Go to a fertility Dr some centers you have until 55.
My husband and I are searching for a surrogate that won’t cost an arm and a leg. We are just in the beginning process of finding information about the whole process! I’m 47 and my husbands 37. We have a 7 year old and I have a 16 and 19 year old and I can’t have kids as with my 7 year old I had a c section and had 3 surgeries thereafter to save my life due to complications. So now we want one more! Any ideas? Reached out to friends and family but no one can… want to start this ASAP… thank you!
Hi, Jolynn — You can learn more about our agency’s surrogacy program by contacting us online. Our specialists can talk to you in more depth about how the process works and the average expenses for this kind of journey. Thanks!
Do you have any information on finding surrogates. My husband and I have tried for a while now and no luck . I’m looking to find a surrogate to carry our child without it costing an arm and leg
Hi, Asya — American Surrogacy would be happy to help you find a gestational carrier when you’re ready. Give us a call at 1-800-875-2229 or contact us online to learn more. Thanks!
My boyfriend and I recently had a baby and I can’t have anymore since my last two pregnancies, I have had preeclamsia. I was looking into the future having more, but the cost is way too much. I’m hoping to find something that isn’t costing an arm and a leg. I’m also worried: I love my boyfriend and they’ll be using his sperm but I’m worried about not being able to bond with future baby — because it was technically using another woman’s egg + his sperm doesn’t feel right.
Hi, Kimberly — It sounds like you have a lot of questions about gestational surrogacy, and that’s great! We encourage you to speak with a surrogacy specialist for more information; you can contact us online or call us at 1-800-875-BABY(2229). You might also consider speaking with an infertility counselor to learn more about your options and to work through some of the emotions you’re struggling with. You can learn more about moving from infertility to surrogacy here: https://www.americansurrogacy.com/parents/infertility-to-surrogacy We hope to hear from you soon.
Hello my name is inesha I’m a 45 year old woman & my husband is 28 he don’t have no kids but I have 5 of my own & they all grown my husband desperately wants to have his own baby where we can share one together due to the fact I’m not able to have anymore due to my age & having my tubes tied but I would love to share raising a child with him I don’t want to pay a arm & leg to have a baby but we desperately would like to have one please help who do I need to contact or someone reach out to me about more information please & thank you
Hi, Inesha — If you’re interested in surrogacy, please contact our specialists online or by calling 1-800-875-BABY(2229). They can further answer any questions you have. Thank you!
I’m looking for a surrogate mother to carry my child I didn’t tried over and over again to get pregnant and this time I don’t do not want to be disappointed I really don’t so someone please help me
Hi, Nashay — Please contact our team online or at 1-800-875-BABY(2229) to learn more about our surrogacy program. Thanks!
Hello. I’m a single man looking for a surrogacy mother. I can’t seem to find anyone willing to help me have a child. It would be great to be a father with no strings attached to the mother and due to not having the sufficient funds, have been unable to find a surrogate to pay. If anyone has any information on free surrogacy mother’s, please contact me below
Hi, Jonathan — Have you considered an independent surrogacy journey? You may be able to find a altruistic surrogate by searching online classifieds and support groups. You might start with these ones: https://www.americansurrogacy.com/blog/5-places-to-find-intended-parent-support-groups/ Good luck!
( sry left the first comment as a reply to someone else’s post)
Hello I am 30yr old dude in California that can never come out to his parents due to one being heavily religious and then other being a Vietnam vet. Would love someone to help me on this new journey that I would like to start with my biological child. If anyone can help or point me in the right direction would be much appreciated.
Hi, Jessee — You can learn more about our surrogacy program anytime by calling 1-800-875-2229 or requesting free information online. We look forward to hearing from you!
Im 28 yes old, with two beautiful children but unfortunately got cervical cancer at 24 and had a partial hysterectomy in 2018.
I still have my ovaries but not my cervix or uterus.
I want to find someone to carry my husband and I’s child but I can’t afford paying $40K+.
I would feel so much more complete with another child of ours running around.
Me an my boyfriend have two kids but my pregnancies are high risk, I cannot carry a baby due to my last pregnancies I develope too much scare tissue after my c-sections so when I get pregnant and the baby grows the scare tissue stretches and busts open so I start bleeding internally. They require me to be in the hospital for all nine months if I get pregnant again. I can not afford to pay someone to carry my baby. I want to be able to find someone that can carry my egg with his sperm and not be in debt.
Hi, Fay-
Altruistic surrogacy is rare, but if you have a friend or family member who is able and willing to be your gestational carrier, they may choose to forgo compensation. However, you’d still be responsible for the medical costs associated with IVF and surrogacy, which can be high. If your heart is set on surrogacy, we would encourage you to meet with a financial advisor or to look into fertility treatment grants to help make the process more financially manageable. We wish you the best of luck!
Hi me and my partner live in the UK. I have a 10 year old and he has none we are desperate for a baby of our own but friends nor family want to do the process for us. We’ve been looking at adoption but can not guarantee a baby so have also been looking at surrogacy but the price is crazy! We can afford a baby but not thousands of pounds all in a sitting. Is there actually any women that enjoy doing this for couples struggling?
Hi, Jodie-
The women who become surrogates absolutely enjoy the experience of helping people to become parents, but the medical costs of surrogacy are often high – fertility treatments, medical screening and tests, embryo transfers and the costs of the pregnancy itself. This is the largest expense for the intended parents. Additionally, surrogates sacrifice time away from their jobs and families, they’ll often spend money to travel for aspects of the surrogacy process and will need time off of work to recover. The compensation that surrogates accept simply offsets the time, money and effort the put forth to help the intended parents.
We encourage you to look into grants that may help with the medical costs of your surrogacy journey, or to reach out to a private infant adoption agency if your heart is set on adopting a newborn. We wish you the best of luck!
Im a lesbian and looking for someone to carry my baby
My husband and I are trying to afford all of the costs associated with IVF and not being able to carry and get pregnant on our own. My age and fact I had problems with tumors in my uterus, I am unable to carry. We have adopted a child from the foster care system and would so love to give her s sibling. But we are also having to deal with all of the costs. Please let us know of the costs associated with using your agency. Thank you!
Hi Betsy! Thank you for your question, and for your sharing your story. You can speak directly to a surrogacy specialist regarding our costs by calling 1-800-875-2229 or by filling out our online form. You may also find helpful information in this article about financial resources for surrogacy.
Your blog post provided valuable insights and perspectives on the topic, and I appreciate the effort and thoughtfulness put into creating such informative content.