At American Surrogacy, we treasure the connections our staff builds with our clients. Perhaps no staff member works harder than Angie Newkirk, the director of our surrogacy program.
To help intended parents and prospective surrogates interested in this family-building process, Angie sat down to answer some questions about surrogacy, our program and more.
Q: What is one thing that people always get wrong about surrogacy?
A: I think the biggest thing people get wrong about surrogacy is that it is the surrogate’s child. I know I used to make that mistake all of the time before I educated myself.
All the time I hear from people “Isn’t it so hard for her to give the child away?” But, the surrogate is not related to the child at all and this makes it easier for her to place the child in his or her parents’ arms.
A surrogate has no intention of keeping another person’s child for her own. She already has her own children who she loves very much. Surrogates love being pregnant, but most of them have completed their family so they would love the opportunity to help someone else. I hear all of the time when the surrogate is at the hospital how happy she is that she can focus on healing and does not have to care for the newborn!
Q: What would you want prospective surrogates to know before starting?
A: Oh my gosh — so much! I want them to know that this is a different way of getting pregnant so there is a lot of work that goes into it and there is a reason why compensation is involved. There are shots and appointments and blood draws. Surrogacy is truly for women who want to help someone build their family, have a giving heart and really enjoyed being pregnant.
Q: What about hopeful intended parents?
A: This is a marathon, not a sprint. This is a lengthy process that takes time. It takes time to create embryos, to find a surrogate you connect with, to medically screen her, legal contracts, and more.
Q: What are the most common questions you get from those interested in surrogacy?
A: What are the costs? Why is it so expensive? Is it hard for surrogates to give up that baby?
What do I need to do to get started? I know someone who wants to be our surrogate.
Fortunately, there are articles all over our website that address these questions, and I’m always happy to answer any other questions that you may have!
Q: What has been your most memorable moment with American Surrogacy?
A: There have been so many of them; it is hard to pick one.
I can think about all the firsts, such as the first surrogate I met in-person at her home, the first time I matched potential clients, and my first ethics conference to learn about this wonderful field of assisted reproduction.
But I would say my most memorable would be my first local match where the family had lost a baby at 20 weeks the year prior. The surrogate and the intended parents shared the cost of a professional photographer and captured the most beautiful, raw picture of the intended mother seeing her healthy baby delivered. The look on her face helped me to truly understand what I do and how this option of building families is just as amazing as adoption or any other method.
Q: What would you want people to know about American Surrogacy?
A: The American Surrogacy family has been around for a long time! Our history of family planning comes from adoption, and our enthusiasm evolved through time to an overall family-building passion. We have learned there are many different ways to build a family, and we want to be able to use our years of knowledge to figure out the best route for our clients.
Q: Why should people consider surrogacy as a family-building path?
A: Surrogacy is not for everyone. It can be a long process and an expensive one due to the medical costs. But, there are a few reasons people choose it over adoption. Actually, with my history in adoption, it’s been interesting to compare the two.
Surrogacy allows for more control with the intended parents. They control who carries their baby, they are able to outline any “do”s and “don’t”s during pregnancy that they feel passionate about, and they are able to be there for the entire pregnancy and birth. In most states, the baby is theirs from the moment he or she is born so there are not a lot of legal complications afterwards. They are able to leave the hospital and go straight home.
For more information about surrogacy or to take with director Angie directly, you can call 1-800-875-BABY(2229) or contact our agency online.