Do you have dreams of helping someone else become a parent? Do you enjoy pregnancy but don’t really wish to add another child to your family?
Becoming a surrogate in Texas may just be the thing for you.
Surrogacy is a growing field that allows many people to reach their parenthood dreams and allows many women to make a life-changing difference in the world. And American Surrogacy is here to help you every step of the way.
But, how do you become a surrogate in Texas? What are the laws and regulations surrounding this practice? How do you get started?
Below, find an explanation of the steps involved in how to be a surrogate in Texas to help you determine whether or not it’s right for you. Remember: Our surrogacy specialists are always available to answer your questions for free when you call us at 1-800-875-BABY(2229).
Is Becoming a Surrogate Legal in Texas?
Knowing that individual states can prohibit surrogacy, and considering that Texas is in the South, many prospective surrogates worry that they may not be able to pursue this route. On the contrary, surrogacy is legal in Texas, and there are state laws that regulate this process in a safe and ethical manner. So, yes, you can become a surrogate in Texas!
Many women also ask another big question when they consider becoming a surrogate in Texas: How much does a surrogate mother get paid in Texas?
Unlike in some other states, surrogates in Texas can get paid for their services — but compensation will vary based on the professional you use and the intended parents you are matched with. On average, a gestational carrier’s compensation starts at $30,000. Experienced surrogates can often receive additional compensation, too.
The best way to learn about surrogacy compensation in Texas is by speaking with a surrogacy specialist at an agency such as American Surrogacy. They can better describe the average compensation rates around the country and explain what you might expect in your own journey.
How to Become a Surrogate Mother in Texas
If you’re considering becoming a surrogate mother in Texas, there are a few steps you will take along the way. While every surrogacy journey is unique, you’ll do the following if you take this path:
Step 1: Contact American Surrogacy or Another Surrogacy Professional
Becoming a surrogate in Texas is not a journey you can take alone. You will need the assistance of an attorney, fertility clinic and often a surrogacy agency to safely carry a child for someone else.
There are a few benefits of contacting a surrogacy agency such as American Surrogacy from the very beginning. The services of a surrogacy agency will always be free to you — including all of the support and guidance you receive from a licensed social worker. Your specialist will be by your side every step of the journey and make sure that your rights and interests are protected. You will simply need to focus on having a healthy pregnancy and a positive relationship with your intended parents.
To get the information needed to be a surrogate in Texas, please contact our surrogacy specialists anytime.
Step 2: Complete Pre-Screening and Meet Surrogacy Requirements
Before you can become a surrogate mother in Texas, you must meet the requirements to do so. This is a process that requires a lot of time and energy, and it’s not the right path for everyone. Surrogacy professionals have created a list of basic requirements to ensure that the women who become surrogates are fully prepared for this journey.
In order to become a surrogate mother in Texas, you must meet these basic requirements:
- Be between the ages of 21–38
- Have a BMI between 19–32
- Have had at least one successful pregnancy
- Currently be raising a child
- Be six months out from your last vaginal or cesarean birth
If you meet these requirements to become a surrogate in Texas, we encourage you to reach out to our specialists. They will ask you more questions to determine whether you are eligible to be a gestational carrier. They will also set up a psychological and medical screening to further ensure that you are 100 percent prepared for the emotional, physical and medical requirements of surrogacy.
Step 3: Find Intended Parents
If you are cleared for the surrogacy process, you will move on to one of the most exciting steps in becoming a surrogate in Texas — finding intended parents! The intended parents that you carry for will be your partner through your surrogacy process, so you will play an active part in determining the person you wish to carry for.
When you work with American Surrogacy, you and your surrogacy specialist will talk at length about the kind of intended parents you are comfortable carrying for. Do you wish to carry for a married couple or a single parent? Do you want local intended parents in Texas, or are you okay with a long-distance match? You will answer all of these questions and more to determine the characteristics of your ideal intended parent.
Your surrogacy specialist will then present you with profiles of intended parents who meet your preferences. If you and an intended parent express mutual interest in each other, you will be able to get to know them further through a phone call (mediated by your surrogacy specialist). After this call, if you and the intended parents are comfortable with each other, you will undergo one more screening at their fertility clinic of choice before finalizing your match with a surrogacy contract.
Step 4: Complete the Medical Process of Surrogacy
The medical process of becoming a surrogate in Texas can be difficult — but, if you’re committed to surrogacy, well worth it.
After you are cleared by the intended parents’ fertility clinic, you will start taking fertility medication to prepare your body. Every surrogate’s medical protocol will be unique, so your medical professional will describe it in more detail and address any concerns you have. When your body is ready, your medical professional will complete your embryo transfer process — a fairly quick and painless procedure.
Once you are confirmed pregnant with the intended parents’ embryo, you will be able to receive prenatal care from your local obstetrician and deliver at your local hospital. You and your intended parents will create a hospital plan together, and they will likely be present when you give birth to their child. You will receive your final compensation payment upon delivery, and then your Texas surrogacy journey will be complete!
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This article is only a basic description of how to be a surrogate in Texas, so it’s completely normal to have more questions about what to expect should you take this path. Don’t worry — our specialists are here to help. Contact American Surrogacy today to learn more.