About Surrogacy

Surrogacy Meaning


Key Points:
  • Surrogacy signifies the fulfillment of dreams for intended parents, a close relationship with the surrogate and ultimately, the joy of welcoming a long-awaited baby into their lives.
  • For surrogates, the meaning of surrogacy involves a selfless commitment to help others become parents while also being fairly compensated for their time.
  • Surrogacy is becoming more common around the world because it helps couples fulfill their dreams of becoming parents.

For most people affected by the process, the meaning of surrogacy is a life-changing opportunity to create a family where there may not have been one before.

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While each person’s surrogacy meaning will be different, this guide details what surrogacy means and represents for those affected by the family-building process.

What Does Surrogacy Mean for Intended Parents?

When intended parents consider surrogacy, it’s usually because it’s one of their last options for having a child that is biologically related to them. Many intended parents go through extensive fertility treatments and IVF processes before deciding on surrogacy, so it will be a highly emotional decision to come to. Add in the (unmerited) shame and stigma that often come with being childless and/or struggling with infertility, and surrogacy means the world to intended parents who have tried and waited for years to have a child.

For intended parents, surrogacy means they can finally achieve the dreams they’ve had for so long. For them, it’s a priceless gift given by a selfless woman — one which they will never be able to repay.

So, what does surrogacy mean for intended parents as they go through the process? Usually, it’s a process that’s filled with:

  • Extensive medical and psychological screening
  • A complex matching process to find the perfect surrogate
  • Watching and sharing in their surrogate’s pregnancy
  • Major milestones like doctor’s appointments and the birth of their child
  • And the final success of taking their baby home at the end of the journey

DID YOU KNOW?

Surrogacy can be one of the quickest family-building alternatives with match times averaging 30-90 days putting you one step closer to holding your baby in your arms.

For most intended parents, surrogacy means creating an intimate relationship and partnership with their surrogate from the beginning. Not only will this woman help them finally achieve their goals, but many intended parents find they form a genuine, honest friendship with their surrogate.

Of course, no two surrogacies are the same, but at the end of the journey, most intended parents will be able to hold their real surrogacy meaning in their arms — a healthy baby.

What Does Surrogacy Mean for Surrogates?

While surrogates do get compensated for carrying the intended parents’ child, surrogacy means more to them than just a paycheck. In fact, many surrogacy professionals will make sure that a prospective surrogate is mostly motivated by one thing: the desire to help someone else become a parent.

Choosing to become a surrogate means making the selfless choice to commit your time and effort (not to mention your body), all in the name of helping others. Many surrogates truly enjoy being pregnant, and their surrogacy means they can still put their healthy uterus to work, even if they’ve already completed their family. Being a surrogate gives women a sense of pride and accomplishment — not to mention the chance to establish an intimate, genuine relationship with intended parents that could last long beyond the surrogacy process itself.

So, what does being a surrogate mean? A surrogate must also go through several steps as part of the surrogacy process, including:

While being a surrogate can seem like a complicated process, many surrogates gladly embrace it for all the positive emotions they feel in helping another family. What a woman’s surrogacy means to her will differ based on what kind of surrogacy she completes, so it’s important that she truly understands the pros and cons of each option before committing to what works best for her.

What Does Surrogacy Mean for the Rest of the World?

Surrogacy has always been (and likely will continue to be) a controversial subject. However, as it becomes a more common way for people to become parents, the uncertainty many have about it will likely change. After all, it’s a wonderful way for people to overcome the struggles of infertility — and, therefore, the taboo and stigma associated with any kind of fertility topic and discussion.

As more children are born through surrogacy, the way surrogacy will be perceived will continue to change. For these children, surrogacy means their parents took every step possible to bring them into this world. Their surrogacy story will become a source of pride for them and their parents, and the more these children openly talk about their birth story, the more common discussions about surrogacy will be.

Education is always positive when it comes to methods of assisted reproductive technology, including surrogacy. Understanding what surrogacy really means to those whom it affects is the first step in spreading awareness about this way to become parents — and eventually normalizing it for everyone.

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Are you interested in learning more about surrogacy or starting the process? Complete our form to request free surrogacy information now.

Male and Female couple smiling with surrogate mother
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