Surrogacy
Surrogacy: Is It Right? Surrogacy is an arrangement between a woman and a couple or individual to carry and deliver a baby. There are two types of surrogacy: traditional and gestational. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother is artificially inseminated with the sperm of the intended father or sperm donor. The surrogate's own eggs are used; therefore she will be the genetic mother of the resulting child. Usually, the intended father's name is put directly on the birth certificate and the intended mother will need to do a stepparent adoption. However laws surrounding this process vary from state to state. In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate mother is not genetically related to the child. Eggs are extracted from the intended mother or egg donor and mixed with sperm from the intended father in vitro. The embryos are then transferred into the surrogate's uterus. In many areas, the intended parents may petition the court in the third trimester of pregnancy to have both their names placed directly on the birth certificate. Surrogacy was made to help infertile and gay couples the option to conceive a child. Therefore, surrogacy should be legalized. Legalization of surrogacy would help many people make their dreams of a family come true. Some women have health problems that would mean a risky pregnancy, so they choose surrogacy. Occasionally close relatives, such as mothers or sisters, become surrogate mothers if the pregnancy of a family member is unbearable or impossible. This is called charitable surrogacy. However, couples have to look for surrogate mothers through agencies or on their own. Surrogate mothers are compensated for carrying the baby for the intended parents. Compensation plays a big role in surrogacy. Fees can be from $3,000 to $20,000. Other costs for which the intended parents usually are responsible for paying, even if the find their own surrogate, include compensation to the surrogate, attorney fees, court costs and prenatal care