Do you want to find a surrogate in California for your family? Here are some things that you can do:
Start With Friends and Family
Couples looking to have a child through surrogacy should always start their search among friends and family. You might be surprised to find that someone who knows and loves you already may want to help you in this special way! Weddings and family reunions are great venues to broach a subject such as this. Everyone is in a celebratory mood and focusing on the joy of family.
Surrogacy Agencies Abound in California
There are more than 50 surrogacy agencies in the state of California and nearly all of them recruit potential surrogate mothers as well as assist in matching them to intended parents. But keep in mind, the match is only the beginning. A good surrogacy agency is important to guide you through the rest of your journey.
What to Look for in a Surrogate Mother
Potential Surrogate mothers need to be fit and healthy. A thorough physical exam and medical testing will be required by any surrogacy agency in California. Pregnancy and childbirth are the two most physically stressful of all human functions and can put a mother’s life at risk if she is not healthy.
Make sure any potential surrogate has taken a psychological evaluation. This type of testing can determine if a woman is either developmentally delayed. A developmentally delayed birth mother is not a good choice. Not only do you run the risk of the child inheriting the cognitive issues of the surrogate, you would not want to discover at delivery that she did not fully understand the terms of the agreement. This could be disastrous for everyone involved.
Some very important issues that can also be discovered through a psychological evaluation are psychological disorders and mental illnesses. Psychological disorders can include bi-polar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Mental illnesses such as schizophrenia could mean the surrogate may enter into an agreement while disoriented and unaware of what she is doing. These conditions could also cause a surrogate to harm herself or the unborn child during pregnancy or birth.
Emotional health is a difficult thing to measure, but is equally important. Make sure that the surrogacy agency completes a comprehensive social history interview. It is important to find out if a potential surrogate has lost a baby or has given a child up for adoption.
