subject: How Much Do Surrogate Mothers Get Paid? [print this page] One of the biggest questions surrounding surrogate pregnancy is just how much surrogate compensation is. How much do surrogate mothers make? Do they really get paid? How does surrogacy compensation work?
Yes, women who qualify to become surrogate mothers do receive a surrogate fee. But it is important to note that not all women qualify to become surrogate mothers. How do you qualify?
First, and most importantly, any woman who would like to become a surrogate mother needs to have had at least one child, which she herself is raising. A woman who has not given birth before is not eligible to become a surrogate, no matter how well-meaning her intentions.
A potential surrogate also must not be on any public assistance, including Medicaid, and must be in a stable home. She must not smoke. She also will be required to go through extensive medical and psychological testing.
After she passes all these requirements, she can go about matching with a set of intended parents and start the process of becoming a surrogate mother and receiving a surrogate fee. So how much do surrogate mothers get paid? That depends on many factors.
On average, a first time surrogate mother will receive surrogacy compensation of $18,000-22,000, plus additional fees for various procedures. It is important to note that this surrogate compensation is only paid upon a successful pregnancy; sometimes a surrogate mother will try to assist a couple for several months, or perhaps more than a year, unsuccessfully, and never receive any sort of surrogate fee.
Its also important to note that every surrogacy journey is different, and usually there is no set amount of surrogacy compensation. Instead, this varies from one situation to another. It is best for a surrogate mother to sit down with her husband and discuss the surrogate fee that they feel is right for their family, before meeting with potential intended parents.
Often, an agency will have a set surrogacy compensation schedule that is set in stone. This is to make discussions of money easier between surrogate mothers and intended parents. Other agencies let the two parties work out the specifics on their own.
Things like transfer fees, maternity clothing, c-section fees, lost wages, and child care for the surrogate mother's children while she is going to doctor's appointments and the like are paid in addition to a base compensation. There is also extra money provided if the surrogate mother becomes pregnant with twins, triplets, or more, as well as if she needs to go through more invasive procedures like amniocentesis.
