How to Become a Surrogate in Oklahoma
Women who carry and deliver children during gestational surrogacies are called gestational carriers. Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma offers guidance to women who want to participate in the gestational surrogacy journey by becoming gestational carriers.
Becoming a gestational carrier is like applying for a normal job. If you are interested in becoming a gestational carrier, there are several requirements you must meet. It’s important that you meet these requirements so the surrogacy process goes smoothly.
How to Become a Gestational Carrier in Oklahoma
- Things to Keep in Mind before Applying
In the state of Oklahoma, the ideal gestational carrier is a young, healthy woman between the ages 21 and 39. Your age and health are important because they will help us determine your fertility.
Your reproductive history will also be considered. If you have previously given birth to healthy children with no complications, you’re more likely to be selected. If your prior births were premature (before 32 – 35 weeks), that may raise some concern, and your likelihood of being selected will decrease. If you’ve never given birth before, you may not be selected because it will be difficult to predict the gestational surrogacy’s outcome.
You must lead a healthy lifestyle before and during the gestational surrogacy. If you are a smoker, you should stop smoking two to four months prior to applying and – assuming that you’re selected – not resume smoking until after the gestational surrogacy process is over. You must not be alcohol dependent. You will not be considered if you have any sexually-transmitted diseases.
Sometimes gestational carriers receive compensation for their time, but starting in mid-February of next year (2021), gestational carriers won’t be able to receive any form of payment in the state of Oklahoma. When a gestational carrier doesn’t receive any money from the intended parents, it’s called altruistic surrogacy. If you are unwilling to go through the gestational surrogacy process for free, you’ll have to find opportunities out-of-state.
- What to Expect after You Apply
After you apply, a surrogacy specialist will contact you. We’ll conduct a background check, and we’ll look into your social and medical histories.
Before the gestational surrogacy begins, we’ll conduct a physical examination. You will be screened and tested to ensure that you are physically fit to go through the surrogacy process. We’ll also conduct a mental health evaluation to ensure that you’re mentally and emotionally prepared to make the commitment.
You’ll also have to discuss the contract with us and the intended parents; you’ll have to verify that you’re willing to give the baby up after birth.
Before the gestational surrogacy begins, you’ll undergo blood tests and receive hormone injections to prepare your reproductive system. While that’s happening, the intended parents will prepare embryos through a process called in-vitro fertilization (or IVF). The embryos will be transferred to your uterus. If at least one embryo implants itself, that means the transfer was successful and you are now pregnant.
- What to Do after Your Gestational Journey Begins
Once we confirm that you are pregnant, you’ll have to treat the pregnancy the way you would treat any pregnancy. You’ll have to visit an obstetrician regularly; you’ll have to schedule check-ups and ultrasound screenings. The intended parents will, most likely, pay for all the prenatal expenses. The intended parents may attend the check-ups with you; you’re not required to invite them to the ultrasound screenings, but it can help the three of you bond.
Do You Want to Become a Gestational Carrier?
Being a gestational carrier can be rewarding, but it’s certainly not an easy task. The application and preparation process is long and complex because Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma cares about finding the best women for the job. If the process doesn’t deter you – and if you meet all the requirements – you may be a perfect candidate. To learn more about gestational surrogacy and how to become a gestational carrier, consider viewing the other blogs on our website.
Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma is a surrogacy and adoption agency, licensed by the state of Oklahoma and leader in the community. We assist both intended parents and gestational carriers (surrogates). Our staff members are committed to providing an ethical, empowering, and personalized experience to all involved in the surrogacy process.
You may visit our website here or call toll-free: 800-898-6028 | OKC Local: 405-755-1999 | Tulsa Local: 918-447-7777
or Text: 405-310-8790
Meet the Author: Heather Valenzano is an up-and-coming content creator with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and a minor in English. After graduating from Iona College in 2019, she got an internship – and then a part-time job – writing blogs and managing social media accounts forHip New Jersey, a lifestyle website owned byLong Shot Productions. She has also produced website and social media content forCommonPage, an external collaboration platform.
When she isn’t working, Heather enjoys watching crime shows like Forensic Filesor posting book reviews toOnlineBookClub.orgunder the username “LavenderLiterature2.”
Resources
“Gestational Carrier Program.” NYU Langone. 2020. Web. September 2020.
“How Do I Become a Surrogate?” Adoption Choices of Colorado. 2020. Web. September 2020.
<https://www.adoptionchoices.org/surrogate/>.
“Medical Requirements for Gestational Carriers.” A Woman’s Gift. 2020. Web. September 2020.
<https://awomansgift.com/medical-requirements-for-gestational-carriers/>.
