Understanding the Difference between Gestational Carriers, Intended Mothers, and Surrogates in Oklahoma
There’s a lot of terminology in surrogacy language, and it can be difficult to wrap your head around if you’ve never been exposed to it before. Surrogacy doesn’t get much representation in the media, and many people don’t know much about it. As a potential surrogate, this can make it difficult to find out if surrogacy is right for you.
AtAdoption & Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma, we want to make sure you’re completely informed. And there’s no better place to start than the basics! Learning about the difference between gestational carriers, intended mothers, and surrogates will help you gain a solid understanding of surrogacy.
What Is an Intended Mother?
An intended mother is a woman who decides she wants another woman to carry her baby, usually because reasons related to infertility. An intended mother is sometimes related to her child, but she isn’t always. If she is related to the child, that means she’ll use her own eggs for the IVF process used to impregnate surrogates. Otherwise, a donor’s eggs will be used.
Anyone can be an intended mother. Here are some examples of the types of women who’ve pursued surrogacy in the past:
- Women who are facing fertility struggles
- Women in a same-sex relationship
- Women who are single
- Women who are unable to carry a child
- Women who don’t want to carry a child
What Is a Surrogate?
Surrogate is an umbrella term that can be used to describe any woman who is carrying a baby that is intended for someone else. Some people even say the first recorded example of surrogacy can be found in the Bible when Sarah asked her maid to have a baby with Abraham because she couldn’t get pregnant. So, being a surrogate can mean a lot of different things, even in modern times.
What Is a Gestational Carrier?
A gestational carrier is a term used for surrogates in a gestational surrogacy. Gestational surrogacy is when a surrogate is not related to the baby she’s carrying, as opposed to a traditional surrogacy when she is related. Some surrogacy spaces are starting to shift away from the term gestational carrier, deciding instead to just use the term surrogate. However, it’s still commonly used, some just believe its a bit outdated.
Here are some types of women who decide to become surrogates:
- Women who want to give back
- Women who want to experience pregnancy again but don’t want to raise a child
- Women who want to become a part of the surrogacy community
- Women who know someone that struggles with infertility
What Is the Difference between Surrogates and Gestational Carriers in Oklahoma?
As we mentioned before, a surrogate is an umbrella term, and a woman is only a gestational carrier if she isn’t related to the baby. So, a gestational carrier is a surrogate, but a surrogate isn’t always a gestational carrier.
Another important difference to remember is that traditional surrogacy — when the surrogate is related to the baby — is illegal in many parts of the United States, including Oklahoma. This choice, that exists mainly because of legal and ethical issues, ensures that surrogacy agencies like Adoption & Surrogacy Choices of Oklahomadon’t offer traditional surrogacy. So, the only surrogates in the state will be gestational carriers.
How Can I become a Surrogate in Oklahoma?
Surrogacy is a beautiful choice, and we’re here to support you if you believe it’s the right one for you. The best way to decide if you’re a good fit for surrogacy, is by learning more about the process. We hope that breaking down the difference between gestational carriers, surrogates, and intended motherswas a good start.
At Adoption & Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma, we strive to make sure our potential surrogates have a complete understanding of what surrogacy means for them, so that enthusiastic consent can be given. If you think you may want to become a surrogate, feel free to reach out to us, and our trained surrogacy specialists will help you figure out if you’re a great surrogacy candidate.
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.
Toll-free: 800-898-6028 | OKC Local: 405-755-1999 | Tulsa Local: 918-447-7777 | Text: 405-310-8790 | Email
About the Author: Alexandra Georgiton is a fourth-year student at the University of Cincinnati studying Rhetoric and Professional Writing, and is receiving certification in Copyediting and Publishing. She has been passionate about the English language for her entire life, and reading and writing have always been her favorite hobbies. She enjoys professional writing and editing because she loves to use her talent and love of writing to make a difference in the world.
