What Can Disqualify Me From Being A Surrogate In Oklahoma?
Becoming a surrogate is a life-changing decision for both you and the awaiting parents. Whether you’re choosing traditional surrogacy or going the route of a gestational carrier, your selfless act will help parents who have dreamed of one thing–having a baby of their own. If you’re considering becoming a surrogate mother, contact us at Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma. We are a team of professionals who want nothing more than to answer all questions and concerns you may have about the Oklahoma surrogacy process! If you’re not completely sure, we’re still here to help even if you decide it isn’t the right option for you.
Surrogacy In Oklahoma
Several states in the United States have made traditional surrogacy illegal. In the state of Oklahoma, however, traditional surrogacy contracts are recognized as valid legal documents meaning parents and surrogate mothers can continue forward with the process with the backing of the court system. In addition, Oklahoma views traditional surrogacy as adoption, meaning you will sign over parental rights after birth. That being said, let’s go over the difference between gestational carriers and traditional surrogacy.
Traditional surrogacy means you will have a genetic link to the baby. As the surrogate mother, you are both carrying the child and donating your eggs to be inseminated by sperm taken from the parents or a sperm donor the parents have chosen. You will not have any legal rights to the child, and it will be stated in the OK surrogacy contract once you are chosen by awaiting parents.
On the other hand, Gestational Surrogacy is when you simply carry and birth the child for the waiting parents. Embryos will be fertilized in a lab and then transplanted into your uterus via IVF treatments. If pregnancy does not happen on the first try, the parents can continue to try through IVF if there are still viable embryos.
Requirements For Surrogate Mothers
Surrogate mothers in Oklahoma must be between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-eight. Being younger or older than these base numbers will disqualify you. The ages are chosen specifically for health reasons as they are considered the proper and healthies child-bearing ages. A woman younger or older risks health issues during and after the pregnancy, which can result in complications, miscarriages, or stillbirths.
To become a surrogate, you must have birthed at least one child of your own. This allows physicians and fertility clinics to look over your pregnancy health records and prenatal charts to affirm you had a healthy pregnancy and birth free of health risks. The emotional and mental stress that can accompany pregnancy is a lot to handle. Clinics want women who know what comes with pregnancy compared to a woman who has no prior experience.
What Disqualifies You From Surrogacy?
If you are HIV-positive, you cannot become a surrogate mother due to the high risk of transmission to the baby.
Being a smoker, a heavy drinker, or having a history of drug use can disqualify you from becoming a surrogate mother. A pregnant woman must be healthy and be able to maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout the pregnancy. Clinics do not want to risk the life of a baby or risk the destruction of an embryo if the surrogate mother has had substance problems in the past or lives in a home where substance abuse is prevalent.
You cannot be a surrogate mother if you are at an unhealthy weight or already have health problems. Women who are pregnant while overweight or obese are at a higher risk of having miscarriages or health problems during pregnancy. If you have any type of chronic illness, you will be disqualified as it can cause potential harm to both yourself and the baby during pregnancy.
Mental health issues that can be passed on genetically if you are looking into traditional surrogacy can get you disqualified. Again, this is ultimately dependent on the clinic, but not all awaiting parents want to risk mental illnesses that will affect the quality of their future child’s life.
Not passing the mental health screening will disqualify you, too. This happens during the initial application process. If you are not in the right mental state to handle surrogacy or being a gestational carrier generally disqualifies you in general, not just at the specific clinic that issued the testing.
Becoming A Surrogate Mother in Oklahoma
Surrogacy is a wonderful way to bring the gift of life to parents who have been struggling. Are you interested but not sure if you qualify? Call or email Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma so we can help you through the initial process and answer any questions you may have.
Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma is a surrogacy and adoption agency, licensed by the state of Oklahoma and a 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
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