Considering surrogacy, all a bit overwhelming!

[rocketupbum]

I am seriously considering offering to be a surrogate for some friends of ours. It is something I have thought about for a while and it all fits. I have been trying to do as much research as poss before offering, so as not to cause any disappointment. I am finding the websites a bit hard to get along with. They are obviously mostly geared towards people looking for matches and perhaps mostly intended parents. They are also a bit too nice (I have been so used to the harsh MN way it is all a bit wierd and full of "huns" and "hugs")
I wondered how many surro mums there were on here and how you went about it etc? I feel I just want some more straight talking and a bit less fluffy stuff. I dont want to be an "angel" I would just like to have a baby for people who would make great parents!

[nia4321]

Hi there, we have a baby through surrogacy in India. She was born in 2010. I was wondering g how long it took for you for the immigration paper works and to get the baby home? We are planning to have a second one soon through host surrogacy in India as it is relatively straight forward and cheap I got my daughter's passport in 3 months.when was yours and how long did it take

[SeaWave]

Hi, I have previously posted on a few surrogacy posts, but regularly name change.
Just wanted to say after starting out my research on mumsnet, went on to match independantly with a TS! TTC at the moment, but hang on in their, it does happen and fingers crossed we will be pregnant before christmas!

[givemeaboost]

hi, I am registered with cots as a surrogate but would like to know how to find the fb surrogates groups please?

[QOD]

You will find it incredibly hard to find a surrogate who does straight surrogacy right away, sometimes they "convert" after failed IVF etc and after building a relationship.


Egg donation IVF would be much more likely BUT obviously lower pregnancy success rate and not just your surrogate costs but IVF costs too.
What a sham about the Indian clinics.

You don't have a friend who would incubate? Or your partner? Or are both of you in the same position?

[WeAreEternal]

She has met couples through both cots at surrogacyuk but she now finds couples herself via the Internet and national meet ups.

[WeAreEternal]

A good friend of mine is an experiences surrogate.
She has had four surrogate babies (three straight and one host, all for strangers) and I am in absolute awe of her.

I have seriously considered the possibility of one day becoming a surrogate, purely because of how amazing my friend is.
She is so open and honest about her experiences and is always happy to chat with anyone about surrogacy.

[2hope]

Hi oceanbeach, we had spent some time looking at egg donation as a possibility for me but it was too high risk. I also learned that egg donors are few and far between - there is no real incentive in this country for a woman to go through this invasive procedure. There are some clinics now doing egg sharing schemes - so a couple going through IVF can donate eggs and the recipient will cover part of the cost of their IVF. There was a place in Nottingham (if I remember correctly) that did this. How the arrangements might work with a surrogate though I do not know.

Have you joined COTS or surrogacyuk? I'd love to stay in touch and follow your journey as I don't know anyone else in a similar position!

[LinzTOYT]

I am glad to have come across this thread as I have considered becoming a surrogate for years, after my 3rd son was born I watched a TV program I watched a very interesting documentary and knew it was something I would really love to do for a couple one day. I have been very blessed with 4 very lovely children and would love to be able to give some other deserving person the same gift. My family is 100% complete and whilst I am still relatively young I would love to look further into it.

[2hope]

I'm really pleased to have come across this thread. After some very difficult times we have decided to explore surrogacy. We've done some initial reading and were mainly trying to decide what next - surrogacyuk or COTS. I had thought COTS appealed more - don't know why - but I'm pleased to see it been discussed positively here. Maybe this weekend we'll take the next step to sign up. This is such a big deal, we don't know how it might work out, we don't want to get excited but it does offer a glimmer of hope.

I know there aren't many on this thread who have actually gone through this journey but I wondered if anyone knew about surrogacy where an egg is sourced from a third party? My eggs can't be harvested and I wonder if we might have more success finding a potential surrogate if we weren't also asking to use her own eggs. I realise this would be more complicated but it's just a thought. Anyway, I know we're more likely to get a response on the COTS message board but just felt the need to add to this thread too as it's not often you stumble across these discussions. If we do take this further I will keep you updated. To those of you on the other side, who are thinking about being surrogates, you really are amazing.

[AmericanLondoner]

We're not parents yet, though it's something we've been planning for a long time, so I'm a constant lurker on these boards -- it's been super help even for non-parenting topics. And now this is my first post! Thanks for being such a great resource.

Anyway, we have embryos already created, and we were going to ship them to India for a surrogate there. Unfortunately, the Indian govt announced in the last weeks that they will start enforcing the rule that bars same-sex couples from surrogacy. So we are back at square one, which is a shame, because we spent a lot of time making sure that our agency in India was morally upright and that the surrogates were treated in an ethical manner.

Now we are looking at surrogacy in the UK. In a lot of ways, many of the ethical considerations (exploitation, etc) fall away compared to India (though of course some remain). I know the original poster doesn't want to be treated as an angel, and I understand that. But from our perspective, those of you who are even contemplating being a surrogate for someone are the kindest, most generous people in the world. Even if you decide not to, the fact that you have even thought about it points to a very generous spirit. So thanks to all of you.

[QOD]

Ah there you go then! I couldn't really remember. But of course, back then when I joined, it was still affiliated to Kim Cotton

[OddBoots]

Surrogacy UK is about 10 years old, I know because I was pregnant with my dd at the time (I was a little bit involved in the set up).

[QOD]

I'd heard of COTS and as weren't looking for a surrogate, I just wanted the legal advise and technical type info and support.
Surrogacy UK was more about social meets and finding a surrogate, and I don't think I'd ever heard of it then actually?
Dd is 14 so we must have joined 16 yrs ago now!!

[OddBoots]

I've been a host surro three times, I had a boy for one couple through COTS then two girls a couple of years apart for another couple through Surrogacy UK. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I hadn't become disabled (unrelated to the pregnancies).

I can understand any person/couple asking if they would get chosen but it's impossible to answer that, if you find the right surrogate you'll get chosen, if you don't then you won't, it's like asking if you'll ever find mr/mrs right.

It is a long hard journey but when it works it is amazing, both for the couple and the surrogate and hopefully for the child/ren too.

[cfc]

QOD - can I ask what made you gravitate towards COTS as opposed to SUK?

[QOD]

Oh nice Hdee, are any of them affiliated to COTS? (I know you weren't talking to me) cos I've totally lost my cots log in

[HDEE]

Sorry, the groups are on FB.

[HDEE]

I belong to a couple of closed surrogacy groups. I can ask them to add you if you want to pm me your name.

It's really helpful for advice and has both surrogates and IPs on.