How to Become a Surrogate

Becoming a Surrogate is a unique way to help someone build their family! It’s more than carrying a child. It’s a meaningful journey that requires compassion, commitment, and careful preparation. If you’re someone who loves helping others, and had healthy pregnancies, surrogacy may be a wonderful adventure for you to embark on. Let’s look at how you would get started!

Requirements to Become a Surrogate

Before starting your journey, it’s important to understand the qualifications are put in place to protect you as the Surrogate and the baby you would carry for your Intended Parents. Surrogacy should be as low risk as possible, and your health and safety is a top priority: both physically and emotionally.

Core Eligibility Criteria

• Age: Between 21 and 42 years old
• Residency: U.S. citizen or permanent resident, with a car and driver's license
• Health: Overall good physical and mental health, with a BMI below 32 and no chronic medical conditions that may complicate a pregnancy
• Pregnancy History: At least one prior full-term, healthy pregnancy and delivery, and currently raising at least one child
• Delivery History: No more than two C-sections (Surrogates who have had three C-sections may still qualify if they have had fewer than five total deliveries and pass a mock cycle)
• Lifestyle: Non-smoker, no drug use, and generally healthy habits

Here is a more detailed breakdown

Medical and Psychological Screening

Becoming a Surrogate involves thorough evaluations to confirm that you’re prepared physically and emotionally. Screenings include:

• Medical records review
• Uterine lining check (to ensure no uterine anomalies)
• General medical exams and lab tests
• Psychological evaluations to ensure emotional readiness and resilience

Learn more about what to expect

The Step-by-Step Journey to Becoming a Surrogate

Understanding the process from start to finish can help you feel confident and prepared. This process typically takes 12 to 18 months from application to birth, though timelines vary based on matching, screening, and medical scheduling.

1. Application

Start by completing a detailed application with your personal, medical, and lifestyle information. Apply to become a Surrogate today to get started.

2. Zoom/Phone call Q&A

You’ll meet with a Surrogate Specialist and go over any questions you may have. Many members of the Hatch team are former surrogates themselves.

3. Admissions

You will meet with one of our lovely Surrogate Advocates via Zoom. They will advocate for you throughout the rest of the admissions phase. She will collect your medical records, background checks (for you AND anyone else over the age of 18 who lives in your home), she will coordinate your uterine lining check and set you up with a licensed mental health professional specializing in surrogacy for a psychological screening and PAI.

4. Matching

Hatch’s experienced Match Specialists carefully pair Surrogates with Intended Parents. Compatibility, values, and communication styles are considered to ensure a positive, mutually respectful match! Your preferences are important. (Have you started to think about the type of family you’d like to help?)

5 .Meet your Case Manager

Your Case Manager is there to support you the whole way through this process! Her support starts prior to getting pregnant. She will connect you with your Clinical Coordinator who will set you up for your official medical screening, this will be done at the clinic where the IPs are storing their embryos (at no cost to you). After the medical screening is complete your case manager will send you some recommendations for reproductive law attorneys (also no charge to you).

6. Embryo transfer (embryos are frequently genetically tested prior to transfer)

Once contracts are complete you will start your hormonal medication that will prep your body for the FET(frozen embryo transfer). You will be on these for a few weeks, after which you’ll travel back to the clinic and receive the FET in hopes of achieving a successful pregnancy. You’ll get to bring an adult support person with you so you get all the post-transfer rest you need.

7. Pregnancy Support

Once pregnancy is confirmed you’ll have access to regular prenatal care first through the IVF clinic and local monitoring (when needed) and then from your own OBGYN when you graduate to OB care at 11-12 weeks of pregnancy. You’ll also have comprehensive support from your Case Manager. Throughout your journey you’ll be invited to monthly Zooms to meet and mingle with your fellow Surrogates and will be included in our social media group!

8. Delivery and Postpartum

After delivery, you are still a part of the Hatch family! We love it when our previous Surrogates still attend the Zooms and remain in the social media group. Our Surrogates are not just Surrogates, they’re our friends and make this community so special! We hope you’ll keep sharing all those fun moments with us, and share your experience and knowledge with new Surrogates.

Compensation and Benefits

Surrogates are fairly compensated for their time, effort, and commitment. Hatch ensures that compensation is transparent, structured, and timely.

What’s Included

• Base Surrogate compensation
• Medical and fertility treatment expenses
• Travel and accommodation costs
• Insurance coverage and legal support
• Additional allowances for pregnancy-related expenses
• Lost wages, housekeeping, childcare

You can view full details on our compensation package here

Why Become a Surrogate?

Surrogacy is a personal choice to help others have the greatest gift on the planet: Family! As a parent- you know exactly how priceless this gift is. If you want to give back in an immeasurable way while also making a difference for your own family, surrogacy is an amazing option. Welcoming a child is life changing for the Intended Parents, but also for many surrogates who utilize their compensation to fund their children’s college education, start a business, return to school, put a down payment on a home, get a new family vehicle, or take an international trip they have dreamed about. How would being a surrogate change your life? We would love to chat with you about this!

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Surrogate

Do I need to live in a specific state to become a surrogate?

Surrogacy laws vary by state, so your state of residence may affect your eligibility or the legal process involved. Hatch will help you understand what applies to your specific situation.

Will I need health insurance to become a surrogate?

If you don't currently have insurance that covers surrogacy, Hatch will work with insurance experts to help find a plan that does, at no cost to you.

Can I choose the intended parents I work with?

Yes. Hatch's matching process takes your preferences, values, and communication style into account to help find a mutually comfortable fit.

How long does it take to become a surrogate and start the journey?

The process typically takes a few months from application to embryo transfer, depending on screening, matching, and legal steps. Once pregnancy is confirmed, the rest of the journey follows a standard pregnancy timeline. Your Case Manager will keep you informed of what to expect at every stage.

How much do surrogates get paid?

Compensation varies based on experience, location, and the specifics of your journey, but includes base pay, medical and travel expenses, insurance coverage, and additional allowances for things like lost wages and childcare. You can view a full breakdown on our compensation page.

What disqualifies someone from becoming a surrogate?

Common disqualifiers include being outside the 21–42 age range, having a BMI above 32, a history of pregnancy complications, current tobacco or drug use, or not having given birth to a child you are currently raising. A full review of your medical and lifestyle history during screening will confirm your eligibility.