What Is a Surrogate Mother?

A surrogate mother is someone who carries and delivers a baby on behalf of another person or couple — often called the intended parent(s). While the term is commonly used, it can mean different things depending on the context. Today, most surrogacy journeys, including those at Hatch, involve gestational surrogacy, where the surrogate has no biological connection to the baby.

In this article, we’ll break down what “surrogate mother” means, what a surrogate does, and how the role is understood and supported at Hatch.

Surrogate Mother Meaning

The term “surrogate mother” is often used to describe someone who helps another person grow their family by carrying a pregnancy they cannot carry themselves.

There are two types of surrogacy that fall under this umbrella:

• Traditional surrogacy: The surrogate uses her own egg, making her the baby’s biological mother. This approach is extremely rare today and not supported by most surrogacy professionals due to its legal and emotional complexities.
• Gestational surrogacy: The surrogate carries an embryo created from the egg and sperm of the intended parents or donors. She has no genetic link to the baby.

At Hatch, all surrogates are gestational surrogates. That means they provide the physical space and care for the pregnancy, but are not related to the child they carry.

What Does a Surrogate Mother Do?

Surrogates play a vital role in helping others become parents. While every journey is unique, a surrogate typically:

• Undergoes medical screening and preparation for embryo transfer
• Receives a fertilized embryo through IVF
• Carries the pregnancy and attends all required prenatal appointments
• Maintains communication with the intended parents
• Gives birth to the baby and supports the transition after delivery

Throughout the process, surrogates are supported medically, legally, and emotionally by a professional team. Hatch offers a thoughtful, ethical surrogate matching process to ensure compatibility between intended parents and surrogates.

While surrogates are deeply involved in the pregnancy, they do not take on a parental role after birth.

Who Needs a Surrogate?

Surrogacy provides a path to parenthood for people who are unable to carry a pregnancy safely or biologically. This can include:

• Women with medical conditions or past complications that prevent pregnancy
• Individuals who have had a hysterectomy or uterine abnormalities
• Same-sex male couples and single men
• People who have experienced unsuccessful fertility treatments

At Hatch, intended parents come from a wide range of backgrounds but all share a deep desire to build a family through compassionate, ethical surrogacy.

Why the Language Matters

While “surrogate mother” is still widely used, many professionals and agencies now use terms like “surrogate” or “gestational carrier”. These alternatives help clarify that the surrogate’s role is not parental, but medical and supportive.

In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate does not share DNA with the baby, which helps provide legal and emotional clarity for everyone involved.

Language in surrogacy is evolving and what matters most is using respectful, accurate terms that reflect the surrogate’s role with clarity and care.

Final Thoughts

A surrogate mother is someone who helps bring a baby into the world for another person or couple. At Hatch, that means working with gestational surrogates who are committed, compassionate, and supported throughout the journey.

Whether you're just beginning to explore surrogacy or are ready to take the next step, we’re here to guide you. Learn more about how surrogacy works at Hatch.