Womb for rent - the matter of money
The number one question I get asked when people find out that I'm a surrogate is "How much are you getting paid for that?"
Sometimes I explain that I'm not getting paid, I'm getting compensated. I know it's probably splitting hairs but "compensated" sounds better to me. Sometimes I say that I can't go into those details because of my contract. Sometimes I give an average of what a surrogate might make. A couple of times I've been honest. It depends on who's asking me and why I think they're asking me. If I just think someone is being nosy and rude then I don't give any details. If I think they're asking because they're genuinely interested in the process then I give them a little more info.
I understand why people ask. It's interesting. There's a lot of misinformation out there about surrogacy though. Just a couple of days ago Lisa Ling did a report on the Oprah show saying that US surrogates can make between 60,000 and 80,000 dollars. No. That's not true. I have never heard of a surrogate making anything anywhere near that.
A first time surrogate working with an agency will make an average base fee of somewhere between 18,000 and 23,000 dollars. On top of that there are extras like fees for the embryo transfer and money for maternity clothes. A surrogate who is not working with an agency (independently matched) might make a little less on average.
So there you have it. Stay tuned because I'll also be answering my other top asked questions: 1) How does your family/husband/kids feel about this? 2) Will it be hard to give the baby up?
If there's something you've wanted to ask but you've been too shy/tactful/polite to ask it, please do so now. I'm in a sharing mood.
Jen
3 comments:
Um, yeah, I have a question. I guess it sort of goes along with "how can you give the baby up", but I'm just wondering how you would want to be pregnant and then know that you don't have the "reward" at the end of a new baby to love and care for. I mean, for most people being pregnant is not exactly fun. So is it just for the money or do you have other reasons?
My question: how do people pay for it? Where do they get the money? Are they rich or did they save up? Can you get a loan for this sort of thing? (I have the same question about expensive adoptions). I ask because I'm a young woman considering using a surrogate (or adopting) way down the road and I've always wondered about this.
If you are already pregnant are there surrogacy organizations that will help you to get incontact with a couple that would be intrested in taking the baby?
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