What is the process for finding a surrogate? Having a baby via surrogacy is an amazing experience. And it all starts with finding the right surrogate! Choosing your surrogate is a big deal. There are so many things to consider: personality, genetics, experience, background… and, how well you work with one another. 

  • You can find a surrogate through an agency or independently. 
  • Find a surrogate that truly wants to be a surrogate. 
  • Avoid online ads offering low compensation or unverified candidates. 

Agency or Independent? 

With surrogacy, you have two options: working with a surrogacy agency or going your own way. The decision is yours alone.  

Working with a Surrogacy Agency:  

  • Handles all the medical and legal processes as well as communication between all parties. 
  • Offers guidance every step of the way. 
  • Ensure surrogates are screened and qualified. 
  • Reduces risks of costly or stressful mistakes. 

Finding a Surrogate Independently: 

  • Gives you full control of the process. 
  • May save money on agency-related costs or fees. 
  • Requires a lot of time and research. 
  • You are responsible for all the medical and legal processes you'll have to go through – not to mention managing communication and potential hiccups along the way.  

If this is your first time using third-party reproduction, it may be easier to go through an agency to make your journey less stressful. 

What does it take to be a surrogate? 

There is a lot more to surrogacy than being pregnant; it is a long commitment, usually 12 to 18 months! That is why finding the right surrogate is so important. A surrogate should: 

  • Truly want to be a surrogate.  
  • Enjoy being pregnant. 
  • Have had at least one successful pregnancy already. 
  • Be dedicated to helping you grow your family. 
  • Have a strong network of family and friends who will support her when things are tough. 

What about surrogacy ads on craigslist and other websites? 

You might come across ads on the internet where women offer surrogacy services for low compensation. As tempting as it may be to save money, it's not necessarily a good option! Surrogates found on unverified websites may not have gone through a rigorous screening process – and in some cases, they might not have been screened at all. In fact, some of these advertisers may have been rejected by an agency previously or may not even meet the qualifications to become a surrogate. That's a worry in itself.  

The whole point of the surrogate screening process is to determine whether a potential surrogate is medically and psychologically fit to carry a pregnancy for someone else. If you invest in someone who turns out to be unable to do this, you'll have wasted a lot of time and money.  

Finding the right fit for you and your family 

Choosing a surrogate is not something you should rush into. After all, this is the person who will be carrying your future child! You'll want to know that you can communicate easily throughout this journey. 

One of the best things about working with a reputable surrogacy agency is that the matching process is deeply personal. At Family Source, your consultant will work closely with you to learn your hopes, values, and expectations, everything to help match you with the perfect surrogate. You can be assured that each candidate has been carefully screened, both physically and psychologically, to ensure that they are ready to commit to helping you build your family. 

Working with an agency also means that everything is taken care of from start to finish and even in the months after you have welcomed your child. The team at FSC are experts at matching Intended Parents to surrogates; they have done it thousands of times!  

They will make sure there are no hidden surprises and that you don't miss any important details. All you have to do is look forward to welcoming your beautiful new family!  

Do not underestimate the emotional stress of the journey 

As wonderful as the journey is, it's also quite a rollercoaster of ups and downs. There will be times of incredible joy, but also times when things do not go to plan. These things can bring a fair bit of stress and emotional upheaval. Even if you have a solid support network, you sometimes need to talk to someone who understands it all and has been there before.  

At Family Source, Intended Parents can expect their journey to be filled with kindness and compassion every step of the way. Many FSC staff have experience in third-party reproduction themselves, either as a surrogate or an Intended Parent. 

Family Source is passionate about making the surrogacy experience as stress-free as possible. As moms and dads themselves, their mission is to share the happiness that comes from watching your own family grow! 

Contact us 

If you are ready to begin your surrogacy journey, contact us today for more information about our surrogacy programs or to schedule a no-cost consultation with one of our surrogacy experts. We'd love to help you find the right surrogate to build your family. 

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Staci Swiderski, CEO and owner of Family Source Consultants, has been a prominent leader in reproductive medicine for over two decades. Through her strategic vision and dedication, she has developed Family Source Consultants into a globally recognized agency specializing in comprehensive egg donation and gestational surrogacy services. Under Staci’s leadership, the agency has become a trusted partner for intended parents, surrogates, and egg donors worldwide, known for its rigorous standards, compassionate support, and commitment to excellence in third-party reproduction.

Her professional insight is uniquely informed by her own family-building experiences. As an intended parent, Staci welcomed her son via gestational surrogacy in 2005, and as a known egg donor, she assisted an infertile couple in expanding their family. These experiences lend a rare depth to her leadership and have fueled her ongoing dedication to ethical, empathetic, and professional support within the field of reproductive medicine.