Surrogate Mothers Online Q & A: My husband and I need to find a GS and we are not sure the best way to do this. We will also be using and Egg donor as I had a hysterectomy. Our doctor can help us with the donor but not the GS. How did you find one? We do not want to use an agency, and there are not many lawyers in our area who seem to be involved in surrogacy. Also are we being unrealistic to want to find someone within driving distance so we can be at all the appointments and at the birth? - <A HREF="mailto:lenaboobena@webtv.net">Lena</A> in Odessa, FL

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Surrogate Mothers Online Q & A

Q & A: Just Starting Out - Surrogacy

For those just starting down the surrogacy path. Topics may include finding the right match, pros and cons of independent vs. agency, where to start, etc.

42. My husband and I need to find a GS and we are not sure the best way to do this. We will also be using and Egg donor as I had a hysterectomy. Our doctor can help us with the donor but not the GS. How did you find one? We do not want to use an agency, and there are not many lawyers in our area who seem to be involved in surrogacy. Also are we being unrealistic to want to find someone within driving distance so we can be at all the appointments and at the birth? - Lena in Odessa, FL - Top

Lena,

We found both our surrogate and our egg donor through the doctor's office. He doesn't act as an agency, his surrogacy coordinator just keeps a list of names of people who have called her wanting to be surrogates. Perhaps your doctor's office does the same? They make it clear that all they do is introduce you. It's up to you to decide whether to work with this person or not. Other resources are ads placed on SMO and TASC. They seem to get a good response.

It's not unrealistic to want a surrogate who lives near you, but it may take longer to find one that you like and really want to work with. There are definite advantages to it, but long distance relationships work well too. It's just one more factor to weigh in when making a decision.

I wish you luck!

Linda P - Updated: January 14, 2000
For those just starting down the surrogacy path. Topics may include finding the right match, pros and cons of independent vs. agency, where to start, etc.

42. My husband and I need to find a GS and we are not sure the best way to do this. We will also be using and Egg donor as I had a hysterectomy. Our doctor can help us with the donor but not the GS. How did you find one? We do not want to use an agency, and there are not many lawyers in our area who seem to be involved in surrogacy. Also are we being unrealistic to want to find someone within driving distance so we can be at all the appointments and at the birth? - Lena in Odessa, FL - Top: Lena,

We found both our surrogate and our egg donor through the doctor's office. He doesn't act as an agency, his surrogacy coordinator just keeps a list of names of people who have called her wanting to be surrogates. Perhaps your doctor's office does the same? They make it clear that all they do is introduce you. It's up to you to decide whether to work with this person or not. Other resources are ads placed on SMO and TASC. They seem to get a good response.

It's not unrealistic to want a surrogate who lives near you, but it may take longer to find one that you like and really want to work with. There are definite advantages to it, but long distance relationships work well too. It's just one more factor to weigh in when making a decision.

I wish you luck!

Linda P - Updated: January 14, 2000

Unless stated otherwise, all responses in the SMO Q&A are courtesy of one or more of the following hosts:

Sherry - Experienced gestational surrogate currently working on her 2nd surrogacy arrangement

Linda - New Mommy to twins born via gestational surrogacy and egg donation

Jennifer S. - Experienced AI surrogate

Lynn - New Mommy to a daughter born via traditional surrogacy

Tracie - 5 time egg donor (triplets, 2 sets of twins and 2 singletons) and 3 time surrogate (2-AI, 1-IVF).

Lisa - Experienced egg donor and previous gestational surrogate currently working on her 2nd surrogacy arrangement (Lisa was our former ED host, prior to July 1999.)
Disclaimer: Responses from SMO Q&A Hosts do not necessarily represent the opinions and ideas of SMO. Neither the Q&A hosts nor SMO guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the responses given here. As such, neither SMO nor the Q&A hosts are responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. Neither SMO nor the Q&A hosts shall be liable or responsible to any person or entity for any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly by the information or ideas contained, suggested, or referenced in these responses.

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