Surrogate Mothers Online Q & A: I am considering AI surrogacy as a possible option, since my wife is unable to get pregnant. I have done a little researching on internet. My question is how do I find a surrogate that is reasonably priced or an agency that is not too greedy? I make a good living in the Navy, yet some of the prices I have seen 10000 to 30000, 40000 dollars on up seem a bit outrageous. I looked at some of the independent ads on the SMO website, but, none of them state price. One did(20000). Is there a way to get in contact with potential surrogates who are not so greedy? - <A HREF="mailto:albundy@cts.com">Mark Hull</A> in San Diego, CA

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Surrogate Mothers Online Q & A

Q & A: Financial Issues - Surrogacy

Topics may include compensation, covered expenses, overall costs, etc.

22. I am considering AI surrogacy as a possible option, since my wife is unable to get pregnant. I have done a little researching on internet. My question is how do I find a surrogate that is reasonably priced or an agency that is not too greedy? I make a good living in the Navy, yet some of the prices I have seen 10000 to 30000, 40000 dollars on up seem a bit outrageous. I looked at some of the independent ads on the SMO website, but, none of them state price. One did(20000). Is there a way to get in contact with potential surrogates who are not so greedy? - Mark Hull in San Diego, CA - Top

We are doing AI and we found our SM by placing an ad on the SMO classified page. As for saying that the SM's are being greedy asking for $10,000 - $20,000, stop and think about it. That SM will be pregnant for
260 - 266 days 24 hours a day, with morning sickness, backaches, frequent urination, fatigue, and a weight gain of 20 -30 lbs all for about $3.20 an hour. I understand how frustrating the financial side of all this is. My husband and I are also in the Navy and we saved for 3 years to be able to pay for our surrogacy. I do not begrudge my surrogate one penny though and
if I had it and she wanted it I would I would gladly give her what ever she asked for. After all, she is making my dream of being a mother come true by being our surrogate. Don't give up and keep looking there is a surrogate out there for you. As for most of the surrogates being white I do not know the reason for that. I do know 2 or three black surrogates but I believe they are all doing GS, not AI.

Lynn in VA

Dear Mark,

Special Blessing in California bases it fees on your income if you choose to do a surrogacy with an agency. I will enclose the address at the end of this posting. But I know of many surrogates who place their fees at $6,000, $9,000 and some even for nothing. (not to many though) If you place an ad on the SMO board, I would state what the amount you can afford. Surrogacy can be expensive, but, just like with any pregnancy, the cost can vary. With my first surrogacy I charged $9,000 and with my current surrogacy $15,000. But if an intended parent I choose to work with told me that all they could afford was $0.00, then that would be my fee. Most surrogates are not in this for the money and I would wager that any surrogate with a kind heart and a giving soul would take the amount you could afford. The people who really take advantage of you are agencies with all of the high fees. Try independent and use an attorney for escrow accounts, wills, contracts, (I have a contract if you would like to look at it) and for paternity papers. If its convenient for you, try home inseminations instead of going to the doctor. Give them three months and if its not working, ask if you could use the surrogates OB/GYN instead of an infertility specialist. And always remember you have a home and support here on the SMO area. There is a fabulous listserve I would encourage you to join. Be active and you can find people in your area to help with an questions you have that arise.

Jennifer S.

Special Blessing Contact Address - Updated: February 13, 2000
Topics may include compensation, covered expenses, overall costs, etc.

22. I am considering AI surrogacy as a possible option, since my wife is unable to get pregnant. I have done a little researching on internet. My question is how do I find a surrogate that is reasonably priced or an agency that is not too greedy? I make a good living in the Navy, yet some of the prices I have seen 10000 to 30000, 40000 dollars on up seem a bit outrageous. I looked at some of the independent ads on the SMO website, but, none of them state price. One did(20000). Is there a way to get in contact with potential surrogates who are not so greedy? - Mark Hull in San Diego, CA - Top: We are doing AI and we found our SM by placing an ad on the SMO classified page. As for saying that the SM's are being greedy asking for $10,000 - $20,000, stop and think about it. That SM will be pregnant for
260 - 266 days 24 hours a day, with morning sickness, backaches, frequent urination, fatigue, and a weight gain of 20 -30 lbs all for about $3.20 an hour. I understand how frustrating the financial side of all this is. My husband and I are also in the Navy and we saved for 3 years to be able to pay for our surrogacy. I do not begrudge my surrogate one penny though and
if I had it and she wanted it I would I would gladly give her what ever she asked for. After all, she is making my dream of being a mother come true by being our surrogate. Don't give up and keep looking there is a surrogate out there for you. As for most of the surrogates being white I do not know the reason for that. I do know 2 or three black surrogates but I believe they are all doing GS, not AI.

Lynn in VA

Dear Mark,

Special Blessing in California bases it fees on your income if you choose to do a surrogacy with an agency. I will enclose the address at the end of this posting. But I know of many surrogates who place their fees at $6,000, $9,000 and some even for nothing. (not to many though) If you place an ad on the SMO board, I would state what the amount you can afford. Surrogacy can be expensive, but, just like with any pregnancy, the cost can vary. With my first surrogacy I charged $9,000 and with my current surrogacy $15,000. But if an intended parent I choose to work with told me that all they could afford was $0.00, then that would be my fee. Most surrogates are not in this for the money and I would wager that any surrogate with a kind heart and a giving soul would take the amount you could afford. The people who really take advantage of you are agencies with all of the high fees. Try independent and use an attorney for escrow accounts, wills, contracts, (I have a contract if you would like to look at it) and for paternity papers. If its convenient for you, try home inseminations instead of going to the doctor. Give them three months and if its not working, ask if you could use the surrogates OB/GYN instead of an infertility specialist. And always remember you have a home and support here on the SMO area. There is a fabulous listserve I would encourage you to join. Be active and you can find people in your area to help with an questions you have that arise.

Jennifer S.

Special Blessing Contact Address - Updated: February 13, 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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