Surrogate: Amanda

Amanda on her first journey

Why do you enjoy being a surrogate? 
I thought about it for about 10 years but I didn’t feel ready until now. It took me watching friends go through the adoption process and seeing the struggle, I realized I wanted to be a surrogate. I wanted to provide that for another couple. 

What advice would you give to women considering surrogacy? 
I would say it requires a very special personality to do this. Do a lot of interpersonal exploration to see it's the right thing for you. If you are physically ready to handle this, your doctors will tell you. But only you can decide if you are emotionally ready. ​

What was the turning point for your decision to become a parent? 
One of my friends and her husband have been struggling with infertility and they considered surrogacy. I offered to be a surrogate for them when they decided not to take me up on it but I realized I still wanted to do it for someone else. That’s when I reached out. 

What are some myths that you come across about surrogacy? 
The biggest one is if I am biologically connected to the baby which is “no.” And I also get asked are you financially responsible for the baby which is also “no.”

How has the extra income impacted you and your family? 
We are paying off our debt and putting money away for our first house. The compensation is a bonus but not the main reason I became a surrogate. I don’t think I have met a surrogate whose number one reason for being a surrogate was money. It’s too much of a commitment and takes so much out of you to do it just for the money. The money is a nice bonus but not the main reason. 

Why would you recommend Supportive Conceptions Surrogacy [SCS]? 
I have talked to other surrogates about other agencies and they were not treated as a person. Kim has intentionally built a community by offering meetups and retreats. The first meetup I went to, I met so many women on their second or third journeys and they would not have done it again unless they had a great experience. I went home to my husband and told him I found the agency I was looking for. And every provider I have spoken to, whether it’s the therapist or the fertility clinic says that SCS is the best.