Become a Surrogate

Give the Ultimate Gift, with Support, Protection, and Advocacy

Surrogacy is a beautiful, life-changing process in which a woman carries and births a baby for a person or couple who cannot do so on their own.

At The Surrogacy Co., we specialize exclusively in gestational surrogacy. This means the embryo is created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) using the intended parents' (or a donor's) egg and sperm, then transferred to your uterus. As a gestational carrier, you have no genetic connection to the baby.

Our founder, Jenna Clarke, MPH, is a two-time surrogate herself. She has been exactly where you are, and she is here to advocate for you, protect you, and make sure you are treated with the utmost respect and care. As a boutique agency, we keep our surrogate list small, so you'll be treated like family, not just a number.

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“As a first-time surrogate, I can't imagine going through this with a larger agency. The support I've had from Jenna is next level. I always had my questions answered, and knew she was just a call or text away. I was always checked in on and never felt alone!”

— Laura, surrogate in Ohio

Why Surrogates Choose The Surrogacy Co.

First-time surrogate researching best boutique surrogacy agencies.

You set your compensation. Base compensation starts at $50,000+ for first-time surrogates, and experienced surrogates set their own rate.
Support from someone who's been in your shoes. Our founder is a two-time surrogate, a birth and postpartum doula, and a Master of Public Health.
Personal, One-to-One Support. As a boutique agency, we support a small number of journeys each year, so you always have a real relationship with your agency and journey expert.
Never pressured, never rushed. We are methodical and considerate in matching, and you choose the intended parents you feel comfortable with.
Safe, ethical care. We follow American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines for your health and safety, and we are members of SEEDS, the Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy.
Holistic support. We care about your whole well-being, from your first phone call through your fourth-trimester recovery.
Surrogacy should never cost you money. Medical, insurance, and legal costs related to your journey are covered by the intended parents.
Wherever you live. We're based in Lexington, Kentucky, and we work with surrogates in surrogacy-friendly states nationwide. If you're in Central Kentucky, we're right down the road!

Surrogate Requirements

To protect your health, safety, and well-being, our eligibility requirements are strict. These follow the best-practice guidelines established by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM):

Age & Health: You must be between 21 and 42 years old (experienced surrogates may be older pending physician approval), a non-smoker, and in excellent health with a BMI between 19 and 32.
Reproductive History: You must have delivered at least one child full-term without complications, with no more than five prior vaginal births or three prior c-sections.
Mental Health: You must be free from mental health diagnoses and off all mental health medications for at least 12 months.
Lifestyle & Stability: You must lead a stable, low-stress lifestyle in a supportive home environment. You must also be financially stable (certain types of government assistance may render you ineligible).
Screenings: You, your spouse/partner, and any adults living in your home must be able to pass a criminal background check. You must also be free from infectious diseases or treatable STIs for the previous 12 months.
Transport & Medications: You must have reliable transportation and the ability to attend medical appointments. You must be comfortable administering syringe medications and adhering to a strict protocol leading up to embryo transfer and first trimester.

Experienced surrogate researching new surrogacy journey

The Surrogacy Process: Step-by-Step

Our founder, Jenna Clarke, has been exactly where you are. We designed our process to support you holistically from the first phone call through your postpartum recovery.

Application & Onboarding
You submit an application, create your profile, undergo initial background checks, medical record retrieval, and receive your OB/GYN approval to carry a surrogacy pregnancy.
Matching & Benefits
We present you with intended parent profiles. We never rush this step. If you choose to meet and agree it's a great fit, a Tentative Match Agreement is signed and your personalized compensation package is finalized.
Medical & Legal Clearance
You will undergo comprehensive health evaluations, bloodwork, and psychological evaluations. You will then work with your own reproductive attorney, paid for by the intended parents, to review and sign the surrogacy agreement.
Embryo Transfer
You will undergo a strict regimen of medications to prepare your body for pregnancy, followed by the embryo transfer at your intended parents' fertility clinic.
Pregnancy
You will receive prenatal care with your selected care provider, communicate with your intended parents based on your shared preferences, and receive continuous emotional support from our agency and your journey expert.
Birth
You deliver the baby, and the intended parents welcome their child into the world. Parentage orders are finalized, and everyone celebrates this incredible milestone!
Post Birth & The Fourth Trimester
You celebrate the incredible gift you just gave! You will receive robust postpartum resources, continued psychological support, and guidance from our experienced doula team to ensure a smooth recovery.

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You Set Your Rate

Our surrogates set their own base compensation. First-time surrogates start at $50,000+ in base compensation, and experienced surrogates set their own rate. Your full benefits package is confirmed in writing before you're matched, so you'll know what to expect from the start.

Surrogate Compensation & Benefits

We believe in honest numbers, not inflated package totals. Here is what matters most:

Base Compensation & Monthly Allowance

Benefit + Amount

Base Compensation (You set it) ……………… $50,000+ for first-time surrogates; experienced surrogates set their own rate

Monthly allowance pre-pregnancy ………….. $250/month for medical and legal clearance)

Monthly allowance, once pregnant …………. $500/month(maternity clothes, massages, physical therapy, housecleaning, and more)

Start of medication fee …………………………….. $500

Embryo transfer fee …………………………………... $1,500

Surrogate building compensation package with boutique surrogacy agency

Surrogacy Should Never Cost You Money

The intended parents cover 100% of the medical, insurance, and legal costs related to your journey. You'll also receive monthly allowances ($250/month before pregnancy and $500/month once pregnant), reimbursement for lost wages for you and your spouse/partner, and travel costs for medical appointments.

Other Benefits

Lost wages for you and your spouse/partner
Life insurance: a $750,000 term life insurance policy purchased by the intended parents
Counseling for you and your spouse/partner, throughout the journey and after birth
Travel for medical appointments
Health insurance coverage for your surrogacy pregnancy
Attorney fees for your own independent reproductive attorney
Childcare reimbursement for medical appointments and birth recovery

Protections built into every journey

Life insurance and health insurance coverage for your surrogacy pregnancy
Your own independent reproductive attorney, paid for by the intended parents, to review your contract and protect your interests
Counseling for you and your spouse/partner, during the journey and after birth
Lost wages, including time off for doctor-ordered bed rest
Independent escrow: all funds are held in an independent escrow account overseen by The Surrogacy Co., so you never miss a payment
ASRM-aligned screening and care, and a founder who has been a surrogate herself and knows what a safe journey should look like

Protected Every Step of the Way

We won't pretend that pregnancy comes without risk. Every pregnancy carries risk, and a surrogacy pregnancy is no exception. We would rather talk about it openly and make sure you're protected than leave you to find out on your own. Additional compensation is in place for the moments no one plans for:

Possible Outcomes + Compensation

Multiples (e.g., twins) …………………………….. $5,000

C-section delivery ………………………………….. $3,000

Mock cycle ………………………………………….…… $500

Canceled cycle ………………………………………… $300

Invasive procedure …………………………………. $500

Ectopic pregnancy …………………………………. $1,500

Termination ……………………………………………… $1,500

Partial loss of reproductive organs ……… $5,000

Full loss of reproductive organs …………… $10,000

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Surrogate confidently carrying intended parents baby

FAQs for Surrogates

It is perfectly normal to have questions about the surrogacy process, and we are here to help! Below are some of the most frequently asked questions we hear from potential surrogates.

Surrogacy is an arrangement where a woman (known as a gestational carrier or surrogate mother) carries and delivers a baby for another person or couple, known as the intended parents. Gestational surrogacy involves using an embryo created via IVF from the intended parents’ (or donor) egg and sperm. The surrogate is not genetically related to the baby.
Yes, we are based in Lexington, KY but we happily work with surrogates nationwide.
Yes. First-time surrogates start at $50,000+ in base compensation, and experienced surrogates set their own rate. Your full benefits package, including monthly allowances and additional fees, is confirmed before you're matched.
No. Surrogacy should never cost you money. The intended parents cover 100% of the medical, insurance, and legal costs related to the surrogacy process, and you're reimbursed for lost wages and travel to medical appointments.
Generally, surrogates are women who have had at least one successful pregnancy without complications to full term, and are raising their own child(ren). They must pass medical, psychological, and background screenings to ensure they are suitable candidates.
Surrogates often describe helping another family grow as the most meaningful part of the journey. You'll also receive the compensation you set, along with monthly allowances, reimbursements, and holistic support from a founder who has been a surrogate herself.
The screening process is robust. It includes a comprehensive medical examination, a psychological evaluation, and background checks for you and your spouse/partner, so you can feel confident you are physically and emotionally prepared for the journey.
Gestational carrier agreements are legally binding contracts that outline the rights and responsibilities of both the surrogate (and her spouse/partner) and the intended parents. You will have your own independent reproductive attorney, paid for by the intended parents, and all parties must understand and agree to the terms before any medical procedures begin.
You'll receive comprehensive support from our agency and journey experts, which includes counseling, medical care, legal assistance, doula advice for pregnancy, birth and postpartum, financial support, and more. This support helps manage the emotional, physical, and logistical aspects of the surrogacy process.
The Surrogacy Co. follows best practice guidelines for birth and post-birth transitions from birth mother to intended parents. After delivery, we will ensure a smooth transition from surrogate mother to baby’s loving intended parents. The surrogate mother’s family will get a chance to meet the baby. The surrogate mother will be supported in her postpartum recovery. Legal steps are taken to finalize the intended parents’ parental rights. Everyone celebrates the arrival of this much anticipated gift. You will continue to have postpartum support.
Like any pregnancy, surrogacy carries medical risks. However, thorough medical screening and regular prenatal care help minimize these risks. Emotional challenges can also arise, which is why psychological support is available to your throughout the journey.
Before you are matched, your benefits package will be confirmed. Surrogates receive base compensation along with additional allowances for self-care, lost wages, and other related costs. The funds are kept in an independent escrow account, and overseen by The Surrogacy Co. so you never miss a payment.
Surrogates are matched with intended parents based on compatibility and mutual preferences. You'll review profiles, meet potential intended parents, and only move forward when you both agree it's the right fit. We are methodical and considerate, and you will never be pressured into a match.