Surrogacy is a boon for the majority of individuals or couples who cannot conceive biologically. A surrogate is a mother who helps the intended parents by bearing their child. From pregnancy to delivery of a baby, a surrogate This article will review how the selection process for surrogates may minimise such risks, how surrogates are usually compensated, and what would happen in cases of failed embryo transfer or loss. We will discuss surrogate rights and compensation in these times of distress.
Are Miscarriages Common in Surrogacy?
Although miscarriages in surrogacy are rare, they do occur. Sometimes, at about the fifth month, the embryo may not survive in the surrogate’s womb, resulting in early loss during pregnancy. Statistics indicate that for every five pregnancies, one results in miscarriage. As any pregnancy would have some risks, carrying and delivering a baby for the intended parents is no exception.
Surrogates are selected through the agencies, and they must meet their requirements in their screening process. This procedure is essential to ensure the surrogates are healthy enough to bear the child.
Reducing Miscarriage Risks
In addition, to make sure that the woman is qualified enough to serve as a surrogate, doctors scrutinise her medical history, both personal and family. She is also tested for Hepatitis B and C, along with her partner, for HIV. Tests like pelvic imaging are also done on her uterus to decrease the risk of miscarriage; this is made sure to ensure that it’s healthy and prepared for a safe pregnancy.
Before beginning surrogacy, a financial and legal agreement is completed. Unless there are special circumstances, the surrogate cannot willingly terminate the pregnancy once it has been signed. In India, surrogates typically reside close to the surrogacy facility, which makes it simpler for them to concentrate on their pregnancy and their family.
Surrogate Compensation Structure
In India, surrogates start at just INR 5-6 lakhs only. The surrogacy package includes the surrogate mother’s remuneration, which is paid in monthly installments to cover her pharmaceutical and food requirements. The clinic provides both traditional and gestational surrogacy.
IVF is used in gestational surrogacy, which is more costly because it entails taking the intended mother’s eggs, fertilising them with the father’s sperm, and then implanting them in the surrogate’s uterus. Conventional surrogacy is less expensive and employs the surrogate’s eggs that have been fertilised by artificial insemination. The different between surrogacy and IVF lies in the process and purpose; while IVF is primarily a fertility treatment for individuals or couples, surrogacy involves another woman carrying a child for the intended parents.
To guarantee a successful and seamless operation, appropriate medical and psychological screening is necessary if the intended parents supply their surrogate.
Surrogate Pay and Its Variations
Base Salary :
Before the procedure starts, including before embryo transfer, the base salary is a predetermined, pre-agreed sum specified in the surrogacy contract.
Other Advantages or Bonuses :
Bonuses are additional compensation that is applied to the base pay to cover pregnancy-related risks or difficulties. Maternity clothing, missed income, and other essentials may be covered.
Expenses :
The intended parents are responsible for paying for pregnancy-related expenses; surrogates do not. These consist of:
- Medical expenses, such as co-pays
- Travel for appointments or medical procedures.
- Medical goods, such as vitamins and prescription drugs.
- Seeking assistance through counselling.
- Legal costs associated with the surrogacy agreement.
Significant Events :Â
In addition to their normal salaries, surrogates frequently get paid during significant life events like the successful transfer of an embryo or the end of a trimester.
The Importance of Surrogacy Contracts
India’s 2021 surrogacy law includes strict rules for intended parents and surrogates. Both must submit documents like proof of marriage, age certificates, and medical approval from the District Board. The surrogate also needs an eligibility certificate.
Intended parents must cover the surrogate’s travel, clothing, medicines, tests, and check-up costs, but no monetary compensation is allowed. To make sure surrogacy in India remains an altruistic act rather than a commercial purpose. The surrogate must have three years of insurance, and the intended parents must provide a health guarantee through an affidavit.
Compensation for Surrogates in the Event of a Miscarriage
Surrogacy contracts cover what happens if a miscarriage occurs, including how compensation is handled. Terms may vary, so open and honest communication between the surrogate and intended parents is crucial to ensure fairness and support throughout the process. Sometimes they are paid every month to meet their daily requirements and in some cases, they are paid only at the end of the delivery.
Payment for Surrogates After a Failed Embryo Transfer
In most cases, surrogates are paid before and during the embryo transfer procedure. They are reimbursed or compensated for the process they have undergone. Usually, reimbursements cover lost wages, travel and medication expenses as well as time and energy involved in the gestational surrogacy process. Surrogates are even paid after a failed embryo transfer. Because in gestational surrogacy some cases may require few attempts to confirm the pregnancy. So, they are paid even in any unusual circumstances.
Medical Costs for Surrogates in the Case of a Miscarriage
At the initial stage of the surrogacy process, every medical cost tends to be paid only by the intended parents. Here the surrogates are not required to pay for any part of the surrogacy process. Even in miscarriages, surrogate mothers are paid by the intended parents or by the agency they are screened for.
Conclusion
In conclusion, surrogate mothers are fully protected and paid at every stage of their surrogacy procedure. Even in miscarriages, they are compensated by the intended parents. They are screened for nearly eight weeks before the surrogacy process to reduce the risk of miscarriages. It is legally approved for couples who are not physically fit to have their own babies. For couples who are worrying about not having their own child, surrogacy is a good choice to consider.
FAQ’s
Surrogates are paid for the time and effort spent up until a miscarriage. Deciding whether to try another embryo transfer after a loss is something the surrogate and intended parents agree on in their contract.
If a surrogate has a miscarriage, the doctor will run some tests to understand why it happened. Once they know the cause, they can treat it. After that, the intended parents can try again with the same surrogate using ART.
