Can I be a surrogate for my daughter?
Emma Payne
Published Jan 22, 2026
A 55-year-old woman has acted as a surrogate for her daughter and given birth to her child. Tracey Smith has a condition which means she is unable to carry a baby. So her mother Emma Miles, from Lampeter in Ceredigion, lost six stone (38 kg) to allow her to carry baby Evie.
Can a mother carry a child for her daughter?
You could consider becoming a surrogate. As a gestational surrogate, you will be able to carry your grandchild in a safe, secure womb until they are born full term. You will not be genetically related to the child that you carry; he or she will be conceived of your child and their spouse's (or a donor's) DNA.
How much do surrogates get paid?
In the world of surrogacy, base pays range from $30,000 to $46,000 — plus reimbursement for additional expenses — depending on your state of residence and the specific details of your surrogacy journey.
Can you get someone else to carry your baby?
Surrogacy is when a woman carries and gives birth to a baby for another person or couple.
How much is a surrogate in the UK?
Budgets for UK surrogacy typically range from £20,000 – £60,000, broken down as: Surrogate expenses – Surrogates in the UK are typically paid expenses of £12,000 to £20,000, although surrogacy arrangements between existing friends and family sometimes involve lower amounts.
22 related questions foundDo surrogates get paid in the UK?
Surrogacy agreements
You cannot pay a surrogate in the UK, except for their reasonable expenses.
Can you get a surrogate on the NHS?
The clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) do not currently provide surrogacy on the NHS. Further information: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has information on its website about surrogacy, and we strongly advise you to read and understand this.
What can disqualify you from being a surrogate?
Below are medical conditions that can prevent women from becoming gestational surrogates.
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) ...
- Preeclampsia. ...
- Unhealthy BMI. ...
- Gestational diabetes. ...
- Endometriosis. ...
- Multiple C-sections. ...
- Other underlying health conditions. ...
- No previous children.
Can a family member be a surrogate?
While surrogacy laws vary by state, it's usually possible for you to pursue gestational surrogacy for a family member or for a friend. Although you will carry your family member or friend's baby, you will not be this child's legal mother, so you won't have to worry about any legal relationship to the child you carry.
How much does it cost to have a friend be a surrogate?
Using a friend or family member will only reduce the surrogate cost if the woman chooses to not be compensated for the surrogacy. Otherwise, the cost of surrogacy with a friend is similar to the cost of surrogacy with a gestational carrier found for you by an agency and can be between $100,000 and $200,000.
Do surrogates get paid if they miscarry?
If you do experience a miscarriage or failed transfer, you would be compensated to that point as per your contract, so don't worry about having to front any expenses related to the pregnancy.
How do I get a surrogate baby?
How it happens, step-by-step
- Choose a surrogate, usually through an agency.
- Create a legal contract and have it reviewed.
- Go through the egg retrieval process (if using intended mother's eggs) or obtain donor eggs. ...
- Transfer embryos to the gestational carrier (surrogate) and then — if it sticks — follow the pregnancy.
Does insurance pay for surrogacy?
Technically, none! There are no ACA medical plans that are specifically designed to cover a woman for surrogacy. She will need to have a medical insurance plan that does not have an exclusion for her using the maternity benefit of the policy while acting as a surrogate.
Can a 67 year old woman be a surrogate mother?
Being a surrogate in your 60s is extremely rare — but the only way this may be possible is if you are approved by a fertility clinic in an independent surrogacy. Like surrogacy agencies, surrogacy clinics have requirements for who can become gestational carriers.
Does a surrogate use her own egg?
During a traditional surrogacy, the surrogate uses her own egg for the conception process. This makes the surrogate the baby's biological mother. Typically, the intended father's sperm is used to conceive the child through a process called artificial insemination.
Does a surrogate mother share DNA with the baby?
In gestational surrogacy, there is no way for a surrogate to transfer DNA to a child, because the intended mother's or donor's egg is used instead of the gestational surrogate's. This complete separation of surrogate-baby DNA is an important point, because it protects everyone involved in the process.
Can I be a surrogate for my sister?
Yes, becoming an altruistic surrogate for your brother or sister is an option. In fact, sibling surrogacy is the most common type of altruistic surrogacy practice out there.
How much would it cost to be a surrogate for my sister?
The cost for the complete process, when using a hired surrogate, is about $25,000, Ms. Stull said. Both sisters discussed it with their husbands.
Can I be a surrogate for my brother and his wife?
The answer is yes! As long as a woman meets the requirements to become a surrogate, she can give this selfless, beautiful gift to a sibling struggling with infertility. In fact, it's becoming more and more common for intended parents to seek out family members or friends to carry their children.
Who is a good candidate for surrogacy?
Be at least 21 years old and younger than 40. Have a healthy BMI, as determined by your doctor. Have carried at least one pregnancy successfully to term. Be raising a child of your own in your own home.
What is the age limit for surrogacy?
The Generally Accepted Surrogate Age Limits
In fact, they set these age requirements based on recommendations from experts at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine: “Carriers must be of legal age and preferably between the ages of 21 and 45 years.
How do I become a surrogate mother UK?
Surrogates must be a minimum of 21 years old. There is no maximum age limit for surrogates, however you must be eligible to be treated by a fertility clinic. Criteria for host surrogacy can differ from clinic to clinic, however some UK clinics are happy to treat surrogates in their mid to late 40s.
Can a friend be a surrogate mother UK?
While US states such as California have commercialised the arrangement, with surrogates earning well in excess of $50,000 (£38,300), it is illegal to pay someone for acting as a surrogate in the UK, meaning the process relies on the altruism of strangers recruited through an agency, or loved ones.
How do I start surrogacy in the UK?
Starting the surrogacy process
- Decide if surrogacy is right for you.
- Decide which surrogacy organisation to work with.
- Choose a surrogate, IP(s) and egg or sperm donor.
- Get to know each other and agree a surrogacy arrangement.
- Conception (fertility clinic)
- Maternity.
- Birth of child.
- Transfer of legal parenthood.
How can I get a free surrogate?
If you are looking to find a free surrogate mother, you might start by looking within your own network for an eligible friend or family member who wishes to carry for you. Otherwise, finding an altruistic surrogate is often a path you must take on your own.