Surrogacy is more common than it used to be, but a lot of what people think they know about it is out of date or simply wrong. Those old ideas keep good candidates from ever reaching out. If you have wondered about surrogacy but talked yourself out of it, one of these myths may be the reason.
Here are the ones we hear most from Virginia moms, and the honest reality behind each.
This is the biggest one, and it stops people cold. In gestational surrogacy, which is what nearly every agency practices today, the baby is not related to you. An embryo created by the intended parents, or with a donor, is transferred to you through IVF. You carry the pregnancy, but the genetics are not yours.
If the difference between the two types is fuzzy, our post on gestational and traditional surrogacy lays it out clearly.
Both versions of this miss the mark. You do not need money to become a surrogate. And while compensation is real and meaningful, the women who do this are rarely motivated by money alone.
For the record, Chesapeake surrogates earn $65,000 or more, with all pregnancy-related expenses covered and payments held through independent escrow. It is fair compensation for a real commitment. You can see how much surrogates make in Virginia in more detail if that is your question. But talk to any surrogate and the money is almost never the whole story.
Actually the opposite. Having your own children is a requirement, not a disqualifier, because a prior healthy pregnancy tells us surrogacy is safe for you. Age eligibility runs from 21 to 42 under current medical guidelines. Married, partnered, or single, what matters is a healthy pregnancy history and a stable home. The full list is in our surrogate requirements in Virginia guide.
This is a caring concern, and it comes from the heart. But because the baby is not biologically yours, most surrogates describe the experience very differently than they expected. They are carrying a child for a family they have come to know, and handing that baby back to parents who have waited a long time is the moment the whole journey was for. You are also supported emotionally the entire way.
You are guided through every step. Screening, matching, legal contracts, and medical care are all coordinated for you. As a mid-sized local agency with staff who have personally been surrogates, we are not a call center handing you a checklist. If you want to see the full arc first, start with what surrogacy is.
Myths are easier to clear up in a real conversation. If something is holding you back, ask us directly. There is no pressure and no fee to talk.
Reach out to Kaci Moore, our Recruitment and Intake Manager. She has been a surrogate four times and is glad to talk it through.
Or start your application if you’re ready.
