It is important for us to understand: what is a surrogate parent? A surrogate parent is a woman who carries and gives birth to another couple's child through reproductive medicine, with the intention of giving up parental rights. There are different methods for this process: traditional artificial insemination and gestational. Different countries have different legal criteria for becoming a surrogate mother, so the attitude towards surrogacy also varies.

When a woman wants to become a surrogate mother, the surrogacy agency examines her carefully and makes sure that she is physically healthy enough to carry another person's child without endangering either one.

Usually these are the following criteria: 

• Age that is desirable and will not be an obstacle to a healthy birth
• The surrogate must have a history of successful pregnancies and deliveries.
• They have at least one child.
• They want to help others experience the joys of parenthood.

What Is Surrogate Parenting: What Benefits Does a Surrogate Parent receive? 

Answering the question "what are surrogate parents", we want to understand this question. Many of those who became interested in surrogacy want to know more about what is surrogate parenting? As a surrogate mother, the greatest benefit is being able to make the world a more joyful place by creating new lives for other people. Surrogacy also helps hopeful parents who have few other options, like those in the LGBTQ+ community. It teaches their children important lessons about generosity and helping others—and being inclusive. And in states where compensated surrogacy is legal, many women choose to become surrogates so that they can take advantage of the financial benefits involved.

What Are the Responsibilities of Surrogate Parents? 

As a surrogate, you are responsible for taking care of yourself and knowing your body well enough to know when something doesn’t feel right. For the sake of both you and the baby, it is essential that your health be in good condition. You will agree with the intended parent on matters such as how often they should be in touch and what, if anything, you'll receive from them to compensate for your time.

All of this should be covered before you begin the actual surrogacy. Don’t hesitate to ask your agency for guidance; they will help you understand what is involved and support your every step along the way. It is also important to understand the difference between a surrogate mother and a gestational carrier. The main difference between gestational and traditional surrogacy is simple: in traditional surrogacy, the surrogate’s eggs are used, making her the biological mother of the child she carries; in gestational surrogacy, the surrogate has no biological link to the baby. Accordingly, the sphere of influence is different. First of all, everything is within the law of the country you choose. In the case of traditional surrogacy, there will be much more legal and emotional concerns. 

While this distinction may seem minor, it has several implications that prospective intended parents should consider when making a decision between traditional surrogacy and gestational surrogacy.

What Does Surrogate Parent Mean: Another meaning of this concept

For the sake of general understanding, we should clarify that the term "surrogate parent" may have another etymological meaning. We give below another meaning of this concept so that you do not get confused.

Parental surrogate means a person appointed to act in the place of a parent or guardian when a child is unaccompanied and homeless, when the child's parents or guardians are unknown, or when, after reasonable efforts, the board of education is unable to locate the parents, or when the child is a ward of the state and has no parent who meets the definition in this subparagraph, or when the rights of the parent to make educational decisions have been transferred by a judge under state law.