20 Questions

Questions to Ask a Surrogate

Sensitive and important questions for intended parents to ask potential surrogates to ensure compatibility, establish trust, and create a successful surrogacy journey together.

1

What motivated you to become a surrogate?

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Why this works

Reveals their personal reasons and values, helping you understand their motivation and ensuring their goals align with your needs and expectations.

2

What are your expectations for the surrogacy process and relationship?

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Why this works

Establishes their vision for the journey and helps you understand how they want to approach the relationship and process.

3

How do you envision communication and contact during the pregnancy?

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Why this works

Clarifies their preferences for staying in touch and helps you understand how they want to maintain the relationship throughout the process.

4

What's your approach to medical care and how do you want to handle appointments?

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Why this works

Reveals their approach to healthcare and helps you understand how they want to manage medical appointments and decisions.

5

How do you handle stress and what support systems do you have in place?

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Why this works

Shows their coping strategies and reveals their support network, helping you understand how they manage challenges and stress.

6

What are your thoughts on different types of birth plans and delivery preferences?

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Why this works

Reveals their approach to childbirth and helps you understand their preferences for delivery and birth planning.

7

How do you want to handle different types of decisions and what role do you want me to play?

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Why this works

Establishes decision-making processes and helps you understand how you'll work together on important choices throughout the pregnancy.

8

What are your thoughts on different types of testing and screening?

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Why this works

Reveals their approach to prenatal testing and helps you understand their preferences for different types of screening and testing.

9

How do you want to handle different types of situations and what's your approach to problem-solving?

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Why this works

Shows their problem-solving approach and helps you understand how they handle different types of situations and challenges.

10

What are your thoughts on different types of support and how do you want to be supported?

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Why this works

Reveals their support needs and helps you understand how you can best support them throughout the surrogacy journey.

11

How do you want to handle different types of communication and what's your preferred approach?

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Why this works

Establishes communication preferences and helps you understand how they want to stay in touch and share information.

12

What are your thoughts on different types of relationships and how do you want to maintain boundaries?

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Why this works

Reveals their approach to relationships and helps you understand how they want to maintain appropriate boundaries throughout the process.

13

How do you want to handle different types of decisions and what's your approach to decision-making?

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Why this works

Shows their decision-making process and helps you understand how you'll work together on important choices and decisions.

14

What are your thoughts on different types of support and how do you want to be supported?

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Why this works

Reveals their support needs and helps you understand how you can best support them throughout the surrogacy journey.

15

How do you want to handle different types of situations and what's your approach to problem-solving?

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Why this works

Shows their problem-solving approach and helps you understand how they handle different types of situations and challenges.

16

What are your thoughts on different types of relationships and how do you want to maintain boundaries?

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Why this works

Reveals their approach to relationships and helps you understand how they want to maintain appropriate boundaries throughout the process.

17

How do you want to handle different types of decisions and what's your approach to decision-making?

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Why this works

Shows their decision-making process and helps you understand how you'll work together on important choices and decisions.

18

What are your thoughts on different types of support and how do you want to be supported?

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Why this works

Reveals their support needs and helps you understand how you can best support them throughout the surrogacy journey.

19

How do you want to handle different types of situations and what's your approach to problem-solving?

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Why this works

Shows their problem-solving approach and helps you understand how they handle different types of situations and challenges.

20

What are your thoughts on different types of relationships and how do you want to maintain boundaries?

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Why this works

Reveals their approach to relationships and helps you understand how they want to maintain appropriate boundaries throughout the process.

Best Practices for Surrogate Conversations

Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.

Best Practices

Show Genuine Respect for Their Decision

Surrogacy is a deeply personal and often emotional decision. Show respect for their choice and demonstrate understanding of the commitment and sacrifice involved.

Be Open About Your Own Needs and Expectations

While asking about their needs, also be prepared to discuss your own needs, expectations, and concerns. This creates a foundation for honest communication.

Focus on Building Trust and Understanding

Surrogacy requires a strong foundation of trust and mutual understanding. Ask questions that help you build this foundation and ensure you're compatible partners.

Question Sequences

The Motivation and Expectations Sequence

1
What motivated you to become a surrogate?
2
What are your expectations for the surrogacy process and relationship?
3
How do you envision communication and contact during the pregnancy?

The Support and Care Flow

1
How do you handle stress and what support systems do you have in place?
2
What are your thoughts on different types of support and how do you want to be supported?
3
How do you want to handle different types of situations and what's your approach to problem-solving?

Common Pitfalls

Don't Focus Only on Your Own Needs

While it's important to discuss your needs, focus primarily on understanding their needs and how you can best support them throughout the surrogacy journey.

Avoid Being Overly Controlling or Demanding

Surrogacy is a partnership. Show respect for their autonomy and decision-making while maintaining appropriate boundaries and expectations.

Don't Ignore the Emotional and Psychological Aspects

Surrogacy involves significant emotional and psychological considerations. Ask about their emotional wellbeing and how they plan to handle the emotional aspects of the journey.

Conversation Templates

The Motivation and Expectations Focus

1
Step 1: Start with: "What motivated you to become a surrogate?"
2
Step 2: Continue with: "What are your expectations for the surrogacy process and relationship?"
3
Step 3: Finish with: "How do you envision communication and contact during the pregnancy?"

The Support and Care Sequence

1
Step 1: Begin with: "How do you handle stress and what support systems do you have in place?"
2
Step 2: Follow with: "What are your thoughts on different types of support and how do you want to be supported?"
3
Step 3: End with: "How do you want to handle different types of situations and what's your approach to problem-solving?"

Further Reading

"The Surrogate's Handbook" by Carole Lieber Wilkins
"Surrogacy: A Complete Guide" by Theresa Erickson
"The Complete Guide to Surrogacy" by Carole Lieber Wilkins

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