Become a Surrogate in Illinois
Ready to become a surrogate?
Carrying a child for someone else is one of the most incredible and selfless things a woman can do. If you have successfully carried a child to term and enjoy the entire pregnancy experience, working with our Illinois surrogacy agency might be the right choice for you.
You might be surprised at how many potential parents turn to surrogacy in Illinois as a way to achieve their dreams of building a family. Since 1994, the team at Northwest Surrogacy Center (NWSC) has been helping families across the Pacific NW create loving families through a life-changing and supportive surrogacy experience.
Why choose NW Surrogacy?
For over 30 years, NW Surrogacy Center has taken pride in our ability to provide a surrogacy experience like no one else. Our team is trained to go above and beyond to foster connections and form a community that provides the support, guidance, and care our surrogates and intended parents need on this unique journey.
Our experience is just one thing that sets our surrogacy agency in Illinois apart from the rest.
Other benefits of working with us include:
- Exceptional and customized care from qualified support personnel
- Competitive compensation & benefits package of between $84,000 and $94,000+ for our surrogates
- Additional payment of $10,000 for surrogates on their second (or third!) journey with us
- A clear understanding of Illinois surrogacy laws and regulations
- A robust community of current and former surrogates to provide support and companionship
- An ethical approach to surrogacy that focuses on the whole person
- Access to necessary mental health and nutritional counseling, as well as wellness services including massages, prenatal yoga, and acupuncture
- Additional gifts, meet-ups, and gatherings to provide emotional support
- Payments for breastfeeding post birth
Ready to see if you qualify?
If you are a healthy, nonsmoking woman between the ages of 21 and 41 years old and have had previous healthy, full-term pregnancies, we would love to hear from you!
Surrogacy benefits & compensation in Illinois
At NW Surrogacy Center, we are committed to providing a compensation and benefits package that reflects the average surrogacy cost in Illinois.
A generic breakdown of your potential surrogate pay includes:
Earn $84,000-$94,000+ in compensation & benefits
$62,000+
comprehensive compensation
$55,000 compensation (base & milestone payments)
$10,000 returning surrogate additional pay
$4,000+ monthly misc. payments ($300/mo x 13 months)
$3,000+ pumping breastmilk ($375/week + supplies)
$22,000+
benefits
- travel to fertility clinic
- childcare during IVF & after delivery
- counseling
- life insurance policy
- health insurance
- doula of your choice
* based on 2024 averages; payments will vary based on your actual expenses to ensure all of your costs are covered
protections
$5,000 carrying multiples
$1,000 additional transfer fee
$3,000 C-section
$1,000 invasive procedure fee
$2,000 termination after 13th week
$2,500 loss of fallopian
tube/ovaries
$5,000 loss of uterus
$10,000 compensation protection
unlimited lost wages & childcare for doctor-ordered bed rest
Additionally, you will receive…
Individual attorney to protect you in your contract
Medical bills covered for the pregnancy and delivery
A large and supportive private surrogate community
NWSC social events and gifts throughout the process
Individual case management guidance and support
IVF cycle medications and procedures covered
What to expect as a surrogate in Illinois
If you are ready to explore gestational surrogacy in Illinois, our process is as seamless and surrogate-friendly as possible for our participants. Our process typically follows these steps:
1. Initial application
You will fill out our quick surrogate interest form online. It’s the only step you’ll take alone!
2. Screening
We will call you and set up a Zoom appointment to answer all of your questions and explain the process. Our surrogate screening includes a background check, pregnancy record review, and psychological evaluation. We want to make sure you are ready for the journey ahead!
3. Matching
We will match you with the intended parents of your choice. All NWSC families have passed a background check and have a medical need for surrogacy. They can’t have a family without your help.
4. Legal counsel
We will give you an attorney licensed in Illinois who understands our specific laws. They will walk you through all the contracts, ensuring your rights and compensation are fully protected and that the parents are the legal guardians at birth.
5. Undergo additional screening and sign contract
We will connect you with the fertility clinic team to complete your medical screening including lab work for you and your partner and an ultrasound at the fertility clinic for you. Your case manager will make all the travel arrangements. Around this time we will provide you with a draft surrogacy contract. You and the intended parents will review the document with separate attorneys, reach an agreement, and sign the contract. At this time you will begin receiving a $300 monthly allowance, and you will be invited to join our private NWSC Surrogate Facebook group. We also host meetups for our surrogates! It’s a great place to swap stories, share experiences, ask questions and meet other surrogates. Details here.
6. Begin the medication cycle
Once the contract is signed and the intended parents have safely placed money for your compensation and expenses in an account with us, we will send a letter to the fertility clinic giving them clearance to begin the IVF cycle. You will start your full IVF cycle, which involves taking medications starting about six weeks before the embryo transfer and continuing about eight weeks into the pregnancy. The clinic will give you lots of instructions and tips!
7. Medical prep and embryo transfer
You’ll take IVF medications to prepare for the embryo transfer at an IVF clinic in the U.S. You will travel to the clinic twice and NWSC will make all the arrangements
8. Pregnancy
You’ll have high-quality medical care, emotional support, a powerful surrogate community, and compensation throughout the pregnancy. We will match you with a family who shares similar values so that you can develop a positive relationship. Many families and surrogates become lifelong friends.
9. Delivery
You can choose a doula for the delivery, and the parents will also attend the birth along with your support person. The intended family can’t wait to meet their baby! The baby will go home with their new parents, and you’ll recover with our continued support.
Ready to see if you qualify?
If you are a healthy, nonsmoking woman between the ages of 21 and 41 years old and have had previous healthy, full-term pregnancies, we would love to hear from you!
What does it take to become a surrogate in Illinois?
If you’re ready to work with our surrogate agency in Illinois, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- Have had a healthy pregnancy
- Be currently parenting your own child
- Be between the ages of 21 and 41 years old
- Have a healthy BMI and no health concerns
- Pass physical and mental health screenings
- Abstain from smoking, alcohol, and drugs
- Be willing to inject yourself with IVF medications
If you want to help others achieve their dreams of parenthood, we look forward to meeting you! 