When you’re carrying someone else’s child, do you still qualify for maternity leave? The answer is yes. As a part of your surrogacy process, you’ll take maternity leave and receive your surrogate compensation. You won’t have to worry about risking your career, and you can take the time you need to recuperate.

Still, this can be a complex subject. Because of that, you can always contact us online to get free surrogacy information now. Meanwhile, we’ve assembled this detailed guide that explains all you need to know about surrogate maternity leave compensation. To learn more about the finer details of maternity pay for surrogate mothers, continue reading.

How Do Surrogate Maternity Pay and Surrogate Maternity Leave Work?

Whether you are carrying your own child or someone else’s, postpartum leave can be stressful. Many prospective surrogates worry about how their journeys will affect their professional lives. When it comes to surrogate maternity pay and leave, the Family and Medical Leave Act ensures that you can take 12 workweeks to recover.

To be more specific, FMLA applies to eligible employees of covered employers. From a general standpoint, these are companies with 50 or more employees. If you have a serious health condition or recently gave birth, then you can use FMLA to take leave.

This means that gestational surrogates can use FMLA policy, and your job isn’t in jeopardy. But, we should mention that FMLA doesn’t ensure maternity pay for surrogate mothers. That’s something your employer and your surrogacy professional will need to take care of.

As a prospective surrogate, you get to call all the shots while your surrogacy professional will do all the heavy lifting. You should be able to focus on your health and your pregnancy without having to fret over each and every detail. You are making a beautiful, heroic choice to give people the child they’ve always dreamed of. You shouldn’t have to bear the burden of a headache.

How Much Surrogate Maternity Pay Will I Receive? [Talking to Your Surrogacy Professional]

If you’re worried about any loss of income while you take maternity leave, then that is completely normal. Some employers may not offer paid maternity leave, but that’s where your surrogacy professional comes in. The best surrogacy professionals understand the intricacies of maternity pay for surrogate mothers.

As part of their compensation package, many surrogacy professionals require maternity pay. Intended parents also understand the selfless, heroic decision you’re making for them, and they know you will need to take time off from work. That’s why they will compensate you for surrogacy to show their gratitude. On top of this, they will cover any lost wages while you recuperate from the pregnancy.

You will all discuss the amount of surrogate maternity leave compensation in your surrogacy contract. During this stage of your journey, your surrogacy professional and surrogacy attorney will look over your employer’s leave policy, your pay stubs and more to ensure that you are compensated in a fair, legal and ethical manner.

How to Talk about Surrogate Maternity Pay and Leave with Your Employer

Although your surrogacy professional and your surrogacy attorney will help determine your compensation, you will also need to speak with your employer. We understand if you’re feeling nervous about discussing surrogate maternity leave compensation with your employer. It can feel awkward and uncomfortable, but it’s important to recognize that surrogacy will affect your job in some way.

This is why you’ll need to be open about your surrogacy experience with your employer. You can both devise a plan that matches your preferences and needs. But, be sure to do your research ahead of time so that you’ll know what you want to say. For example, here are some points that you can consider:

• Don’t talk to your employer about your pregnancy until you’re 20 weeks along. This is because unexpected developments, such as a failed embryo transfer or miscarriage, are possible during the first half of gestational surrogacy.
• You don’t have to tell your employer you’re carrying a gestational pregnancy. Whether you want to tell them about surrogacy or not is completely up to you.
• Your postpartum recovery could be a bit shorter than your previous postpartum recoveries. You won’t be caring for a newborn while you’re recuperating, which means you could feel back to normal quicker after you deliver the baby. But, tell your employer you plan on using 12 workweeks to recover so you’re not forced to return to work before you are truly ready.
• Think about how you’ll talk to your co-workers about surrogacy. Would you rather not talk to them about it, or do you plan on telling them about your journey? If you’re not talking to them about surrogacy, then be prepared to answer questions about your delivery, the baby and much more.
• Consider how you’ll discuss surrogate maternity leave compensation with your employer, too. Will you tell them about your surrogacy? They may ask you questions about how the baby is doing and what you decided to name them. Talking to them about surrogacy can keep matters open and honest.

Although discussing surrogate maternity pay can be tricky, remember that you are making a selfless, loving and brave decision. You are helping other people realize their lifelong dreams of parenthood, and that is beautiful. Make sure you are prepared to talk about surrogacy with your loved ones, whether they are your friends, family or even children of your own. You may encounter some uncomfortable questions about surrogacy, and it can always help to know what you want to say ahead of time.

Still, we understand if you have some more questions about maternity pay for surrogate mothers. That’s why you can always fill out our online contact form to get more surrogacy information now. We’re looking forward to hearing from you, and we would love to help you out in whatever way that we can. Surrogacy is a beautiful journey, and we can help you get started on this life-changing new chapter.