In India, there is a new IT industry: the new Infant Trading. After the adults, it is now the babies turn to be outsourced. Reproductive Outsourcing is catching on. The industry is valued at more than $450 millions, and the number of cases of surrogacy has doubled over the past three years. Commercial surrogacy has been legal in India since 2002. India is emerging as a leader making it into what can be called a viable industry rather than a rare fertility treatment. It has gained popularity for same reasons as outsourcing in other industries: a wide labor pool working for relatively low rates. In India womb is the new Web.
It is interesting to note that people worldwide use poverty in India to validate reproductive outsourcing. Surrogate mothers in India, where maternal death rates are very high, under commercial surrogacy programs are usually cared for with amongst the best highly advanced medical, nutritional, and overall care available in the field anywhere in the world.
The total cost including the medical procedures, payment to the clinic providing the surrogate mother, and air tickets and hotel expenses for two trips to India, is less than $25,000. This is not even one third of what it would cost say in the United States. The fertility treatment and surrogacy that cost upwards of $80,000 in the United States can be done in India for about $12,000 or less. The couple looking to have a baby go to India for in-vitro fertilization and then again to pick up the baby. These clinics provide complete one-stop service to these couples which include updating them of the progress of the pregnancy by sending them reports and ultrasounds through emails and chat forums. Other reasons why India is an attraction as compared to other developing countries is the availability of advanced health care facilities and doctors who speak English. Surrogates, who must be younger than 45 and must have at least one living child, are required to stay in a dormitory attached to the clinic for the nine months of their pregnancy. This is one of internet ads of a Hospital in India advertising their package deal.
Oprah Winfrey did a show ‘Renting Wombs in India‘ in October 2007 where she endorsed the concept.
There is a default legal assumption in most countries that the woman giving birth to a child is that child’s legal mother. In some jurisdictions the possibility of surrogacy has been allowed, and the intended parents may be recognized as the legal parents from birth. Many states now issue pre-birth orders through the courts placing the names of the intended parents on the birth certificate from the start. In others, the possibility of surrogacy is either not recognized (all contracts specifying different legal parents are void), or is prohibited, and will be considered as a criminal offense.
“The human body is not lent out, is not rented out, is not sold,” France’s highest court held when it outlawed commercial surrogacy in the early nineties.
The clinics in India feel that this vital service they are providing is a ‘win-win’ situation for both the parties, ” we are facilitating each one of them to achieve what none of them could achieve on their own.”
In United States or other western countries, one rarely hears about poor citizens acting as surrogates for financial reasons. More often than not, a family member or friend will volunteer to be a surrogate for a couple who are otherwise not able to conceive.
Having a child is deep emotional experience. Would these Indian women be willing to give away their babies if it was not for money? However, the fertility specialists running this industry argue, “Many surrogate mothers see this not as ‘handing over’ the baby, but as ‘handing back’ the baby, as the baby was never theirs to keep.”
Trans-ethnic surrogacy will bring countries closer. However, it is unethical for rich from the developed countries to exploit under privileged women from developing nations.
Becoming pregnant is one of the most beautiful feeling for a women, but did ever anyone think how does it feel for a women to carry someone else’s fertile egg in her womb and bare the pain of not only carrying the baby but also the humiliation from the society, just for money? And the increasing rate of surrogacy in India shows that India is still taking the Shit of developed countries, and this doesn’t help India to grow but slowly wipes the Indian traditions and cultures. It will be great if you can also publish this piece of information in SiliconIndia.com as I am a member of SiliconIndia I am sure that this information will be useful for most of the members. http://www.siliconindia.com/register.php?id=T49I1Fh5
Dear Sanjana,
I do agree with you- motherhood is woman’s most beautiful experiences. I also believe that through surrogacy a woman can gift another woman (who is unable otherwise) the experience of motherhood and having a family. In its true sense it is indeed a very unique gift.
However, I feel, trying to earn livelihood from it, or expecting monetary returns for this beautiful gesture dilutes the whole concept. In my opinion, once diluted, it is no longer any different than other means of flesh trade prevalent in our society.
Thank you for sharing the link with us. We will definitely share the information we have in the forum suggested by you.
Won’t it be unfair to compare surrogacy with flesh trade Fabbi Gabby?
They two are all together different things and can surely be not compared. Imagine if we would have done something similar as to facilitate someone to cherish and realize his / dream. It could be an act done to help someone really close to you like you sister / best friend.
As it’s rightly framed by you tht motherhood is the most beautiful feeling a woman can ever experience.
The day child is born so is mother. So how can surrogacy on the whole be termed as offensive or unconducive. Just thinking abt the benefits sterile couples or individuals draw from this gesture. It will make us feel more related to the concept and we would be in a position to relate to it if we think in depth about it.
But having said all this, the worst part remains the same i.e. exploitation of the women for money or lack of it..
It should be a willing, cherish able, satisfying act for woman who is conceiving the baby.
Couldn’t form an opinion about whether or not it should be commercialized since there is vast expanse of poverty and unemployment still persisting in India and probably such outsourcing and commercialization there on is being looked as opportunity to strengthen the monetary conditions of have-nots.
Dear Naina,
Thank you for sharing your views with us. I agree with you and as I also said in my writing that surrogacy is indeed a very unique gift that only one woman can give to another and help her experience the world of motherhood and family.
However, I feel, when it is done for money, it is just like any other trade. If you read about the reports that are available on women going through surrogacy outsourcing in India you will be astonished to find that a woman who has gone through it once returns after the specified time to go through it again only to be able to support their families.
We read about it, we talk about it- but do we really understand the emotional stress, the physical pain, and the social indifference these women are going through. Is it entirely voluntary?
I agree financial and status upgrade attached with outsourcing is important and does play a significant role in a country like ours but look at the price these women are paying to get that. Is Is it worth it?
Solution? Well, I wish I could come up with one.
Surrogacy is really a great gift of God for childless couples. I really appreciate those who become a source to give this happiness to others.
All our children of the same god. Why don’t these infertile couples adopt unwanted children and donate excess funds to the needy. This would distinguish the true humanist from the arrogant, selfish, ungenerous .
Kali what a judgmental thing to say to people who truly want a child that is part of them. Adoption is not as easy as you think. I live in an area where there is tremendous wealth, and because of that, rarely is an infant or toddler available for adoption. I am a Humanist, and we have a surrogate in India, carrying our baby. We all win in the long run…………..
i think it’s a wonderful gift that these women in india are giving. i know a few women here in the U.S. who would willingly help their friends, who cannot carry a child of their own, carry one. i’ve heard of a woman here who serves as a surrogate mother not to necessarily help other women, but to make a quick buck and spend it on her own vanity. the women in india, however, have been known to help their family have a better living situation and education, much more admirable if you ask me.
to assume that exploitation is going on in india by foreigners is ridiculous, in regards to surrogacy. think of the economic stability these women garner and the long term effects and impact it has on their family. the compensation these women receive is given to their own family, generally children, in terms of education, which in turn enables them to be more than a factory worker, farmer, or laborer of sorts.
though i do have a question. when a child is born through a surrogate mother in india, is the birth certificate that of india’s? what requirements are necessary for the newborn to be considered a U.S. resident/citizen. and can the birth certificate be changed from india to U.S.?
Real curious to see the answer to Minh’s question about U.S. Citizenship and Birth Certificates.
I have seen all the comments and thought of giving a reply to Sanjana.
Am an Indian, had 4 IVF’s and all got failed, we are trying with donor eggs next month and we hope we succeed this time. What should be my next step? only surrogacy.. the so called shit for you!!!! Any person go go through it doesn’t want to do it, they go for it because there is no othe way… For your information, lots of indian’s are also doing it.. please stop this indian and non indians!!!!
Let me ask you a favor… if we have go for surrogacy, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO CARRY FOR US???? SAY “YES” if you have the guts to do it… otherwise, please let them leave…..
I hope You don’t go through it!!!!
Hi Crystal,
I would love to learn more about your Indian surrogate. I am in Canada and looking into this as well . Despite what other people say, it is my #1 option. The women in Indai who do surrogacy have their life changed – from poverty to advanced living. Its a win win situation.
Kc
Hello, I’m a single woman and an American citizen whose looking for guidance in the procedures and requirements to ship my personal embryos from a fertility clinic in California, USA to a clinic in Anand, India. I have been trying to find information on the subject with no success. I want to find out if it’s possible to ship my frozen embryos in a liquid nitrogen tank to the Akanksha Infertility hospital in Anand, India. The liquid nitrogen tank used to transport frozen embryos have a life of 7 days maximum to reach its destination before the embryos die. I don’t know if I’m the first to try to do this, but I am hoping someone can guide me in the right direction to the correct Indian government department that can aid me in my journey to becoming a mother. Thank-you, Cali
Cali, Dr. Patel does not accept frozen embroyos. If you need to reach me, you can contact me at crystaldt@gmail.com. We are leaving for India on October 13th, as our surrogate will deliver on the 15th or 16th of the month.
Thank-you Crystal, I will email you soon.
If anyone out there has transported there frozen embryos from the USA to India please contact me; I am very interested in finding out how you did it. Or if anyone out there is thinking of transporting their frozen embryos from the USA to India in order to partake of their gestational surrogacy programs or for personal use contact me maybe we can research the subject together and help each other out. Thank-you, Cali
P.S. I am also curious to see the answer to Minh’s question regarding U.S. citizens whose children are born in India and the process needed to make their children into U.S. citizens.
Has anybody out there used the agency listed below?:
The Surrogacy Center in India, LLC—————
1390 Chain Bridge Road #960
Mclean, VA 22101
Phone: (301) 340-1185
Email: http://www.surrogacyinindia.com/
Or if anyone has used another agency based in India for your IVF or surrogacy program what do think of the prices set by the agency mentioned above in comparison to the one you used?
Fee Schedule for intended parents—————–
$100 at submitting application form and agreement.
$5,000 at start of surrogate selection process to cover surrogate testing, etc.
$5,000 on selection of surrogate and start of surrogate preparation.
$10,000 at time of the embryo transfer.
$12,000 at the beginning of the eighth month of pregnancy.
$2,000- Legal fees
Total Price
$34,000 plus travel expenses
Iam 37 years old pt .do hysterectomy but saving ovaries if you can help me to find a surrogate mother please answer me when I can come to you
thank you
Cali-
I’m interested in what you found out. I’d also like to ship embryos to a clinic in India. If you have any info, or had success doing this, please email me.
Thanks
Effie
Wow man,
this is insane, I am not comfortable with this type of outsourcing.