J.B.
Yes, there are agencies. Talk to your OB for a referral.
The process is long, hard and incredibly expensive (think $50K - $100K). You and your husband will need to do IVF, which is not mandated to be covered by insurance in your state. Each IVF cycle can easily cost over $10K and that's without a 3rd person involved, which raises the expenses. Even if you have coverage, it covers only your part (ovary stimulation and egg retrieval) and your husband's part (fertilizing the ovaries with his semen) and development of the embryos. You still have to pay out of pocket for your carrier's embryo transfer and her fertility drugs, which can cost hundreds if not a few thousand dollars. Your carrier's health insurance should cover pregnancy expenses and delivery.
If you don't already have a person in mind, compensation of a carrier is generally around $20K, more for twins or higher order multiples, more for a c-section, etc. You can also expect to pay thousands in legal fees as you will need to pay for attorneys for both your/your husband and your carrier, and the agency gets a hefty fee for coordinating all of this. You have to meet with psychologists and social workers, and your carrier has to have her own medical screening and also be cleared by a psychologist and social worker.
Add to that...Nebraska law doesn't recognize or enforce surrogacy contracts so that complicates things and doubly ensures your need to have excellent legal help.
All that said, talk to your OB about the possibility of carrying again. I know that it's scary, but my mom had a cerclage placed with me because she lost the pregnancy before me at 24 weeks due to IC (she had no issues with my older sister). It was placed early and she carried not only me, but my later my two younger brothers and younger sister to full term. Now that it's a known issue, they may be able to place the cerclage very early and prevent you from having the bed rest and pramature delivery. Surrogacy is usually good for women who have a deformed uterus, no uterus or other issue that means that they have never been able to carry a pregnancy and never will. In your case, your doc may be able to provide an assessment of whether or not it's the right choice for you.
