A surrogate mother is a woman who carries and gives birth to a baby for another person or couple, known as the intended parents. This arrangement is often made when the intended parents are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy themselves due to medical reasons or other circumstances. Surrogacy can be either traditional, where the surrogate is also the biological mother, or gestational, where the surrogate carries an embryo created from the intended parents' or donors' eggs and sperm. The process of surrogacy typically involves legal agreements to protect the rights of all parties involved. It may also include medical procedures such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) to create the embryo. Surrogacy is regulated differently across various regions, and intended parents often seek the assistance of agencies or legal professionals to navigate the process and ensure a successful outcome.