5 Things to Consider Before Becoming a Surrogate Mother

Surrogacy is the artificial insemination of the sperm in a woman who then carries the baby for nine months, only to deliver it for the intended parents. There are two kinds of surrogacy: traditional surrogacy and gestational surrogacy. Traditional surrogacy involves using the surrogate’s eggs, which makes her the biological mother of the child she gives birth to. Gestational surrogacy, on the other hand, requires an egg donor to produce the embryo the surrogate will carry and consequently, the surrogate has no biological relation to the baby.

Whichever type of surrogacy you plan to opt for, there are some preparations you need to make before you become a surrogate. Becoming a surrogate mother is a life-changing experience; therefore it is necessary to do proper research in order to have an in-depth understanding of the process. This will help you to make prior arrangements and adaptations so you can deliver a healthy baby successfully.

Surrogacy is a transformative process that entails significant stability and responsibility. It is advised to look out for any relative who can volunteer in the surrogacy process instead of choosing complete strangers.However, there are also agencies nowadays that provide the best services in this regard.

There are a number of factors that need to be considered before joining this field since there are several decisive tasks that need to be done which can have various consequences.

We are here to guide you through because surrogacy doesn’t just affect you physically, but it also affects you emotionally, mentally, and financially. It influences your family, life and your priorities entirely.

Here are 5 things you should consider before you decide to become a surrogate mother:

Table of Contents

UNDERSTANDING SURROGACY

Surrogacy is an incredibly transformative experience of a person’s life, therefore before you take the leap, it is advised that you do a complete analysis of the process and its outcomes to have a clear idea of what you are going to be dealing with. Understanding surrogacy and getting in-depth knowledge will help you to prepare yourself better mentally, emotionally, physically as well as financially so you can give your best to the baby.

Surrogacy turns your world around completely as it influences your family, life and your preferences. With a detailed knowledge of how surrogacy works, you can be aware of the consequences and precautions that this process involves. This will also give you an insight into the medical alterations involved, and the artificial ways that help create babies so that you can make some amendments, settlements, and adaptations in order to give birth to a healthy baby.

YOUR ELIGIBILITY

In order to become a successful surrogate, you need to fulfill the legal, medical and social requirements that come with the package. You should be eligible in all the aspects before you begin your journey as a surrogate. For example, in most cases you will be required to be between the ages of 20-40, have a regular menstrual cycle and a healthy living lifestyle – no drinking, smoking or drug use during the period of pregnancy. You must also have a history of a healthy pregnancy in the past so that there are chances of this pregnancy going smoothly.

Additionally, you should also be ready to deal with the discomfort and pain related to the experience including morning sickness, prolonged labor, regular shots, and invasive procedures. Going through discomfort for the sake of your own child is something every mother is ready to take on, but doing it for someone else requires a lot of strength and courage.

YOUR WELLBEING

Your health matters the most if you are contemplating to become a surrogate mother. You should be fit and fine in every way; be it emotionally, physically, and mentally in order to make it a rewarding experience for both the baby and yourself. You should be young so that you have sufficient stamina to deal with the tough situations and medical procedures. Your BMI also needs to be suitable for surrogating – women who are underweight or overweight are likely to be unsuitable for surrogacy.

Your mental health matters as much as your physical health and so it is always good to have a meeting with a psychologist who can counsel you about the process which will clear your doubts. This way you will be sure of what you’re going to be a part of. Proper medical care is a prerequisite when it comes to surrogacy.

YOUR INVOLVEMENT

Whatever you do or plan to do in life should always be based on your interest in that particular task. If you are someone who takes pride in being a mother and has the urge to help others achieve their desire to become parents, then this is your field. If you wish to lend a helping hand to those who are deprived of being parents and want to be a part of their journey to accomplish parenthood, in a positive and loving way, only then you should opt surrogacy.

This process involves complete attention and care, with the well-being of the baby as the top priority. The surrogate mother needs to be 100% devoted both physically and mentally, to bring a healthy being into this world.

STABLE AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

The key to having a successful surrogacy is to reduce risk factors such as stress and complications; therefore, it is necessary to have financial stability and a healthy lifestyle that would benefit you during the pregnancy as well as the baby. Any expenses you end up making during the pregnancy, related to the surrogacy will be reimbursed by the intended parents in installments.

A healthy pregnancy requires a lot of caution and care on part of the mother and you should be willing to give up any part of your lifestyle that could be detrimental to the health of the baby.

Conclusion

Surrogate mothers play a very significant role in our community and have been successful in helping several families make their dream of becoming parents for the first time into a reality. They are blessings in disguise as they give a lot to the society; therefore, before you take a plunge in this metamorphic experience of a lifetime, make sure you are clear about the implications and the stress that comes along with it.

Also, make sure you have supportive family and friends to help you through this transformative process so you can maintain your emotional and mental stability throughout. You can follow these guidelines in order to plan your surrogacy with the intended parents and bring a new being into this world.