Why Support is so Important During a Surrogacy Journey
You’ve heard the adage, “It takes a village to raise a child,” but have you ever heard that it takes a village to bring one into the world? In the surrogacy community, we know just how important it is for all parties to have a strong support system throughout the entire process.
For gestational carriers, it’s important to have a team of people who can help in various situations. She will need a ride home from certain appointments, such as the embryo transfer, and will need to rest for the rest of the day and possibly the next day, depending on the doctor’s instructions. She may also need help administering medication, including hormone injections. Someone will need to care for her children during appointments, any traveling she may need to do when she goes into labor, and after delivery. If she is placed on bed rest at any point, she will need help around the house and with her children. Having an emotional support system is also important. Any pregnancy can be an emotional rollercoaster, and some surrogates have said that carrying a child for someone else can intensify these emotions. Surrogates with a strong network of helpful family and friends will likely feel less stressed throughout their journey. Agencies are here to provide resources and guidance as well!
Intended parents will also need support during their journey. While the surrogate is a part of the last leg of the surrogacy journey, intended parents have often battled infertility prior to the surrogacy pregnancy. Intended mothers using their own eggs will have to prepare for the egg retrieval, which will require rest, self-administration of medication, and appointments. Intended parents who are using donor eggs or sperm will need to go through that process as well, which can be lengthy and emotional. Intended parents who have experienced trauma from pregnancy loss or infertility may need emotional support from their families and friends throughout the journey, as they may be reminded of previous losses. Agencies can provide resources for mental health professionals who can assist all parties as necessary. Preparing for a new baby under any circumstance is a lot of work, and it’s always good to have others who can help set up the baby’s room, baby-proof the house, and care for the intended parents’ other children if they have any. Of course, having help after the baby is born will help alleviate their stress and allow them to better enjoy their time with their new little one.
Remember that we are here to support all parties throughout their surrogacy journey!