Good health is critical for a surrogate, but that doesn’t mean you should only be in good physical condition to help intended parents grow their family. You must also be in sound mental health and you must be well prepared for the emotional roller-coaster that surrogacy can present. Here are several things you may want to consider.
A Full Understanding of the Risks
It’s important that you completely understand that there are risks with any medical procedure and what those risks are. You should also be able to communicate your level of understanding of the risks to others, including your partner or spouse, your doctor, and the intended parents.
In particular, you’ll want to assess your risk for pregnancy-related complications or for developing postpartum depression and have a solid plan in place in case you have issues while you are pregnant or symptoms of increased sadness, anxiety, and other negative emotions after the baby is born.
A Good Support System
Surrogacy is a wonderful gift to give to a family, but it can also be emotionally and physically taxing for the surrogate. Build up a support system, including your partner or spouse, a counselor, your doctor, friends, and other family members. Know ahead of time who you can go to in times of stress.
Therapy or counseling isn’t just for individuals who are in crisis. In fact, it can be a powerful tool for keeping people dealing with intense situations out of crisis. Unlike other programs that require surrogates to see a therapist while they are pregnant, we respect your autonomy and your ability to know your body and what it needs. However, we also strongly recommend that if you are feeling stressed that you consider seeing a therapist to talk about what you’re going through. Or, if things begin to feel difficult, consider seeing a counselor. more often if necessary.
Hormonal Management
You’ll likely experience a wide range of hormonal changes, even before. you try to conceive. From going on birth control to regulate your cycle and receiving hormonal injections before the implant to the various hormonal changes you’ll experience during the pregnancy, it can be difficult to get a handle on what is happening to your body.
Hormonal changes can cause sadness, anxiety, mood swings, and other emotional issues that can make surrogacy difficult. Know how you’ll handle hormonal changes and what you can do to help balance yourself during this time. Meditative exercises like yoga can be healthy for both the body and the mind.
Contact Surrogate Mothers, Inc. for More Information
At Surrogate Mothers, Inc., we take into account both the physical and mental health of the surrogate and help connect you to the resources you need to have the best surrogacy experience possible. Contact us today for more information by calling 1-888-SURROGATE.