What Are the Risks of Being a Surrogate?

Everything worth doing comes with some risk attached. Surrogacy is no different! When bringing someone’s child into the world the gestational carrier has their mental health, physical health, and more to consider. We like to acknowledge the time and effort that it takes to give this gift to the world by making sure our surrogates know exactly what they’re in for.

There are a lot of procedures put in place to protect a gestational surrogate during their pregnancy, but there is still a chance that things could go wrong. If you have questions or concerns about the process, please reach out to us. Our staff is made up of surrogates and egg donors so that we can provide the best possible support from people who know what you’re going through.

Physical Risks

One of the most commonly asked questions by surrogates is, “Will I be able to have another child after this pregnancy?” The short answer to this question is yes! However, pregnancy carries a lot of medical risks alongside it. This is why we recommend that your family be complete before you undergo a surrogacy journey.

Pregnancy naturally carries a lot of medical risks to your health like gestational diabetes, weight gain, fertility loss, the baby could come early, or you may suffer a miscarriage. This is true for any pregnancy you undergo, including surrogacy. However, a lot of these conditions can be prevented and the risk minimized simply by following the instructions of your doctor.

In addition, it’s important to keep in mind that many surrogacy journeys are multiples! If you have never carried twins or triplets before you may want to look into some of the care involved. Your doctor will give you a strict lifestyle plan to keep both babies healthy, but you may have low birth weights, pre-term labor, or likelihood for a Cesarean section. 

These are the physical risks to your health that come with surrogacy, all of which are also common in traditional pregnancies. While taking a look at the risk is crucial to making an informed decision, it’s also important to weigh what is likely to occur. Through medical screenings and interviews, you will be vetted as a surrogacy candidate. These screenings are built to make sure everyone involved in the process does not suffer. If you are approved, you can assume that these risks have been deemed unlikely.

Emotional Risks

Bringing a child into the world is a truly joyous moment, but the path leading up to the birth and what happens for you after the birth may be more difficult. Your agency and medical team will take care of your physical risks and screen you for psychological risks. After that, taking care of your mental health falls to you and the support system you build around yourself.

Many gestational carriers experience a feeling of loss or some depression after the birth. This is completely normal. After carrying a child for nine months, it will feel odd to go home without them. You will feel joy and happiness for the Intended Parents, but you should acknowledge your less positive feelings as well. Many people feel conflicted after birth about their choice, but that feeling will fade dast when you see how happy the new family is. Post-partum Depression is a condition that affects 70%-80% of women after giving birth. Surrogate pregnancies are not exempt from this. These “Baby Blues” are temporary but may require mental health care from a professional. 

One of the best ways to minimize your emotional risk is to set up a support network of family and friends to help you throughout your journey. As your pregnancy progresses certain tasks will get harder. It’s important to have people around to help you with regular chores and other things that need to be done, as well as care for you if you’re not feeling well. These same people will be instrumental in helping you after the birth. Keep an open line of communication with a group of people that you trust and be honest with them throughout the process. The people who love you will support you, and if you lean on them your emotional risks will be lessened.

Simple Surrogacy is also here for you. We know how hard it can be to go through a surrogacy journey and what you may be feeling. Every person involved in the process has a dedicated representative. This way, you can know for sure that the person assigned to you has your best interests at heart. Reach out to your representative throughout the process if you’re experiencing anything you want to talk about. We’re here for you!

Finally, if the Intended Parents and you agree to this, the birth is not your final opportunity to see the child. Many surrogates go on to have happy and healthy friendships or pseudo-familial relationships with their intended parents. Even those that don’t tend to get a Christmas card or family update from time to time. You will forever be connected by an important bond. Incorporate the Intended Parents into your support network if you’re comfortable with that. It’s okay to lean on the Intended Parents when you need help. Of everyone, they are the most invested in your journey.

Risks vs. Rewards

These risks are not probabilities. Health risks should be minimized by your medical team and agency, and the emotional risks can be abated by your support system and the Intended Parents. The reward of helping someone grow their family is worth it.

In every decision there comes a time for the pros and cons list. If you ask anyone on our staff that’s been through a surrogacy journey, they’ll tell you the risk was worth it every time. Many surrogates go on to have more surrogacy journeys and help more families grow because the feeling of giving this gift was so wonderful.

If you are interested in becoming a surrogate, please check out our qualifications and then apply!