Becoming a gestational carrier in South Carolina is a big deal. Palmetto Surrogacy encourages all women considering this path to fully research the challenges and rewards of the surrogacy process before starting. That way, you’ll truly understand the journey ahead of you and make sure it’s the right one for you.
An important part of this research process is learning more about the risks of being a surrogate mother. While carrying a child for someone else is a beautiful, selfless journey, it is not one that comes without certain risks and potential complications. It’s up to you as a prospective surrogate to evaluate these risks and determine whether you are comfortable with them.
Our team is here to help. When you contact Palmetto Surrogacy, we will always answer your questions about potential surrogate mother risks. Although we cannot provide you with information regarding medical risks, we can help point you in the right direction of who to consult to get your questions answered. We feel transparency is key in our effort to make carriers aware of the potential challenges ahead of time — just in case.
Below, you can read a bit more about the potential risks of surrogacy you may face. You can always speak to our surrogacy professionals anytime by calling 864-573-5533 or contact us online for more information.
What are the Risks of Being a Surrogate Mother?
Every woman’s surrogacy experience will be different, but the majority of surrogacy journeys involve a few common risks and potential issues. If you are thinking about being a surrogate in South Carolina, you will need to accept these potential risks before you can start the surrogacy process.
Possible Health Risks of Surrogacy:
It’s no secret that pregnancy and childbirth come with inherent risks. These risks are no different if you are carrying a child for someone else through a gestational surrogacy.
In addition to these usual side effects (nausea, weight gain, swelling, back pain, etc.), you may also experience side effects from fertility drugs used in the embryo transfer process. The health risks of surrogacy may also be increased if you carry multiples for your intended parents.
Remember: While you will experience the same risks and potential issues that you did when you were pregnant with your own child, your perspective on these risks may change because you will not be bringing home a child of your own at the end of the process. As a result, your feelings regarding what risks you are and are not comfortable with may change. Your medical professionals will also remind you that every pregnancy is different, so don’t take for granted that a surrogate pregnancy will be automatically the same experience as your previous pregnancies.
Possible Emotional Risks of Surrogacy:
Potential surrogate mother risks and complications can also involve your emotions. Being pregnant affects your hormones, which can have a great impact on your emotional health. Add in the emotional challenges of surrogacy — carrying someone else’s baby, maintaining a relationship with intended parents and more — and it’s normal for any surrogate to feel overwhelmed at certain points in her journey.
Contrary to what many people believe, the biggest emotional risk of gestational surrogacy is not becoming “attached” to the child that you carry. In fact, this is not a significant problem for most surrogates — they see what they’re doing as “babysitting” and, many times, are excited to not have another child to care for after their nine months of pregnancy are up!
Instead, here are some of the more common emotional risks of being a surrogate mother:
- Stress from managing your everyday family responsibilities and your surrogate responsibilities
- Exhaustion and fatigue
- Increased responsibility for your spouse and immediate family members
- Potential for postpartum depression
How Palmetto Surrogacy Aims to Reduce the Risks of Gestational Surrogacy
We understand that these surrogate mother risks can be scary. That’s why Palmetto Surrogacy is designed to eliminate these risks as much as possible. Our aim is to provide the safest, most successful surrogacy experience possible — which is why we are dedicated to supporting you through every step of the process.
There are a few big things our professionals do to reduce the risks of gestational surrogacy for our carriers:
1. Medical Screening
Over the years, surrogacy professionals have created a list of medical requirements that have proven most effective in reducing the health risks of surrogacy. These criteria — that you have previously carried a pregnancy to term, that you are between the ages of 21 and 38, and more — make sure that you are medically eligible for the embryo transfer and gestational pregnancy process and that serious complications are not likely.
In addition to meeting these initial requirements, our program requires you to undergo a medical consultation and medical screening at a fertility clinic. This will further confirm your ability to carry a gestational pregnancy. A physical exam and lab blood testing, in addition to a thorough review of your pregnancy history, will give your reproductive endocrinologist confidence in your medical health before you even start the medical process of surrogacy.
This screening not only confirms that you are healthy enough for pregnancy — it also confirms to your intended parents that they have the best chances of a successful pregnancy when they continue working with you.
2. Psychological Screening
Every gestational carrier must undergo a psychological screening with a mental health professional before being cleared for surrogacy. Why? This screening will help you prepare for the emotional risks of being a surrogate mother.
During this screening, a mental health professional will talk with you (and your spouse, if applicable) about exactly what the surrogacy process entails. They will also discuss with you the potential challenges that may arise and help you think about what you would do in certain situations. Your psychological screenings must be done on your own and with the intended parents — to make sure all parties are prepared for and on board with the partnership ahead of them.
—
At Palmetto Surrogacy, we are dedicated to providing you the safest surrogacy journey possible in South Carolina. While gestational surrogate mother risks can be intimidating at first, know that our team will be by your side every step of the way to reduce these possibilities and help you feel supported throughout your personal journey.
Want to learn more about the benefits our surrogacy program can provide? Contact our team of professionals today.