6 Tips For Surrogate Mothers

Becoming a surrogate is one way to give back, help those you love, and ensure that someone you know may be able to bring a child into this world, regardless of their own health and ability to do so on their own at the time. If you are thinking of becoming a surrogate mother but you want to do so while protecting yourself and preserving your own health, you can do so by implementing a few tips along the way and throughout your journey. The more familiar you are with the choice of becoming a surrogate mother and all that the process entails, the less likely you are to find yourself confused or stressed out once it comes time to deliver the baby and complete the surrogacy itself.

1. Keep the Intended Parents Involved

One of the best ways to look after your own mental and physical health when you have volunteered to become a surrogate is to keep the intended parents involved throughout the pregnancy at all times. When taking on a surrogacy pregnancy, it is important to stay in touch with the intended parents at all times, as this will allow you to bond while also remaining focused on the ultimate goal of your surrogacy pregnancy. From shopping at a phone repair store together to stopping in at a local restaurant for a bite to eat with one another, there are many options when it comes to keeping the intended parents involved throughout the process of any surrogate pregnancy.

Why It’s Important to Keep the Intended Parents Involved During a Surrogacy

Keeping the intended parents involved during a surrogate pregnancy is vital. This will not only allow you to bond with the parents who will be receiving the child you give birth to, but it will help you feel much more comfortable doing so, as it can be challenging for some surrogate mothers to do so if they have not yet bonded with the intended parents beforehand. Taking your time to get to know more about the intended parents you are providing a child for is also a way for you to strengthen the bond you have with one another which may last an entire lifetime.

2. Stay On Top of Doctor’s Appointments

When it comes to staying on top of your own health during a surrogacy, you will need to stay on top of any and all doctor appointments you make.

How to Find the Best Doctors During a Surrogacy

Visiting the right doctors and assembling a suitable team to take care of you during a surrogate pregnancy is often the key to feeling comfortable and okay with the process throughout. Finding the right doctor can be as simple as comparing parking lot signage and visible office signs in your local area to conducting a bit of your own research from home, online. Searching for doctors near you online who are familiar with surrogate pregnancies can provide you with the peace of mind you need before scheduling your next doctor’s appointment for you and your baby.

Tips on Comparing Local Doctors

Whether you are in the market for a custom signage company or a new doctor, taking your time to read reviews can go a long way when it comes time to assemble a team that is right for you throughout your surrogate pregnancy. Find reviews and testimonials from patients online to learn more about a specific location or physician you are interested in seeing. You can also ask family members, friends, and even colleagues who have experience with surrogacy for their own personal recommendations and advice when it comes to finding a doctor or physician near you.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Doctors During a Surrogate Pregnancy

Surrogacy is not the same as a traditional pregnancy, which is why it is so advisable to work with physicians and specialists who are not just well-versed in the legalities of the process, but are also personally experienced. Working with physicians and specialists who understand surrogacy is a way for you to put your mind at ease when it is time for you to make decisions or when it is time for you to give birth to the intended parents. When you work with a doctor who understands the ins and outs of surrogacy, you can ask questions and learn more about what the process entails at any time without feeling as if you are a burden or hassle.

3. Document Your Pregnancy

When it comes to taking care of your own individual health during your surrogate pregnancy, you will want to document your feelings, attitudes, and physical issues you experience along the way. Documenting your pregnancy from the very beginning until when you are ready to give birth will provide you with insight into your own medical and health needs while also allowing you to immerse yourself in the pregnancy process and the act of surrogacy. Anytime you are storing medical records that are sensitive, it is also important to keep in mind that document shredding may be necessary to protect your privacy.

Tips on How to Document Your Pregnancy

Anytime you are acting as a surrogate mother, you will only want to do so once you are comfortable with the process and once you begin to document the pregnancy itself. Documenting your pregnancy is possible with traditional notebooks or even with the use of a digital notepad or software program, depending on your preferences when it comes to keeping track of your life, schedules, and personal health. Documenting your pregnancy should be done by sharing a food log, a sleeping log, and even various mood trackers or physical pain trackers, depending on what stage you are in during your pregnancy.

The Importance of Tracking Your Pregnancy

Taking the time to document your pregnancy every step of the way is extremely important for those who are interested in becoming surrogate mothers. Documenting doctor’s appointments, verifying medical records, and protecting your own mental health in the process is imperative to protect and preserve your own rights as an individual. When you take the time to document your entire pregnancy, you can also ensure that you are taking the right steps during the pregnancy itself.

4. Enlist the Help of a Lawyer

When it comes to tending to your own mental and emotional health during a surrogate pregnancy, you will want to take some time to enlist the help of a lawyer. Working with a lawyer throughout a surrogacy scenario is a way for you to gain insight into the actual process while learning more about your own personal rights and the rights you have as a new mother. If you are new to surrogacy and want to learn more about what you should expect during the actual process, finding the right attorney is key.

Importance of Enlisting the Help of a Lawyer

Finding the right family lawyer to represent you as a surrogate mother is highly recommended even before you decide to move forward with the process of becoming pregnant for another intended couple or individual. Enlisting the help of a lawyer will walk you through the surrogacy process while ensuring you abide by any laws, rules, or regulations that may currently be in place and in effect based on where you live. Taking on a surrogate pregnancy with a lawyer by your side is also a way for you to maintain your own peace of mind once you are familiar with your personal and individual rights as the mother of the child you are carrying.

If you have any questions regarding the legalities of a surrogacy journey, you will also want to turn to an attorney who understands the process, especially if your very own state. Lawyers who work in family law understand the rights of each individual involved in surrogacy, which can help you better understand your own options. An attorney can assert your rights and also act as a mediator for you when necessary.

Finding the Right Lawyer for a Surrogate Pregnancy

When it comes time to find the representation you need to feel at peace with the process of surrogacy, you have many options, including both local and online resources to get started with, even if you are interested in retaining an attorney for the very first time in your own life. Anytime you are searching for the best family attorney who specializes in family law near you, consider anyone you know who may also have experience with probate or family law to ask for their own personal recommendations. Asking for recommendations can go a long way, especially if you are unfamiliar with working with lawyers or if you are unsure of where to begin.

However, if you are curious about additional options and law firms in your area that specialize in family law, you can also take some time to research your options near you online. Browsing online for a lawyer who understands surrogacy is a way for you to streamline your decision-making process while only comparing those who genuinely have an understanding of your potential needs and rights. When you are taking some time to find and read testimonials from previous clients, you can also find a legal team or an attorney who is best and most qualified to represent you.

5. Create a Support Group

Developing a support group is always advisable for anyone who is undergoing a surrogate pregnancy, even if you have experience with doing so in the past. Having a support group will provide you with the mental and emotional guidance and comfort you may need when you are going through a surrogate pregnancy. This is especially important if you are new to the process and unsure of what to expect, regardless of your intentions at the beginning of the surrogacy journey.

How to Build the Right Support Group

When it comes to establishing the right support group, you will want to do so by turning to family members and friends you can genuinely trust and rely on, especially in times of need throughout your life. Your support group should include individuals who are supportive of you and look forward to guiding you through the process of giving birth. The right support group should not pass judgment and should attempt to make you feel comfortable as you experience the side effects of being pregnant.

6. Understand Your Position and Rights

Whether you have always intended on becoming a surrogate for a relative or friend or if you are pondering the idea for the very first time in your own life, it is important to research more about the rights of surrogate mothers depending on the state you live in and the circumstances surrounding your own case on an individual basis. If possible, ask about your current position and the rights you may or may not have once you have taken the necessary steps to retain and hire an attorney of your own. You can also conduct a bit of research on your own time regarding your rights online.

Benefits of Researching Surrogacy Laws and Rights Online

When you choose to learn more about the process of surrogacy, you can do so right from home or with the use of any smartphone with internet access, online. Researching surrogacy laws and the rights of surrogate mothers online is highly advisable if you are new to the process or unfamiliar with the legalities involved. It is also important to research specific surrogacy laws and rights online ahead of time as the laws and rights of the mother and also intended parents are likely to vary based on the state you are in and where you intend to give birth.

Prioritizing your own health is essential anytime you are pondering the idea of carrying a child for another couple or individual as a surrogate mother. From understanding your rights to working with the intended parents throughout the entire process from start to finish, there are many different ways to go about ensuring your own health and the health of the baby you are planning to give birth to in the near future. The more involved you become in the realm of surrogacy today, the easier it will be for you to help others when it comes time to carry a baby and give brith.