If you’re interested in being a surrogate, you’re probably excited about experiencing pregnancy again — without the commitment of bringing home another child at the end of nine months. However, don’t think gestational surrogacy is automatically a breeze. You must understand and be comfortable with all the risks of being a surrogate mother before you volunteer your body to carry someone else’s child.
In general, surrogacy is a rather safe journey, especially when you’re working with an experienced surrogacy professional like those at Central PA Surrogacy. However, you will expose yourself to certain surrogate mother risks on this path, even with our preparations and protection. Therefore, we want to make sure you’re fully aware of these before starting.
If you’re thinking about gestational surrogacy in Pennsylvania, we encourage you to contact us anytime online or by calling 814-237-7900. We will be happy to answer your questions about every aspect of the surrogacy process, including the risks and benefits of surrogacy, and help you determine if this is the right path for you.
Want to learn more? Keep reading to find out what gestational surrogate mother risks exist — and how our team aims to minimize those as much as possible.
What are the Risks of Being a Surrogate Mother in Pennsylvania?
While there are certain risks and potential complications in the surrogacy journey, you should first know that being a surrogate in Pennsylvania comes with no legal risk — especially when you work with our team from the very beginning. Pennsylvania is a very surrogacy-friendly state, and we’ve helped many gestational carriers like you bring children into the world for intended parents. At Central PA Surrogacy, we ensure your rights and interests are protected every step of the way and that you receive the compensation you are entitled to.
That said, there are other surrogate mother risks in Pennsylvania you should be aware of. When you become a surrogate, you have to accept these risks and their potential consequences, even if they are unlikely to occur.
Health Risks of Surrogacy
In order to become a surrogate, you must undergo a fertility medication protocol, embryo transfer and the eventual pregnancy and delivery processes. While you will work with experienced medical professionals, there are some inherent risks present in each of these processes.
Your medical professional will inform you of these surrogate pregnancy risks prior to each step, but here’s what you may expect:
- Fertility Drugs: You will often be required to take oral tablets and injectable medications to prepare your cycle for transfer. You may experience some side effects, such as mood swings and headaches, as well as sensitivity and bruising from shots. Some surrogates will experience allergic reactions to these medications.
- Embryo Transfer: This procedure is rather quick and painless; many surrogates compare it to a pap smear. However, you may experience mild cramping and light bleeding afterward. More serious risks include rare infections that must be treated with antibiotics.
- Pregnancy: A gestational pregnancy comes with no extra risks than a naturally conceived pregnancy, but pregnancy itself does pose certain risks to any woman. Just because you had easy pregnancies for your own children doesn’t automatically mean your gestational pregnancy will be the same; expect to experience some pregnancy side effects and pay close attention to your body for any signs of more serious complications.
- Labor and Delivery: There are inherent risks present in any childbirth experience, and they are no different for a gestational surrogacy delivery. Fortunately, you can choose the obstetrician you want by your side to keep you safe during this process.
Emotional Risks of Surrogacy
While you’re probably focused on the health risks of surrogacy, it’s important that you not neglect the emotional risks, as well. Being a surrogate is a beautiful journey, but it’s not one that comes without its challenges. Being aware of these and preparing for them is the best way to minimize these emotional complications.
Every surrogate’s journey is different, but here are a few emotions you may feel during yours:
- Mood swings from fertility medications and pregnancy hormones
- Guilt over inability to handle usual family responsibilities
- Frustration about overbearing intended parents
- Stress of organizing appointments and maintaining a relationship with intended parents
One thing you likely won’t feel? Sadness over the baby going home with their intended parents. After all, you’ll know from the beginning that you’re just “babysitting” this little one, and you will likely be ready to return to your everyday life at the end of your surrogacy experience. However, postpartum hormones can be tricky, so stay in touch with obstetrician during your recovery.
How We Reduce the Risks of Gestational Surrogacy
These gestational surrogate mother risks may understandably give you some pause, but remember that more serious side effects and complications are rare. Central PA Surrogacy reduces the likelihood of these risks by ensuring every surrogate candidate is 100 percent mentally and emotionally ready for the journey ahead.
All surrogate candidates must undergo a psychological and medical screening before starting. The psychological screening will address the emotional “what-ifs” of the journey, including how you may feel if certain situations occur. Your mental health professional will touch on all surrogate mother risks and complications to ensure you are aware of them and comfortable with what they could mean for you.
You must also meet certain requirements and complete a medical screening prior to starting the surrogacy medical process. We require all surrogates to meet certain health standards, set by surrogacy professionals because of their demonstrated rate of success. The intended parents’ fertility doctor will also evaluate your medical and physical health with an in-person screening, which will confirm you are healthy and have no increased risks of gestational surrogacy.
These steps — as well as early consultation from our team — help to minimize any risks of being a surrogate mother that you might face in the journey ahead.
Here at Central PA Surrogacy, your safety and comfort is our first priority. We know becoming a surrogate is a big deal, which is why we’re here to make it as easy and stress-free as possible for you. You can learn more about our program online or get started anytime by calling us at 814-237-7900. We’ll be happy to help you.
