Dear Savvy Surrogate: Why Intended Moms Turn to Surrogacy?
Dear Savvy Surrogate:
Being pregnant was a wonderful, special experience for me. I know it must be a difficult decision for an intended mother to turn to surrogacy to build her family. I’m wondering specifically why an intended mother would turn to surrogacy instead of trying to get pregnant herself?
Sincerely,
Curious Surrogate
Dear Curious:
There are many reasons that an intended mother may have to turn to surrogacy (And you are correct that no woman takes this decision lightly!) Here's a few specific reasons why an intended mom might need help from a surrogate to grow her family:
She was born without a uterus.
She was born with a non-functional uterus.
She was born without a vagina.
Her uterus was surgically removed due to cancer.
Her uterus was removed following complications with a previous pregnancy.
Her uterus did not develop properly.
Her cervix (the opening of the uterus) does not function properly to hold the fetus in during the pregnancy.
She has had surgery on her cervix raising concerns that her cervix may not remain closed in a future pregnancy.
She has had a classical c-section incision leaving her uterus more vulnerable to rupture in a future pregnancy.
She has had uterine surgery which left her uterus more vulnerable to rupture in a future pregnancy.
She is taking medications which are important for her own health but which could cause severe harm to a developing fetus.
She has had prior severe pregnancy complications which could recur with another pregnancy, such as hyperemesis gravidarum, pre-eclampsia, or HELLP syndrome.
She has had prior delivery complications, such as hemorrhage, which could recur with another delivery.
She has delivered a premature baby previously and the cause of prematurity is likely to recur.
She is a cancer survivor who has been advised to avoid pregnancy.
Her uterus has damage from polyps, fibroids, or adhesions (Asherman Syndrome).
Her uterine lining does not develop properly during the IVF protocol.
She has unexplained infertility following several unsuccessful IVF transfers using high quality embryos.
She has a history of unexplained miscarriages.
She has a medical condition--such as heart problems, lupus, diabetes, or Turner Syndrome--which makes it inadvisable to get pregnant.
Thankfully, the option of gestational surrogacy is available for women who can’t (or shouldn’t) get pregnant themselves.
All the best,
Savvy Surrogate
Do you have questions about becoming a surrogate or intended parent through surrogacy? Email us at info@newenglandsurro.com. You can also schedule a free consult for us to answer your questions about the surrogacy process.