The Decision to Become a Surrogate Can Have a Positive Impact on Your Children

There’s a lot to consider when making the decision to become a surrogate, and one of the most common concerns is the impact it could have on the gestational surrogate’s children.  From nearly three decades of experience as a trusted surrogacy agency, we’ve discovered that the surrogacy journey almost always positively impacts the entire family—including the surrogate’s children.  Now, a new study is supporting that view!

A Promising New Study

In October, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) announced promising new data.  A team of researchers at Pennsylvania State University, led by Mary P. Riddle, Ph.D., explored The Psychological Impact of Surrogacy on the Families of Gestational Carriers: Implications for Clinical Practice.

Until now, there were no studies exploring the impact of surrogacy for the gestational surrogate’s family system.  So, as women were making the decision to become a surrogate, they needed to rely on anecdotal advice—but that’s all changing.

Designed to offer guidance for mental health professionals who are counseling prospective gestational surrogates, Riddle’s study found that the experience was generally quite positive for the children of women who become surrogates.

Key findings include:

  • 74% of children reported the experience as having a positive impact on their life.
  • Children scored within normal limits on all domain scales on the Piers Harris 2, including: behavioral adjustment, freedom from anxiety, popularity, and overall happiness.
  • Overall, families reported relative strengths that included: nurturing and supportive involvement among family members and congruent values within the family.

This is an initial study with a relatively small sample group, but it was an important step in exploring this essential but under-explored aspect of surrogacy.

Most importantly, the findings support what we’ve known to be true for a long time:

Children of women who become a surrogate tend to experience excitement, curiosity, and pride in their mother’s decision to help another family.

We invite you to read more about the benefits of surrogacy on our blog.

Curious About Becoming a Surrogate? Our team is here to answer your questions.

Founded in 1990, Surrogate Parenting Services (SPS) is a full-service surrogacy program that offers both parties an exceptionally supportive environment throughout the surrogacy relationship.  We’re passionate about creating ideal matches between surrogates and intended parents, so the journey is fulfilling for both sides and the future child is brought into this world in the best possible circumstances.

Learn more about our Surrogacy Program online or by calling (949) 363-9525.