You’re doing something absolutely amazing – helping a family bring their dreams to life.  It’s probably the most incredible gift anyone could ever give.  To help ensure your surrogate experience is as rewarding as it deserves to be, we wanted to share some practical but important pieces of advice.  After all, at Surrogate Parenting Services (SPS), we’ve helped bring more than 790 babies into the world, and we’ve learned some things along the way!

5 Tips for a Having a Happy and Healthy Surrogate Experience

Every surrogacy journey is going to be incredibly unique, as is every surrogate, but these five tips are sure to help you have the most positive surrogate experience possible.

Make self-care a priority.  By our very nature, women who choose to become a surrogate often give selflessly of themselves, and it can be hard for us to put ourselves first.  But—it’s absolutely essential to take care of yourself.  Eat well.  Exercise.  Sleep.  And don’t push yourself too hard.  If your body is telling you to slow down, listen to it.  That’s why you have your on-call support system, right?

Lean on your support system (often).  You may be tired of hearing us talk about the importance of your surrogate support system—but we truly believe it’s one of the biggest keys to a successful surrogate experience.  However, just setting up your support network isn’t enough.  You also have to use it!  Don’t wait until you’re feeling exhausted or frazzled to reach out for some help.  Realistically, those who love you want to be there for you, so let them!

Document your journey.  There will be moments when you’ll feel a perfectly natural range of complicated emotions.  While the baby has very excited intended parents awaiting his or her arrival, you’re going to forever be a part of the family’s story.  Taking photographs and writing down stories during the pregnancy can be an effective way of celebrating this beautiful journey that you, the intended parents, and the baby have been sharing.  Not only will it give you an emotional release, but it will also give the child an opportunity to know more about you as he or she gets older.

Communicate with your case manager.  We’re genuinely interested in your wellbeing, and we’re here to support you along the way.  But we need you to communicate with us, so we understand your needs.  We have a wealth of resources at our fingertips and nearly three decades of experience helping women just like you.  If you have questions or concerns, we want to hear from you.  Remember—your relationship with your intended parent partners should be positive and excited, so let us handle any of the difficult or business-oriented discussions.

Involve the intended parent(s).  Keeping the intended parents informed and offering frequent updates (within the scope of your agreement, of course) isn’t just valuable for the intended parents.  It can also be really beneficial for your surrogate experience.  Ultimately, the more you get to know them, the easier the transition will be once the baby is born—for them and for you!

Want to Learn More About the Surrogate Experience?

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.