Surrogacy is an amazing way science has developed to allowed couples in need to have children. If you don’t have much education on the subject, you might have some questions or misconceptions about the process of becoming or searching for a surrogate. Here are five common surrogacy myths we can clear up for you, so you have a better understanding of the arrangement.
1. Intended Parents Won’t Have a Strong Bond With the Child
Many intended parents think that if they use a surrogate, they won’t be able to form a strong bond with their baby. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. The surrogate mother may give birth to the baby, but most intended parents find they have no problem with bonding after they are introduced. The strength of connection with a baby isn’t entirely based on who gave birth to them — it also relies heavily on the love and nurturing you provide them with afterward.
2. The Surrogate Will Keep the Baby
Surrogate laws are complex, but typically, the surrogate and intended parents both have to sign an agreement early in the process acknowledging who has custody of the child. It’s so rare for a surrogate to change their mind and try to keep the baby, and even rarer for them to succeed. Most judges won’t allow such a case to get very far in court.
3. Any Woman Can Be a Surrogate Mother
You might be under the impression that any woman can sign up to be a surrogate, but this is completely false. Surrogate motherhood is a huge responsibility, a complex legal matter and a health risk. All women have to meet certain criteria before a surrogate program will even consider them as a candidate. This is all to maximize the protection of everyone involved in the arrangement, including the baby.
4. Only Rich People Use Surrogacy
Surrogacy isn’t just for the wealthy. Although surrogate programs can be pricey, some health insurance plans may offer coverage that pays for most of the expenses. If not, you should reach out to your chosen fertility center to find out if they offer payment plan options or discounts. Finances shouldn’t stop you from building the loving family you’ve always wanted.
5. The Baby Contains the Surrogate’s DNA
People tend to confuse the two forms of surrogacy: gestational and traditional surrogacy. A traditional surrogate mother donates her own eggs to create the intended parents’ baby, but practices hardly use this form of the procedure anymore because of the legal issues surrounding it. Chances are, if you take part in a surrogacy arrangement, you’ll use the intended mother’s eggs or the eggs of a different donor. This is gestational surrogacy, which ensures the surrogate has no genetic link to the baby.
As with any complex medical procedure, plenty of myths and misconceptions can lead people astray. Debunking these myths should give you a better understanding of the surrogacy process, so you can make more informed decisions about your future. Contact Western Fertility Institute today for more information and facts about surrogacy.
This content was medically reviewed by the Western Fertility Institute medical team on July 11, 2019.