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The Joy of Being a Surrogate

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It is usually a long and winding road travelled that a couple or an individual has been on before deciding to have a surrogate carry their child. Then at that point, a whole new journey begins when they decide on surrogacy. They seek the help of Shared Conception and a special woman with a giving heart.

When an Intended Parent is matched with a surrogate, a bond forms. It’s different for everyone but the basics are the same. This is when wanting and giving come together to travel the same path for as long as the journey takes.

To the intended parents, a surrogate who is healthy and willing to carry a baby for them means HOPE; she is a gift unlike any other. Month by month, trimester after trimester, the greatest gift of all is achieved; a child to enhance a family.

What most people don’t realize is that women who choose to become surrogates, don’t do it for the money or the recognition. They do it for the intense satisfaction and absolute joy that it brings to them. The fulfillment that they receive is from seeing the look on the faces of the new parents when they hear their baby’s first heartbeat and when they finally get to meet their precious child, and hundreds of moments in between. These are the reasons that surrogates often embark on multiple journeys! Being a part of these priceless moments makes surrogate mothers shine. No monetary compensation could equal the pure joy they feel when sharing something so life-changing with the intended parents.

If you are a woman looking for something more to give in life, ask yourself these questions: Are you ready to change a total stranger’s life and make a difference in the world?  Are you ready for YOUR life to be changed forever?

Like any other journey, this journey may have roadblocks and bumps along the way, but it is an adventure. And if you are the kind of person who can be selfless and can open your heart up to possibilities, it may just be the most rewarding experience of your life. Call us at Shared Conception and get more information on becoming a surrogate!

 

Emotions after birth

Post Baby Emotions

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Here is a scenario, a surrogate mother has just delivered her surrogate baby. What is she going to do next? Is she going to Disneyland? Is she touring Napa Valley?  Chances are this woman will simply jump back into the routine of her life with her own family, while possibly experiencing post-partum mood swings.

Our surrogacy agency, Shared Conception, loves reading all the emails and letters about successful surrogate birth stories. However, some of these women can struggle after pregnancy. There is such thing as feeling sad after birth, whether it is your baby or a surrogate baby. Even when you are uplifted by your support group, some women can get depressed immediately after giving birth.

It’s nearly the same with any surrogacy arrangement; a surrogate dedicates approximately one year to help the intended mother experience something she can never personally fully experience. What happens after the birth?

Surrogate mothers, who candidly describe their emotions, usually speak of feeling completely elated one moment and devastated another moment; mainly because their participation in this amazing experience is over. In most cases, it is not the baby they miss – it is either:

  • the surrogacy itself
  • the intended parents
  • the “specialness” of being pregnant
  • the hormones

These emotions and reactions are usually considered to be completely normal; it’s just not openly discussed. Any potential surrogate should be aware that she isn’t the only surrogate mother who has ever cried when the baby left the hospital with his or her new parents, or when she said goodbye to her intended parents.

Whether it’s intended parents who have been trying to have a child of their own for years and who finally had to turn to surrogacy, or intended parents who came to surrogacy from the very beginning of their journey as a way to conceive – the end of the surrogacy is not considered to be an end at all. It is merely the beginning of their dreams.  As you enjoy and adjust to your new baby, remember your surrogate with a grateful heart and a gentle smile. If you can, stay in touch with your surrogate. She will ENJOY seeing sporadic or consistent pictures or maybe visiting – basically in whatever capacity you are comfortable with sharing your baby.

Shared Conception is compassionately here to help both the intended parents and the surrogate work through their emotions.  We want you to be informed, fulfilled and satisfied knowing you contributed to the world in a unique and precious way. Interested in becoming a surrogate? Give us a call today or visit www.deliveradream.com to fill out an application request form. We would love to hear from you!

loss of bladder control after birth

Bladder Control!

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Ok ladies…here is the problem…you have had one or two (or maybe even more) of your own children and then chose to selflessly bless another family by becoming a surrogate. Now, you are noticing that your bladder isn’t as strong as it used to be. Actually, you may feel that it’s not doing its job at all. Even the thought of jumping on a trampoline could make you have a little accident.

Don’t worry. This is a common postpartum symptom and the more children you deliver, the weaker your bladder could become. Pregnancy and delivery weaken muscles around the bladder. On top of that, your uterus shrinks after delivery and perches right on top of your bladder, causing a control issue. Even more debilitating, your hormones change. This can take effect on your bladder control too.

What can you do?

  • Kegals! Start small and try to work your way up to 3 sets of 30 per day. These also come in handy in the sudden event of a cough, sneeze or laugh.
  • Lose those extra pregnancy pounds. Extra weight puts more pressure on your bladder.
  • Go more often. If you go, or try to go about every 30 minutes or before that sudden urge arises, you end up training your bladder. And then try to go every 45 minutes; therefore, building up your time.
  • Drink water. Cutting back on water will dehydrate you. And that is not healthy and can cause more problems that the occasional dribble.
  • Certain foods such as coffee, citrus, tomatoes, soda and alcohol can irritate your bladder. Avoiding these irritants can preserve your bladder control.
  • A panty liner or pad will absorb a leak. Most likely you are wearing them after delivery, so they can serve more than one purpose. Just change them often to avoid infection.

Ultimately, it takes between 3 to 6 months, or longer, to regain complete control. If accidents continue after the postpartum healing period, talk to your doctor. Shared Conception pledges to support you throughout your journey and beyond! We ensure that sensitive or difficult subject matters are easily handled by Shared Conception. We want our surrogates to be informed, fulfilled and satisfied knowing they contributed to the world in a unique way. Interested in surrogacy? Give us a call today for a no pressure conversation, or visit  www.deliveradream.com to fill out an application request form. We would love to hear from you!