Intending to start the journey of surrogacy is a very life-changing decision which radically changes the life of a woman. Before beginning this expedition, you have to focus on different aspects. The most important aspect to be considered is the risk factors associated with this pathway. You have to be committed to perform your duties wisely.
When choosing the surrogacy pathway, you have to be prepared for the different fertility treatments involved in this process; you have to carry someone else’s baby for nine months. Moreover, you have to meet all the expectations of the intended parents.
This article focuses on the risk factors involved in surrogacy.
RISK FACTORS IN SURROGACY
The major risk factors involved in surrogacy are of two types:-
- Medical risk factors in surrogacy.
- Emotional risk factors in surrogacy.
1. MEDICAL RISK FACTORS IN SURROGACY
Similar to normal pregnancy, the surrogate pregnancies also have some medical risk factors involved in both; bearing a baby and baby’s delivery. These mainly include weight gain, nausea and morning sickness, heartburn, itchy skin, back pain, gas and bloating, swelling, hypertension, frequent urination, gestational diabetes, harm to reproductive organs and other negative effects.
There are also very severe risk factors involved such as preterm labor and miscarriage. To minimize the risk factors involved, regularly visit your doctor for check-ups and consultation, take recommended medication, get enough sleep and rest and properly follow all the suggestions of the doctor.
In the case of gestational surrogacy, there are slight medical risks linked with the IVF treatments. During surrogacy, you have to take medication for IVF, which includes injecting yourself with fertility drugs. You can face any sort of side effects from needle injure to short-term allergic reactions. You can also face raised premenstrual syndrome effects because you have taken drugs to control your menstrual cycle and raise the chances of pregnancy. Headaches and mood changes are one of these effects.
There are also some risk factors linked with the embryo transfer process. You may have to suffer from slight bleeding or cramping due to this process. In this case, also, you should contact your physician as the infection that you develop from this treatment can be cured with the use of antibiotics.
Having a twin or triplet pregnancy is also common in surrogate pregnancy so you should have good knowledge about the risk factors associated with this state. The main risk factors associated with twin or triplet pregnancy are placental order, low birth weight of babies, preterm labor as well as the likelihood of Cesarean-section. In this case, you will possibly receive careful instructions from your doctor about everyday care.
The risks of surrogate pregnancy can only be minimized by taking special care and following the doctor’s recommendations. In case of any unusual condition, you should immediately reach out to your doctor.
EMOTIONAL RISK FACTORS IN SURROGACY
Besides physical or medical risks, there are also some emotional risk factors involved in surrogacy. Although pregnancy is a challenging process certain women feel that surrogate pregnancy is even more challenging especially emotionally as they can’t own the child with whom they spent nine months.
You may face depression during the surrogate pregnancy and after it, like in normal pregnancy. Although you may be delighted for the intended parents you may also suffer from the feelings of loss and sadness after the child’s birth.
Due to these feelings, it is necessary to seek a mental health specialist or a surrogacy counsellor. Limitations and expectations should also be set up for post-birth contact even before pregnancy.
A good support system is always essential for managing any emotional challenges during and after the period of surrogate pregnancy or maternità surrogata. It can be a group of family members or loyal friends who can help you in coping with such a condition. However, make sure that you talk to them about your emotional situation openly and honestly during the whole period of surrogate pregnancy.
If you are facing any sort of emotional issues, it’s essential to consult your therapist, talk to him about your emotional condition. It can help you in coping with such a situation.
CONCLUSION
In short, it can be said that surrogacy is a very life-altering journey that demands deep-research and thinking. There are many medical and emotional risks associated with this process that should be taken into consideration before starting up. The intended surrogate mothers can also contact a surrogacy expert for further guidance. This can help them in minimizing the potential risks involved in this journey which may be difficult to cope with without the assistance of a professional.
Vikas Sudan is the SEO Manager at whisskers marketing, an United States digital marketing agency. An expert in Digital Marketing and Blogging, He never misses an opportunity to spread the knowledge and share the industry’s best practices. Vikas Sudan is present on social media like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest & Twitter also.