Surrogacy is a deeply personal journey that can lead to intense emotions for everyone involved. Whether you’re the surrogate or the intended parent, this process can lead to a host of emotions, some of which are expected and some aren’t.
Taking the time to understand the emotions you may experience might help you to come up with a plan for addressing them.
Surrogates
Surrogates may initially feel pride and joy because they’re helping another family. As the hormonal changes occur and family dynamics begin to shift, stress can occur. Those feelings might be compounded by the reaction of others when they learn of the surrogacy. It may be beneficial to compartmentalize emotions related to the pregnancy and surrogacy so they don’t seep into daily life.
Intended parents
Intended parents often feel hope, but there may also be twinges of grief or loss, particularly if surrogacy is the answer to an infertility journey. They may feel excited about growing their family, but might be concerned about whether everything will go as planned or not. Worries about bonding with the baby may also be present. Taking the time to experience the pregnancy as much as possible with the surrogate may help.
Both the surrogate and the intended parents should ensure they have someone on their side who can explain the process. Knowing what to expect may reduce the stress, which may make it easier to handle emotions as they come. A surrogacy law attorney can work with you as you go through the entire process to ensure you’re informed and to assist you with protecting your rights.