What is a Surrogate mother ?

Traditional Surrogate :

A traditional surrogate is a woman who gets artificially inseminated with the father’s sperm. She then carries the baby and delivers it for you and your partner to raise. A traditional surrogate is the baby’s biological mother. That’s because it was her egg that was fertilized by her father’s sperm. A donor sperm can also be used. In vitro fertilization (IVF )  makes it possible to gather eggs from the mother, fertilize them with the sperm from the gather and place the embryo into the uterus of a Gestational Surrogate.

The surrogate then carries the baby till birth. She doesn’t have any genetic ties with the child as it wasnt her egg that is used. A gestational surrogate is called the birth mother. The biological mother though is still the woman whose egg was fertilized. In the US gestational surrogacy is less, complex legally. That’s because both intended parents  have genetic ties to the baby. 

Gestational surrogate

In the In vitro fertilization (IVF) technique it allows  to collect eggs from the mother and then fertilize it with a sperm from the father, the embryo is then injected into the uterus of a gestational surrogate. The surrogate carries the foetus in her womb till birth.  Since her egg is not used she will not have any genetic ties with the child, since her egg is not used to fertilize.

A gestational surrogate is also referred to as “birth mother.” The biological mother, though, is still the woman whose egg was fertilized

Who Uses Surrogates?

If your a woman, you can consider to go for surrogate in the following situations:

• Woman having health and Medical problems related to the  uterus.

• The uterus has been removed (Hysterectomy).

• There are chances of complications or high risk such as severe heart disease

You might consider opting for surrogacy when you tried to conceive using several Assisted Reproduction Techniques(ART) like  IVF. Surrogates is also an option for individuals seeking  parenthood but cannot adopt a child or have certain other constraints.

Infertile couples can also select an egg donor, fertilize it with sperm and then can implant the embryo in a  gestational surrogate to carry the child till  birth.

How to Select a Surrogate

There is no such regulation on selecting a surrogate mother. But here are a few points which need to be considered:

• Woman at least minimum of 21 years old

• Has already delivered a baby, so that she is aware of the health risks, and problems associated in pregnancy and childbirth. Also know what’s the bonding between a mother and  a newborn.

• Has taken the medical and psychological screening by a healthcare professional to know about the complications after birth of the baby.

• Agreeing and acknowledging the contract about how her roles & responsibilities while pregnant,and agreeing to return the child after birth.