What IPs Should Know About Surrogate Delivery

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We’d like to share with you this article based on our hottest webinar from 14.07 with Dr. Sazonova.

Dr. Sazonova is one of the top child delivery specialists in Ukraine. In her more than 20-year career, she has delivered more than 5,000 children.

The top 3 factors important for a successful delivery. 

Teamwork has an important role in the delivery’s success. The team, the equipment, the team members’ training, and teamwork. 

It all starts at ADONIS when we’re choosing doctors to join our team.

There are various requirements, such as a minimum of 20 years of experience, the highest qualifications, and so on. 

We use industry-leading equipment in the same way as top countries throughout the world do.

How to build trust between the pregnant woman and the doctor?

It is critical to build trust between the pregnant woman and the doctor. As a result, this process begins even before the delivery, during the planning phase, which is also a component of it.

When the surrogate comes to us to enter the program we already know her and all details about the future program.

And of course, a lot of time is being spent on communication with the surrogate about any of her emotional concerns and questions.

Doctors spend a lot of time during the pregnancy informing the surrogate about warning flags concerning her health condition. 

We also have coordinators to assist surrogates, as well as a direct emergency line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for any questions.

Red flags the pregnant woman must watch out for

The most prevalent ones are: any type of bleeding, even little patches, vomiting, blood pressure deviations, any issues with vision or strange headaches, stomach pain, fever, and so on. 

Any other discomforts noticed by the surrogate should be reported immediately.

Are there any stress signs to feel the needs of the baby itself as well?

Conversations with the mother about how to care for the baby and create the ideal environment for the baby begin right at the start of the surrogacy program (food, sleeping, walking, etc.)

Part of the pregnancy observation program and preparation for the delivery at 32 weeks of the pregnancy surrogates are being taught how to do the test of movements of the baby. There is a specific algorithm of recording (how often, how many intervals, and so on).

The fetus will next be evaluated on a regular basis using an ultrasound. This routine check-up should be performed every two weeks if everything is in order. If any other prescriptions can be more often.

There are many more tests are being done during the process to be sure that all is going on perfectly.

What factors should be considered before deciding on a delivery date? (natural or c-section, term, etc.)

At around 32-33 weeks the concilium of doctors is being created and the plan of the delivery is being designed as well.

If a c-section is decided, doctors will schedule a preliminary c-section date. Doctors make one more final choice about the due date at 37 weeks. Because delivery can already take place at this moment.

When it comes to natural delivery we need to realize that it can happen any time between 37 to 41 weeks. And doctors can not make precise date predictions here.

How to prepare a surrogate for delivery? 

When it comes to regular pregnancy, the surrogacy is told when she starts having belly aches and how to handle them.

If she has these pains every 10 minutes for one hour she must immediately report to the doctor and go to the hospital.

There are also special mobile applications that can help to calculate contractions as well.  But of course, surrogates are already experienced in giving birth so they know what contractions are.

So after she arrives at the hospital the doctor will take all necessary observations and analyses first to determine the phase of the delivery.

The role of the intended parents in the delivery process

First of all, parents must determine whether or not they wish to participate actively in the delivery, observe the delivery, and cut the umbilical chord.

How newborns are monitored and cared for immediately after birth?

A neonatologist will be present in the room during the birth. The first and fifth minutes following delivery are critical for doing an initial test and assessing the baby’s status. It can then be passed on to the parents. 

Due to the pandemic, it is preferable to have one additional person present in the delivery room, which is usually a mother.

Indicators of a high-risk pregnancy

Twin pregnancies are one of the most prevalent high-risk pregnancies. As a result, this pregnancy will be closely monitored.

Another high-risk factor is the positioning of the placenta. And it depends on the category of the risk the surrogate will be suggested to do special exercises or treatments or even be placed closer to the clinic to be monitored. And it can happen as soon as 30 weeks.

What the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) looks like?

If NICU is prescribed, the baby is admitted to the unit shortly after birth after examinations. 

We have the most cutting-edge form of NICU at ADONIS, as well as a team of certified reanimation doctors.

How soon the baby is released from the hospital after birth?

Unless there is something extraordinary, the baby is usually discharged 3-5 days after delivery.

Can parents record the process during the c-section?

During the c-section, parents can watch the procedure from behind the glass, up close and personal, so you can see everything and record it if you wish.

You can watch the recording of the webinar below: