“Who will deliver the baby?” is one of the first questions couples considering surrogacy ask.
It’s only normal to want to know everything about your surrogate mother: her age, her personality, her health indicators and behaviors, and so on.
However, one question can lead to the many others. We compiled a list of the most commonly asked questions by prospective parents.
✔ Who is the woman who willing to be a surrogate mother?
Being a surrogate mother generally requires a very unique person.
Typically, this is a young woman in her early twenties or thirties. In exceptional circumstances, she may be 35 years old.
These are women who have already started their families and have one, two, or even three children.
Psychologically, they are normally very compassionate and have a strong urge to assist others in starting a family.
But what is also important to realize that a woman from the very beginning needs to understand that she is carrying a child for someone else and there is no genetic connection between her and a baby. She needs to love and care about a child, but important to realize that after they give a child to parents without attachments.
Of course important to know that the surrogacy program is a paid service with compensation for a woman. But often ladies in a program need to leave their jobs in order to carry about a child as a primary job.
The woman is also dealing with certain limitations at this time in her life, so the payout is fair. A surrogate mother, on the other hand, is a unique person who is capable of doing so.
✔ How do we choose surrogate mothers? Is there psychological evaluation together as well?
Without a doubt. A psychological assessment is taking place in addition to the physiological evaluation. It’s one of the first things the candidate would have to do. An interview and assessment will be conducted.
She’ll still have to provide evidence or a record that she’s not on any psychiatric watch lists.
But psychological evaluation and interviews for the psychological condition and mood swings of the surrogate are going through all the programs as well. And the woman is getting support immediately.
Surrogate mothers have 24/7 access for our team members when it is needed even for psychological support.
✔ Is there a long waiting list for the surrogate program?
ADONIS does not have a waiting list from our experience. We have a large number of applicants, and the longest wait period is usually 2-3 weeks. And this waiting is due to the candidate’s need to go through an interview process because we are conducting a thorough review.
If we send you a candidate, it means she has already been thoroughly tested and is in perfect health.
We have a large pool of candidates and we select only a small number of bests.
We time the selection of surrogate mother to other processes. Because all biological material and documents must be ready when we give you a specific candidate.
✔ Do you accept candidates after C-section? Is it impacting the success of the program?
For most parents, these problems occur often during the selection process. And there is a current trend toward more C-section candidates than without. Not only in Ukraine, but across the world, more people are having C-sections. C-sections are not incompatible with the surrogacy program. A woman who has had one previous C-section will bear one healthy embryo and give birth without any complications. Just the fact that the woman had a C-section does not mean that she will have a C-section again, she still can deliver naturally.
But if parents want to have 2 embryos, in this case, C-section is a contradiction.
✔ Is it true that a surrogate mother with RH- can have a negative impact on the success of the program?
As a part of the medical evaluation, every surrogate mother with an RH- goes through antibody testing. And if there are no antibodies she can go to the program.
From our experience, we had RH- surrogates and none of them had any negative issues.
So we can conclude that the RH- factor is not an issue.
✔ What week is C-section normally scheduled?
The doctor will make the final decision. It is extremely unique. In most cases, yes, but only on later terms.
✔ How to build a connection with your baby while your surrogate is pregnant?
During the program, you are getting photos, ultrasounds, heartbeat recording, etc.
Also, we practice future parents recording your voice and songs so the child could be experiencing connection as well.
✔ Do you have any experience of surrogate mothers donating breast milk in the first few weeks of pregnancy? Do you support it?
It’s a very personal issue. In our experience, the infant is taken from a surrogate shortly after birth. The importance of bonding with biological parents cannot be overstated. As a result, the surrogate has no interaction with the baby. But if there is such wish of biological parents, the breast milk can be arranged individually.
✔During the screening process, are candidates’ vaccination records up to date?
The part of the examination is testing for specific antibodies. It is mandatory testing. So we are looking not at records, but at actual testing. And if she does not have some of the mandatory vaccinations, then she is required to have them. Otherwise, she will not be accepted to the program at ADONIS.
✔ Is the surrogate mother being tested for COVID before the embryo transfer?
At ADONIS we do test for COVID before the embryo transfer.
✔ Do we test for antibodies if the surrogate mother had COVID already?
Yes, it is possible upon request of biological parents.
✔ How do you communicate with your surrogate in the process?
We recommend communicating with the surrogate through ADONIS team. The reason is that in most occasions, the surrogate does not speak your language, so it is better to communicate through the coordinator to avoid miscommunications.
✔ How to show your appreciation to your surrogate?
Even if you want to offer a symbolic gift, it is sufficient to express your gratitude. It is not needed, but a thoughtful gesture is always appreciated.
As an example, as a consideration, it could be a thoughtful gift for her children.
However, it is not a requirement.
You may always ask your coordinator for assistance if you have such a wish.
✔ What are the surrogate’s responsibilities? How can we be sure she’s looking after herself and a baby?
First of all, we are performing a lot of testing to ensure the good condition of the surrogate’s physical and mental health. If the surrogate mother shows any deviations, there are huge penalties for that.
But such cases are extremely rare from our experience.
✔ What are the other important criteria while choosing the surrogate?
As future parents, the first question you must ask yourself is whether you want one or two children. This will decide whether or not the applicant with a C-section is permitted.
Since Ukraine is such a large and spread-out country, it is difficult to have all candidates in close proximity to Kyiv.
But on the 7th month of the pregnancy the surrogate moves to Kyiv to the apartment close to ADONIS.
When it comes to age, all surrogates will be in a range of best fertile periods that are perfect to carry the pregnancy and be successful.