What is Surrogacy?
“Surrogacy is
an arrangement between a woman and a couple or individual to carry and deliver
a baby. It is a controversial process that is not legal in all states.
There are two kinds of
surrogate mothers.
Traditional surrogates. Artificial
insemination first made surrogacy possible. A traditional surrogate is a woman
who is artificially inseminated with the father's sperm. She then carries the
baby and delivers it for the parents to raise. A traditional surrogate is the
baby's biological mother. That's because it was her egg that was fertilized by
the father's sperm. Donor sperm can also be used for a traditional surrogacy.
Gestational surrogates. Invitro-fertilization (IVF)
now makes it possible to harvest eggs from the mother, fertilize them with
sperm from the father, and place the embryo into the uterus of a gestational
surrogate. The surrogate then carries the baby until birth. A gestational
surrogate has no genetic ties to the child. That's because it wasn't her egg
that was used. A gestational surrogate is called the "birth mother."
The biological mother, though, is still the woman whose egg was fertilized.
The surrogacy arrangement is sometimes made through
an agency and other times contracted privately. When searching for a surrogate
mother, a couple might use the Internet, contact an agency, or network through
friends and family. Surrogacy arrangements are sometimes made
between strangers who never meet, or between persons who meet only occasionally
through the process. A surrogacy arrangement might also involve persons
whose lives become intertwined during the process, and even those who are
family members or friends before entering a surrogacy arrangement.”
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Whenever I
think about surrogacy, I immediately go to the emotional part. How difficult it
must be for a woman to carry a child, knowing that she will not be able to
raise this child. I would imagine that she is forced to prevent, as much as she
can, bonding with this child.
There is a
reality show carried by the Oxygen Channel, entitled, “I am having your baby.”
I have not been able to watch an episode yet, but from previews, I see where it
is very emotional for these women as they prepare to give up their babies to
the rightful owners. So emotional that my husband, who does not show emotions
easily, saw one of the previews and after being quiet for a moment said, ‘sad.’
When I was
struggling with infertility, my sister did mention that she could consider
having my baby. I was deeply touched, but I was not sure that I was able to
deal with all that this would entail. Then, I would have done anything for a
baby, but surrogacy would have put it over the top for me. Bless her heart.
Hats off to
these women who are involved in surrogacy. This practice might not be overall
legal, but you may not be able to
comprehend fully, the joy you bring to others, who otherwise would not have a
chance at having biological children. Do know that what you do, is for me, among
the highest level of selflessness.
Post image by: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/07/health/surrogate-sisters
Sources
sited for information on surrogacy:-
