Top 5 Myths about Gestational Surrogacy
With thMe increase in the number of intended parents who have turned to gestational surrogacy to grow their families, information on the process has become increasingly available. Despite gestational surrogacy being an excellent option to help many different types of intended parents, whether they may be single parents, couples dealing with infertility, or parents in same sex relationships, there are still many misconceptions about the surrogacy process.
Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado is here to debunk some common myths about gestational surrogacy.
Top 5 Myths about Gestational Surrogacy
The gestational surrogacy process does involve many steps and, for that reason, it can be confusing. For those looking into gestational surrogacy as a way to achieve their dreams of having children, or for those looking to become a gestational surrogate, it’s likely you’ve heard some of these widespread misconceptions before. Some common myths (and truths) about gestational surrogacy include:
- Myth: Gestational surrogates are the biological mothers of the child
One common myth about gestational surrogacy is that because a surrogate is carrying the child, she must be the biological mother of the child as well. However, this is not true. Because the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF) is used in gestational surrogacy to implant fertilized embryos into the gestational carrier, the real biological mother is simply the woman whose eggs were used in IVF. For this reason, gestational surrogacy is appealing to many intended parents because they are often able to maintain a genetic link with their child that the gestational carrier carries.
- Myth: Gestational surrogacy can only help intended parents who are infertile
Some people may also hold the belief that gestational surrogacy is really only used to help intended parents dealing with infertility, but this is also not true. It is true that gestational surrogacy is a great option for intended parents dealing with infertility, but this is not the only scenario it may be used for. In fact, for intended parents who are in same sex relationships or single intended parents, gestational surrogacy is a great option for having children when it might have seemed impossible to do so.
- Myth: Becoming a gestational surrogate is easy and any woman can do it
Not just any woman can become a gestational surrogate — she has to meet a set of requirements that are determined by the state. In Colorado, for example, some of these requirements include, but are not limited to: being between 21 and 41 years of age, having already had a complication free pregnancy and successful delivery in the past, currently raising a child, and living a stable lifestyle with transportation and a support network. Along with meeting these requirements, gestational surrogates often need to become connected with a surrogacy agency like Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado to match with intended parents. Therefore, the process is not fit for everyone.
- Myth: Intended parents won’t have a strong bond with their child
Another misconception that some people may have about gestational surrogacy is that the intended parents will not have the same bond with their child that a regular pregnancy builds. Because another woman is carrying the child, some people may think the child who is born will have a stronger attachment to her than their actual mother. However, this factor does not mean that intended parents’ bond to their child will be any less valuable. Many intended parents have been hoping to have a child of their own for so long. Therefore, when this hope is finally realized, the parents will nurture the parent-child bond to become even stronger.
- Myth: Gestational surrogacy is too complicated
While it’s true that there are a few steps associated with the gestational surrogacy process, it is by no means too complicated for a family. In fact, surrogacy agencies like Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado are specifically available to help make the process as smooth as possible. Reaching out to a surrogacy agency can help to guide the entire gestational surrogacy process along and keep things on track.
Interested in Gestational Surrogacy?
If you are interested in or have questions about becoming a gestational carrier in the state of Colorado, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado. We will help to make sure you have legal representation, medical care, and hands-on support throughout the entire surrogacy process. Becoming a gestational surrogate is a life-changing and super rewarding experience. We would love to support you through the journey and match you with possible intended parents!
If you are interested in surrogacy and want to learn more about your options, contact Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado by email, phone, or text: Email Us, Text us: 720-371-1099, Call us: 303-670-4673 (HOPE). If you are hoping to adopt, please contact us here.
Meet the Author: Ashley Nies is an undergraduate student at Stanford University who is studying Human Biology and Political Science. Ashley is largely interested in various aspects of health and healthcare, and writes about these topics. She has taken classes on rhetoric, ethics and social media in health, as well as other creative writing classes during her freshman year at Stanford.
Ashley is from Las Vegas, Nevada, and considers herself to be fun-loving and adventurous. She values the importance of combining STEM with liberal arts education and hopes to integrate these in her writing.
Stephanie joined the Adoption Choices family in 2014 as the Child Placement Supervisor. Her love for adoption began in first grade when she made friends with twins adopted from Vietnam. Her heart grew strong over the years for adopted children and ultimately led her to graduate school where she continued her focus to her dream of working in the adoption field. Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2001. Over the past 15 years, Stephanie has worked as a pregnancy counselor and as an adoptive parent counselor for foster care, international adoption and domestic adoption, writing hundreds of home studies for families, and helping build their forever families. Stephanie is married and has three boys ages 12, 9, and 5. Together with her family she enjoys riding bike, playing games, watching her three sons compete in their various sporting and musical activities and go on vacations.
Christy Ikeler, is our Executive Director and Birth Parent Director. Christy has been with Adoption Choices Team for 18 years, since opening the doors in 2002! Christy has a true passion for what she does and her true love is working with and helping each birth parent. Whether she is up all night on the phone talking with them, taking them to doctors appointments, out for their favorite treat, providing counseling or at the hospital during labor and delivery, Christy is very involved every step of the way. She has a contagious laugh and a spunky personality that our birth moms all can bond with and relate to. As an adoptive parent herself, adoption holds a very special place in her heart and she can relate on every level with both birth parents and adoptive parents. In her free time Christy loves spending time with her daughter, gardening, baking and taking vacations with her family. Christy is an excellent leader for our team at Adoption Choices and is truly one of a kind!! As Executive Director, Christy spends time with the staff, birth parents and adoptive families in order to ensure that the agency is running smoothly. She has placed a huge emphasis on community outreach and programs for birth parents. Christy loves the opportunity to lead the agency into a brighter future.
Ms. Mackenzie has built a successful counseling career over the past 20 years, supporting mothers and families, people of all ages and genders, students, community professionals and fellow clinicians. Liv values a diverse professional focus, including the entrepreneurial life of a sole proprietor, the evaluative process of certifying foster/adoptive homes, the insightful and mindful one-on-one one work with enthusiastic clients, and serving as an advocate for underserved populations. Liv is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a BA in Pre-Law and Economics from American University, an MA in Counseling from Adams University and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. Away from work you will find Liv spending time in nature, biking to the farmer’s market and adventuring with her family.
Catherine A. Madsen, joined the Adoption Choices family as legal counsel in 2013. Catherine is responsible for providing legal guidance to the Agency, training and updating staff on developments in adoption law and legislation, and program development. Catherine
Virginia Frank is an adoption attorney accredited since 1991 with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Ms. Frank is a leader in the field of private adoption and has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her career. Ms. Frank has a law degree from Oklahoma City University and a BA in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Cassidie has been with Adoption Choices since 2015, she has her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Affairs with concentrations in both Sociology and Business Management. Cassidie has additional training in Victim Advocacy, foster care and has been working in women’s services for over 10 years. Cassidie has always had a heart for adoption and it was her career dream to work in adoption. She started off doing volunteer work for advocacy programs, adoption organizations and worked in High Risk Maternal Fetal Medicine through the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Cassidie is also blessed to have personally experienced an adoption of her own in 2012, completing her family of five! Cassidie loves what she does as a case worker from initial phone calls, meetings, doctor appointments, interaction with the adoptive families to delivery and counseling. Cassidie has a passion for those in need and strives to help make a difference in the lives of the people she meets. She is a firm believer in being kind, compassionate and open minded in all situations. “Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, there’s no place for judgment. A kind word or compliment can go a long way!” The bittersweet moments in adoption reminds Cassidie each and every time, why she loves what she does!