What Are the Risks of Choosing Gestational Surrogacy in Colorado?
If you’re considering becoming a surrogate mother in Colorado, also known as a gestational carrier. In that case, it is important to know all the facts and information regarding the surrogacy process, including the risks. Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado is a private, licensed, and professional adoption and surrogacy agency that prioritizes helping families grow through Colorado surrogacy. We are here to ensure that you have all the information you need to start your journey. Surrogacy is a life-changing, rewarding, and also complex, and emotional process that is not meant to be taken lightly. That’s why you need to know what the process may look like, and what are the risks of choosing gestational surrogacy in Colorado?
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a surrogate, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado.
What Are the Health Risks in Gestational Surrogacy?
Before you are matched with an intended individual or couple, there are surrogate requirements you need to meet before your process starts. In Colorado, it is recommended that you are between the ages of 21 to 39 to ensure your health history does not impact the baby’s health. This age restriction is due to the onset of menopause, which makes getting pregnant harder, and ensures that you are emotionally ready to become pregnant.
You also have to be aware that your health history can impact whether or not you can become a surrogate. This means if you have a history of preeclampsia, age, certain surgeries, the number of pregnancies you have had previously, and other such illnesses can make becoming pregnant harder or pregnancy symptoms. Your health determines the health of the baby as well, so it’s important to talk to your doctor to make sure you are physically ready to become a surrogate mother.
When becoming a surrogate mother for a couple, you are choosing to carry a child that is not biologically related to you. Pregnancy is a joyous and rewarding experience because you are bringing life into the world. However, as you are probably already aware, pregnancy is not always easy, and health risks come along with that.
What Are the Emotional Risks of Becoming a Surrogate Mother in CO?
IVF centers will want you to have been pregnant before, so you know what the process is like and how your body responds to becoming pregnant. Not only does it benefit you physically if you have become pregnant before and know the symptoms you experienced and the delivery process, but it also helps you emotionally as well. You do not have any parental claim when you are a surrogate mother and carrying someone else’s child, so it can help you prepare emotionally if you already have a child to go home.
When you are a surrogate mother, you have to be emotionally ready to give birth to a child you do not take home, nor is biologically related to you. Not only does the age limit help to make sure you are ready to have a child and become pregnant, but here at Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado, we will require you to take a psychological evaluation beforehand to make sure you are emotionally prepared and ready for this process.
Understanding the Risks of Choosing Gestational Surrogacy?
When you are ready to become a surrogate mother, you have to make sure you fit all the surrogate requirements such as age, citizenship status, psychological evaluations, physical exams, and medical screenings.
It is important to know that IVF does not always work the first time. You may have to go through multiple rounds of IVF to ensure a successful pregnancy. This means you may have to put your life on hold in order to help give a family a child. This means you need to have the emotional dedication to put another family before yourself. When you become a surrogate mother, you are making the selfless decision to help others before yourself and give back. This means dedicating the time that is needed to artificial semination or IVF if needed.
When a surrogate becomes pregnant, you are matched with a couple or individual based on compatibility factors. This also means that you will be linked through the child’s wellbeing and, if desired, have a bond with them. It is important to know that they might have rules beforehand for you to follow. This could mean lifestyle, diet, or exercise changes. Be aware that every couple and individual is different, so some may want to play a more active role in your life. They might want to come with you to every doctor appointment, communicate with you regarding the pregnancy, or spend time with you beyond requirements.
Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado is here to help you with any hurdles you might face on this journey. We know how complex and emotionally and physically demanding this journey can be, so we are here to make sure it’s a beautiful and rewarding experience as well. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us or check out our website with more information from our team members.
If you are interested in learning more about your gestational surrogacy 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: Katie Doherty is a junior Writing, Literature, and Publishing major at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. She loves to write, read, and edit, whether it’s technical or creative writing. Although she enjoys writing poetry, narrative nonfiction, and fiction writing, she also loves to write on current political events, cultural trends, and research. She spends her free time listening to music, watching the Great British Bake Off, and learning how to crochet.
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!