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Originally Posted by Tiffanoodle  I've always been fascinated by surrogacy. What made you decide to become a surrogate? I have always really loved pregnancy for the most part. Even though I'm sick as a dog in the first tri and tired through the whole thing. My dh would never agree to me being a surrogate, since he thinks the only thing that makes the crabbiness, bloating, and cravings of pregnancy worth it is getting the baby at the end. lol Well, that and I think I'm getting kind of old to be considering it (I just turned 30, which I know in the grand scheme isn't that old, but I'd have to look another 3 years before i could do it and then I'm getting close to "advanced maternal age").
Your belly shot is really cute! I'm all lumpy in the belly to begin with, so my belly shots don't turn out looking nearly as model-like.  |
Actually, you'd be surprised. MANY surrogates are in their mid to late 30's, some in their early 40's. If you've had good pregnancies/deliveries, then there are doctors that will take you on as a surrogate.
The funny thing is, my DH is the opposite. He'll put up with the crabby stuff and such, as long as the baby does not come home with us. LOL! We're both DONE.
I think I've always had the desire to help others, or at least since I was a young child. I did a lot of charity work and such. I became aware of infertility (and miscarriages, stillbirths, etc.) when I was a teen. I married my husband when I was 18 and found a forum online about charting my cycles, as I didn't want to be on BC anymore. In joining there, I quickly saw just how many women dealt with numerous issues, sometimes for years on end, and sometimes never having the baby they so desired. It broke my heart and made me want to help them.
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Originally Posted by at_the_hip Wow, another mama from Oregon! You make me miss it a little!! 
Are your IP's very involved in your pg...ie do they come to the ob/mw appointments or see you often? Do you find it hard to hand off the little peanut after giving birth? I think that would be the hardest for me, PP. |
I've only lived in Oregon but cannot imagine living elsewhere. DH and I went to Montana two years ago, and wow, LOVED IT there but goodness, I love me some Portland.
My IPs are very involved, yes. They actually live on the east coast, but even so, they are as involved as possible! IM and I email daily, I do belly pics every 1-3 weeks (was every month, then two weeks, now it's one every Friday), she gets updated as soon as I am done with my MW appts, etc. They sent a stuffed animal with a music box, so I could play it for the baby. They are sending an iPod with recordings of them reading books, so I can play that nightly for their baby as well. They flew me down for their baby shower in Feb (it was in CA as IM's family lives there) which was amazing and very gracious of them to do.
I really don't find the end that difficult actually. When I had my first surro son, it was at the request of my IPs (and my desire to do so) to nurse him. It felt like I was nursing a friend's baby, which I was.
And when they showed up (they missed the birth as I went at 38 weeks, which we didn't expect), I happily handed him over. He felt like a nephew to me. I of course hold a special place in my heart for him, but I never have looked at him as my own.
I also pump and donate my milk after, and I think my nursing and then EPing really helps my hormones. I suffered no baby blues after my surro son, where as I had PPD after my twins and baby blues for a short time after my daughter.
Thanks ladies.
) even, I can feel it rip. It's the most disgusting feeling and it then hurts for 2-3 days after that, to the point where walking or just moving around at all makes me want to cry. The MWs were/are worried that if I attempted to push the baby out, I'd cause myself to rip more and I'd be in severe pain for days if not weeks.
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