Surrogate’s Corner: Things I Wish I Knew Before Surrogacy

Back by popular demand!

Brownstone received such a positive response to Yesenia’s first blog post that we sat down with her again to hear more of her perspective as a former gestational surrogate.  Thank you for your honesty, Yesenia!

Q: What was the most rewarding part of your surrogacy journey?

There were so many rewarding parts of my journey. The obvious one was seeing this beautiful new family that I had helped create. After the babies were released from the hospital, the IPs stopped by my house so that my family could meet the twins. I’ll never forget seeing the nervous new parents trying to buckle their newborns in their car seats and knowing what excitement they had ahead!

Q: Looking back on the whole process with the benefit of some distance, do you have any regrets?

I wouldn’t say I had any regrets, but when considering a second journey, I would not agree to transferring two embryos again.  This journey ended with two beautiful healthy babies and helped my family in a great way. I wouldn’t take it back for the world. However, a twin pregnancy can be challenging and uncomfortable. This pregnancy took more of my time from my family than I would have hoped.

Q: What was the hardest part of the process for you?

Part of why I became a surrogate was because my own pregnancies were so easy. Twins are a whole new ballgame! I did have more morning sickness than I had ever had before, so that was a challenge. Luckily, my doctor prescribed medication that helped. Even with that, the journey was 100% worth it!

Q: If there were three things you could tell every person considering surrogacy, what would they be?

1. Even when working with an agency, you should always familiarize yourself with the process. Don’t jump into surrogacy blindly. It can be complicated, and you should be comfortable advocating for yourself.

2. Be prepared to dedicate a great deal of time to this process. Having had easy and successful pregnancies yourself does not guarantee that you’ll have a quick and successful surrogacy journey. Unfortunately, it’s not an exact science and transfers can fail.

3. It will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life!

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Thanks again, Yesenia!  Please check back for more honest advice directly from experienced gestational carriers.