Category: Grace’s Journey

Making the decision to be a surrogate isn’t easy, and it encompasses more than just the person who will be carrying. It requires numerous detailed conversations not only with the intended parents, but your partner. It is not a process that should be taken lightly, or on a spur of the moment. For me, volunteering to carry my friends’ baby was simply the right thing to do. Fortunately, my husband agrees and is supportive of this process and all it entails. Without his consent and support, I could not even consider going through this process.

The first week in November marked the date of the embryo transfer. Leading up to the transfer date, my friends and intended parents did all they could to “increase the odds” of a successful transfer, by having me get acupuncture, as well as massage. Prior to this process, I had never had acupuncture done. When we met with the acupuncturist (who was also a “M.D.”) he told the intended parents and me that he does a lot of fertility treatments, and would do a session on me right before the transfer, and then come back after the transfer and do another. He believed that by adding acupuncture, it increased the chances of the embryo taking up to 10 percent.

I have to admit I was amazed at how quickly you can find out you are pregnant through surrogacy. Twelve days after the transfer date, I was confirmed pregnant. Inevitably, after the pregnancy was confirmed is when the questions started: “Do you feel pregnant?” At first, no, I didn’t, which in itself was amazing. That was short-lived. Within two weeks after confirmation of pregnancy, morning sickness set in. Oh, the joys of being nauseous all day every day! The intended parents tried to sympathize with me, but they were so overjoyed at this visible proof of pregnancy they had a hard time!