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The Surrogacy Search

Starting Out

Part One

By Michele St. Martin

Because of Linda's infertility, an egg donor was used. The surrogate became pregnant through IVF on the first try. Because of the tension, Linda occasionally worried throughout the pregnancy that the surrogate might change her mind about giving up the babies. Happily, her fears proved unfounded.

Brooks maintains that surrogate mothers are not motivated by financial gain. "The women who become surrogates are special, loving individuals who have a true desire to help others become parents," he says.

While the surrogates who helped Susie and Lynn become parents were certainly motivated by loving kindness, as was Kim's second surrogate, this isn't always the case, as evidenced by the experiences of Linda and Kim with her first surrogate. And on the flip side, it is certainly possible that potential parents could take advantage of a surrogate. Understanding each other's motives and having a clear agreement about finances and expectations are key factors in making surrogacy work for everyone involved.

In part two of this series, we'll share more of the stories of both surrogates and intended parents and explore the questions of what happens after the babies are born and what surrogates take away from their experience.

Want to see more?

• Gift-giver: Profile of a Surrogate Mother
• Dollars and Sense of Infertility Treatment
• Choosing Assisted Reproduction: Social, Emotional and Ethical Considerations
• Talk about it!