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Profile of a Surrogate Mother

By Jessica Williams

The odds of frozen embryos transferring successfully and resulting in pregnancy are lower than using fresh embryos. Still the quality of the three embryos transferred into Kat were "perfect." In the end, "thankfully, one healthy one decided to 'stick' around!" Because in vitro fertilization (IVF) carries modest odds of success, both Kat and the intended parents were prepared for the first (and even possibly the second) transfer to fail. "I can't even relay the emotions when I told them that it had worked," says Kat. "Had the first transfer failed, we would have gone on from there. We were willing to go to three transfers and then re-group and decide at that point whether or not to move on."

Kat says the transfer itself was quite an experience. She shared the momentous occasion with the intended mother. "I had never gone through anything like that and knowing that she had been through it before made me more comfortable," she says. It is the first of many bonds they will share together while bringing this child into the world. Kat says they share many aspects of the pregnancy, from doctor's appointments to ultrasounds. Additionally, Kat welcomes the intended parents to attend the birth. "I could not bring myself to carry their child for nine months and then shut them out when the baby is finally born!"

During the transfer, "our reproductive endocrinologist had on light music and nice implantation lighting for the embryos," remembers Kat. The transfer only took seven or eight minutes and then Kat stayed for another hour or so. She was ordered to bed rest for the remainder of the day, and was then on light duty with her feet up for the next day.

Want to see more?

• The Surrogacy Search: Starting Out
• The Surrogacy Search: In Their Own Words
• Donor Decisions: Considering Donor Egg & Sperm
• Check out our Article Library.
• Talk about it!