10 ways surrogates can prepare for Surrogacy in the New Year!

02 Dec 10 ways surrogates can prepare for Surrogacy in the New Year!

The New Year brings on many things including hope, an opportunity to start something new, or a chance to make dreams come true. If making someone’s dream come true of becoming parents is one of your resolutions, this post is for you! 

Being a surrogate requires a lot of sacrifices and dedication. So how does someone prepare for an upcoming surrogacy journey? Keep reading to learn 10 ways to best prepare for your surrogacy journey!

• Start taking Prenatal Vitamins

Even if you’re not pregnant, now is the time to start taking your prenatal vitamins. This will provide you with the proper nutrients to support a healthy pregnancy.

• Say goodbye to alcohol

Not only is drinking bad for the baby but it also is stated on your contract that you are 

not permitted to drink while pregnant. Before you sign up to become a surrogate, it’s a 

good idea to scale back on your alcohol consumption or quit altogether (at least until the 

baby is born).

• Exercise Daily

Exercising every day can mean something as little as taking a walk, or as much as a regimented workout routine. It’s good to keep your body moving and active before and during your pregnancy. Exercise will help you with any side effects from the medications you will take to get pregnant and even some pregnancy symptoms. It’s easier to start before pregnancy, so take this new year as the perfect time to get in shape!

• Eat a well-balanced diet

Eating well is important for everyone, but especially when you’re pregnant. You want to feel your best when growing that little miracle so why not start forming good eating habits now. 

• Learn to manage your stress

The surrogacy process (and pregnancy itself) can become very stressful at times. Now is the time to learn ways to manage your stress. Whether it’s talking to a professional, or just going for a walk, healthy habits for managing stress are meant to benefit you and your baby. 

• Start building your support system

There will be times during your journey when you’re going to need a support system. Your system may be your spouse, family, close friends, or a professional. Whoever you decide to include in your support system, it’s a good idea to establish and build your system before you begin a surrogacy journey. 

• Educate your support group

Once you decide who gets to be part of your support system, it’s time to share some information. Educate your people on how the surrogacy system works and explain what you think you might need during the process. You may not know what you need yet either, but starting the conversation with how the process works can allow everyone to start at the same level of understanding. You can also encourage your people to educate themselves by researching the surrogacy process.

• Research the entire Surrogacy Process

There are a lot of moving parts to a surrogacy process. Before you even apply to be a surrogate you should research what the entire process entails. Not every journey is the same, but the process itself is pretty straightforward. If you’re not sure where to start, ask us! We are happy to help guide you every step of the way.

• Go over all questions with your case manager

Make a list of questions and discuss them with your case manager. If you’re not sure what to ask check out our FAQs section on our website. This section provides answers to some of our most asked questions. Reading these first may spark other questions you may have. 

• Know your why

This is the most important piece of becoming a surrogate. Identify and remember why you are volunteering to do this. This “why” will be your biggest motivator before, during, and even after your journey. It’s helpful to write it down on a note and display it somewhere you can see daily. 

Nothing can fully prepare you for a surrogacy journey, but we hope this list is a good starting point. If you have any questions or need guidance, please feel free to reach out to us. We are excited to work with you and are so grateful for your decision to become a surrogate! Happy New Year and good luck!