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Misconception: The surrogate’s lifestyle and behavior don’t impact the surrogacy outcome.



Years ago, in the mid-west town of Salina, Kansas, a woman named Lisa carried a child for another couple. Lisa was a healthy, genial individual, who maintained a balanced lifestyle before and during her surrogacy journey. The outcome? A healthy baby boy, who now plays for his high school's football team.


This story, however, isn't just anecdotal evidence. It shines a spotlight on a common misconception in the world of surrogacy—that a surrogate's lifestyle and behavior don't impact the surrogacy outcome. What's underscored here is a significantly understudied aspect of surrogacy, and the argument presented here supports the contrary. A surrogate's lifestyle and behavior do play a crucial role in determining the success of surrogacy. Let's investigate the facts beyond traditional wisdom.


Distant rumblings of concern over the immediate environment of a woman carrying a child have surfaced time and again. A wealth of research has started to uncover how the mother's health and lifestyle can influence not just the pregnancy outcome but the child's development too. So why should it be any different with surrogacy? To better understand this concept, let's delve deeper into the role the surrogate mother's environment plays during the gestational period.


A study published in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, in 2013, highlighted the surrogate mother's role as more than just a nurturing vessel. According to the research, a surrogate's health, diet, stress levels, and overall lifestyle can influence the child's development even while in the womb.


Nurturing a child within a womb isn't confined to genetics. It's an intricate interplay between biology and the environment. The healthy development of the baby hinges greatly on the surrogate’s lifestyle. From the food they consume to the physical activity they undertake and the stress they live through, every facet of their life can trickle down effects to the baby's development.


Researchers from the University of California, in 2015, posited an interesting correlation. According to them, unhealthy habits or lifestyles of surrogate mothers including smoking, alcohol consumption, poor nutrition among others, potentially increase the risks of low birth weight, preterm birth and neonatal complications. 





Mental health is the next frontier. It's often overlooked, the invisible elephant in the room. Evidence suggests not only can a surrogate's mental health impact her overall wellbeing, but it can also affect the baby she carries. A Boston Medical Center study suggested that children born to mothers who experienced high levels of stress during pregnancy showed a higher prevalence of behavioral issues.


By now, a pattern emerges—a surrogate's lifestyle and behavior undeniably impact the surrogacy outcome. This wealth of research demands more attention than conventional wisdom affords it. We ought to move past the outdated notion that surrogacy outcomes are indifferent to the surrogate's lifestyle.


However, advocating for this perspective is not a blame game. It's neither about faulting surrogates for less-than-perfect outcomes nor about creating additional pressure on them. Instead, it's about recognizing and acknowledging their fundamental role in the surrogacy process. It's about extending more comprehensive support to surrogates, aiding them in maintaining a healthier lifestyle, which consequently results in healthier pregnancies and healthier babies.


What can be done then? You may ask. Action that can be taken includes ensuring mental and emotional support to surrogates through regular counseling sessions. This is in addition to providing nutritious meal guidelines tailored to their needs and medical check-ups to ensure peace of mind and optimal health. These proactive interventions empower surrogates, bolster their wellbeing, and enhance their capacity to provide a healthy environment for gestation.


In sharp contrast to the initial misconception, the ecology of a surrogate's lifestyle and behavior creates a ripple effect that echoes deep into the life of the child she carries. It rouses a plea for integrating a comprehensive health and lifestyle wellbeing protocol for surrogate mothers. The cradle of life is far too precious, and every step taken to enrich the bedrock will unfurl blooms of the healthiest kind.


Had Lisa not led a balanced lifestyle and been subjected to undue stress during her surrogacy, the baby she tenderly carried for nine months might have had a different beginning to his life. Let this be a reminder to us all. Surrogacy is an orchestra - its harmonious success hinges not just on the surrogate's physical health but also her lifestyle and mental wellbeing. It's high time we tuned our ears, eyes, and hearts to these melodies that have played softly, waiting for their spotlight under the moonlit sky of awareness.
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