Surrogacy is a wonderful accomplishment in the modern world. It allows mothers who cannot get pregnant due to a malformed uterus and other issues to have children who are genetically related to them. Another woman, with the capability to carry a pregnancy to full term, bears the child on another woman’s behalf. Before engaging to surrogacy, make sure that you have the basic knowledge of the requirements for surrogacy.
Unfortunately, while surrogacy does help solve the infertility hurdle, it often brings with it certain psychological issues, both for the mother and the child. This also explains why surrogacy is a fairly controversial assisted reproductive technology (ART) today. Here is a closer look at some of these issues:
The Possible Psychological Problem After Surrogacy
In short, the possible psychological problems that might result from surrogacy include the following:
- Distress
- Depression
- Anger
- Guilt
- Withdrawal
Distress
Many studies have suggested that giving up the child after the surrogate pregnancy is often distressing to many surrogate mothers. That is because the mother will often form a prenatal bond with the child, and giving it up can be particularly difficult and excruciatingly distressing.
Depression
After giving up a baby a mother is emotionally attached to, albeit prenatally, some surrogate mothers end up dealing with depression. Fortunately, there are studies showing that in most cases, the depression that the women go through are not more than the average postpartum depression rates. In fact, early intervention could substantially mitigate this problem and even help these women avoid it altogether.
Anger
Many surrogate mothers find themselves wondering what they were thinking to agree to an arrangement that would result in them giving up a baby they had carried for nine months soon after their birth. This can bring up anger issues that would need to be resolved through psychological help. Having to part with a baby after the prenatal attachment can be frustrating, and therefore anger-inducing for many surrogate mothers.
Guilt
Giving up a baby, surrogate or not, goes against the natural mothering instincts. For this reason, some surrogate mothers end up feeling guilty after getting a
surrogate baby and giving it up to the couple that commissioned the pregnancy. Additionally, the society is not especially accepting of a world where people can have babies vicariously through another woman, or give up their babies immediately after they are born. Consequently, these women might have plenty to deal with to those opposed to surrogate motherhood.
Withdrawal
Mothers who have borne surrogate babies can at times be withdrawn. This is mostly because the society is not too accepting of surrogate motherhood. Therefore, despite surrogacy being a major life event in these women’s lives, they are not at liberty to discuss it freely with people, including those close to them. For this reason, the women can become withdrawn, a psychological issue that might be exacerbated by depression and guilt.
All in all, surrogacy is a considerable psychological risk, both to the surrogate mother and the surrogate baby. The key is to avert any possible psychological issues early through proper counseling and early interventions before, during, and even after the pregnancy.
