Health and Wellness During Surrogacy: Maintaining a Healthy Surrogate Pregnancy
Becoming a gestational surrogate is an inherently selfless act – as a surrogate, you carry the hope of life for those who are unable to carry a pregnancy themselves. While surrogates are of course generously compensated for the time, effort, and energy that they devote to helping others, there are still sacrifices involved, especially during the pregnancy aspect of the journey. Even if you love being pregnant, it’s undeniable that a surrogate pregnancy comes with physical, emotional, and mental challenges. Taking care of yourself during a surrogate pregnancy is not only essential for the life growing inside of your womb but also for your own health and wellness. Here are some ways that you can be mindful of your wellness during a surrogacy pregnancy.
Lifestyle for a Healthy Surrogate Pregnancy
Disclaimer: A surrogate contract typically includes stipulations about diet, exercise, and other lifestyle choices. The following is intended as educational information only and may not reflect the terms and conditions of your actual surrogate contract.
Diet During Surrogacy
As with any pregnancy, it’s crucial that you be mindful of what you’re putting into your body as a surrogate. Not only do you want to make sure the baby has all the right nutrients, but eating right can also help you deal with any unpleasant pregnancy side effects. Every surrogate’s diet will be different, as per their contract and doctor’s recommendations, but some common diet recommendations include:
- Plenty of fruits and vegetables, but avoid papaya, pineapple, grapes, and raw sprouts
- Whole grains, like whole wheat, brown rice, and oats
- Protein-rich foods, like poultry, fish, legumes, nuts, and seeds
- Foods high in folic acid, such as leafy green vegetables and legumes
- Healthy fats, like olive oil, avocado, nuts, and fish
- Avoid foods that are heavily processed or high in trans fats, added sugars, and sodium.
- Avoid unpasteurized meat, cheese, eggs, and dairy, which can harm a developing fetus and expose you to food-borne bacteria
Depending on the terms of your surrogacy contract, you may also end up taking supplements to support the pregnancy process, including prenatal vitamins, folic acid, calcium, vitamin D, iron, and others. Again, all of this will be outlined in the surrogacy contract as per the recommendations of your doctor and the requirements of the intended parents.
Exercising as a Surrogate
Surrogate contracts generally have terms that cover what’s allowed and what’s off limits in terms of exercising during pregnancy, but generally speaking, exercise has been shown to be immensely beneficial during pregnancy for a wide variety of reasons, including:
- Reducing uncomfortable pregnancy side-effects, such as bloating or backaches
- Improving mood
- Improving strength and endurance
- Improving sleep and energy levels
- Preventing gestational diabetes
- Strengthening the muscles needed for labor and giving birth
- Reducing the risk of needing a C-section
Depending on your surrogacy contract, exercise options may include yoga, swimming, walking outside, low-impact aerobics, and cycling (on a stationary bike). As with any pregnancy, you’ll also need to avoid more intense forms of exercise, such as contact sports, hot yoga, extreme sports, and horseback riding.
Maintaining a Healthy Surrogacy Pregnancy with West Coast Surrogacy
The importance of self-care during a surrogate pregnancy cannot be overstated; it is vital not only for the well-being of the baby but also for your own health and overall wellness. As a boutique surrogacy agency, West Coast Surrogacy cares deeply for our surrogates and supports their every need throughout the process, including pregnancy, labor, and delivery. As a surrogate with our agency, we will connect you with the support and guidance you need, including nutritional advice, counseling, and life coaching. For more information about our surrogacy program and how we support surrogates during pregnancy, contact West Coast Surrogacy.
