What can you expect after you’ve delivered a baby as a surrogate? “Postpartum” is usually defined as the six weeks after childbirth. During this time, you can expect your body to go through physical recovery while your hormones adjust. It is completely normal to feel a combination of highs and lows and possibly, the baby blues. That is why it is so important that you focus on the positives, practice self-care, spend time with loved ones, and reach out for support if needed.

  • It’s normal to experience emotional ups and downs due to hormonal shifts.
  • You may miss your connection with your intended parents.

The Postpartum Phase for Surrogates

Pregnancy is an emotional journey for all women. But for surrogates, there’s even more going on. Medical procedures, communication with the surrogacy agency, your relationship with your IPs, and managing your home life can be all-consuming.

After giving birth, your levels of progesterone and estrogen drop dramatically while oxytocin surges. Oxytocin (known as the ‘love’ hormone) stimulates those feelings of love and empathy towards your baby. For surrogates, this can sometimes present as a case of the baby blues instead.

The End of the Journey for Postpartum Surrogates

It’s quite normal to get the ‘baby blues’ after having a baby for someone else. But surprisingly, most surrogates say the sense of loss is less about the baby and more about the relationship with your Intended Parents. By the time you give birth, you’ve developed a close relationship with your IPS. But when their baby arrives, this will likely mean that they won’t be in contact as frequently anymore, which can feel like the end of a close friendship.

Of course, every situation is different. Some IPs will be utterly consumed with caring for their baby, while others will still make an effort to keep you updated on what’s going on. Try not to take this personally. After all, you were a new mom once, too. Remember how difficult it was to juggle your little miracle with all the other people in your life?

In many cases, IPs will resume contact once they have established their new routine (and they’ve caught up on some sleep!).

How to Handle the Postpartum Phase

Try to focus on the positives

Okay, so you’re not going home with a gurgling bundle of joy in your arms. But you’ve helped another person or a couple start (or add to) a family. These people may have been dreaming of becoming parents for years, and now you’ve made that dream come true. Think about how amazing it felt to see them meet their baby for the first time and how much their lives have changed now.

Hang out with your favorite people

Let your family and loved ones know that you need them close by. Organize get-togethers with friends and celebrate the end of your journey. Catch up with people you might not have been able to visit during your pregnancy. Go shopping, take a holiday, hold a dinner party – be as social as you wish!

Seek support

If you need guidance or emotional support, it is important to consider reaching out to a professional counselor. We also encourage you to participate in support groups. Of course, there’s no better support than from women who’ve experienced the journey themselves!

Practice self-care

It’s time to look after yourself! Being active, relaxing, eating plenty of healthy foods rich in nutrients, and getting plenty of rest will help you recover after giving birth.

Reach Out to Family Source Consultants

Whether you’ve already begun your surrogacy journey or you’re considering becoming a surrogate, FSC is always ready to answer your questions. Many of our team members have been surrogates themselves, so they know exactly what’s in store. Feel free to contact us and learn more about the surrogacy journey. We’d love to have you onboard!

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Staci Swiderski, CEO and owner of Family Source Consultants, has been a prominent leader in reproductive medicine for over two decades. Through her strategic vision and dedication, she has developed Family Source Consultants into a globally recognized agency specializing in comprehensive egg donation and gestational surrogacy services. Under Staci’s leadership, the agency has become a trusted partner for intended parents, surrogates, and egg donors worldwide, known for its rigorous standards, compassionate support, and commitment to excellence in third-party reproduction.

Her professional insight is uniquely informed by her own family-building experiences. As an intended parent, Staci welcomed her son via gestational surrogacy in 2005, and as a known egg donor, she assisted an infertile couple in expanding their family. These experiences lend a rare depth to her leadership and have fueled her ongoing dedication to ethical, empathetic, and professional support within the field of reproductive medicine.