Can I be a surrogate if I've never been pregnant?

by Jean
(Canada)

I have two close family friends who have been trying to have a child for years (it turns out she can't carry a child but her eggs are fine). I want to offer to become their surrogate, but I have never had a child of my own (I'm 24 and have never tried). I am getting all the bloodwork and medical tests done to find out if I am in good enough health etc.

I've read that usually surrogates have carried at least one child to term. We live in Canada where it is illegal to pay a surrogate to have your child (so it can be hard to find a surrogate unless a family member or friend offers).

Any advice would be appreciated,

Jean

Reply by Rayven

The number one rule of surrogacy is that the surrogate mother has had at least one child prior to becoming a surrogate mother. This is for a number of reasons:

1. A woman who has not "proven" herself by having at least one child may, herself, be infertile or may have difficulty conceiving, or a difficult pregnancy and/or labor and delivery.

2. Without having gone through the process of giving birth to a baby before, a woman has absolutely no idea how she will react emotionally to the delivery of a child. She also does not have her own children to go home and hug if she has the baby blues.

It is extremely rare that a clinic would take a woman with no prior pregnancies as a surrogate mother, but it does occasionally happen, usually in the case of a family member (like a sister) helping another family member.

You may find a Canadian clinic that will help; it may be difficult to do so, so be prepared to call a lot of clinics.

Best wishes!