Is it possible to tell the IP's that I only want to carry one child and not multiples?

by Jennifer
(TN)

I'm in the process of becoming a surrogate and am very excited about it. I only want to carry one child but I see so many surrogates who have had multiples. Will the agency and IP's still work with me if I choose not to carry multiples? Is it possible to only have one embryo implanted?

Reply by Rayven
Absolutely.

Many intended parents only want to transfer one embryo at a time. In fact, my current surrogacy (I am 16 weeks pregnant) and my last surrogacy were both situations where we transferred only one egg...and it took both times.

The important thing here is that you make your intentions clear in the matching AND contract phase. Tell the agency and the intended parents that you will only transfer one embryo. You will find intended parents that feel the same way.

I personally have in my contracts that I will never transfer more than 2 embryos under any circumstances. The clinic has always included, in the paperwork I needed to fill out, a waiver saying we won't hold them responsible for multiples, complications, etc due to 3 or more embryos transferred, but I have always returned the form to them with "do not consent" on it without a problem.

Keep in mind, however, that there is always the chance of the embryo splitting into twins. If you would feel it necessary to reduce twins to a singleton in the event that the embryo split, that also needs to be addressed during the matching phase. And, even if you are comfortable carrying twins in that rare situation, you will also need to discuss/include in the contract your feelings on triplets or more, in the ultra rare (but possible) situation of the embryo splitting more than once.