Aren't you sick and tired of listening to the opinions of people who refer to surrogate women as those who 'are living under the poverty level' or ' are carrying other women's babies for the money' or better yet 'low-life trailer trash that can't do anything else but have babies'? I would think that not only the women who volunteer to become surrogate mothers or gestational carriers would be highly insulted but so would the Intended Parents who are trusting these women with the most valuable dream that they have...their very own child!
I'd like to clear up a few, lets say, misconceptions. First of all, most of the women I have known or worked with in the surrogacy world over the years have been perfectly capable of supporting themselves without putting their lives on hold for another couple to become a surrogate mother. They may have been stay at home moms who did volunteer work at their children's school, church or community but their husbands/partners were able and willing to make enough money to support the entire family on one income. There are the women who were not only mothers but students too, attending classes for nursing, criminal law, cosmetology, business and architecture (to name a few) and had the support of their family and friends as they carried precious babies for other couples. Lets not forget the working mothers who not only held full time jobs in fields such as teaching, nursing, legal assistant, hospice, hair salons, real estate, and photography studios (and some who owned their own businesses). Did any of these wonderful, caring women live in a trailer? I bet a few did. So what. The point I am making here that no matter what the background they were, they were nowhere near 'low life trash' and I resent that implication on behalf of all surrogates including myself.
Secondly, Intended Parents, for the most part, are not the type of people that give cart blanch to their agency owner and say "just give me anyone on your list that can carry a baby for me. I don't care about their back ground, where they come from or what they do for a living...if they can carry a baby that's all I need to know"! That comment may be a WISH of some agency owners out there but I am telling you it is rarely heard. IP's are very concerned about the type of person that they trust with their maybe babies. Not just anyone will do. Is she healthy? Does she live in a nice calm environment? What are the conditions where she works? These are some of the questions that are asked. And some of the concerns that are answered.
So, people out there painting 'surrogate mothers' with one swipe of your brush, until you've walked in our shoes or the shoes of the IP's, I ask you to keep the name calling to yourself. Thank YOU!
Sharon
Posted by: Sharon LaMothe~
Founder of LaMothe Surrogacy Consulting
Owner LaMothe Services
