1 AND 2 MONTHS
The first 2 months are the most important in surrogacy. During this time, the baby is starting to take shape and the surrogate mother is getting used to her new role. The organism of the pregnant woman fully adjusts to the baby’s needs: the umbilical cord and placenta are formed to provide nourishment, warmth and protection to the embryo. This is why the first weeks of pregnancy are so important. As early as 4 weeks after conception, the baby’s spinal column, digestive system and little heart starts beating.
In the sixth week, the baby’s face takes shape and it becomes clear what the shape of the nose, the shape of the eyes and so on will look like. That’s why it’s so important that the first two months of body formation passed quietly and safely for the embryo, because of them depends on the further health of the baby.
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This period may be not easy for the surrogate mother as well: as the woman’s organism undergoes complete rearrangement for her new purpose, hormonal imbalance may occur, and her emotions may become unstable, up to and including slight depression. It is very important that the surrogate mother is prepared for such changes, takes good care of the future child and visits a psychologist in specialised clinics as needed if she realises that she cannot cope with a difficult emotional state on her own.
In order to maintain your health and stable emotional state during pregnancy, the gestational courier needs to follow the following rules:
- set aside your evening time to devote to rest and your favourite activities.
- Don’t deny your body sleep: during pregnancy, a woman may want to sleep a lot. It is very important not to torture your body, to let it sleep, even if you haven’t done this before. In general, try to give your body as much relaxation as possible, because it performs albeit imperceptible, but very hard work. Don’t deny yourself the need to sleep in the afternoon, ask your loved ones for help and support. Let them check in on your care, take over some of your household chores, bring you breakfast in bed and let you rest.
- it is very important to make sure you are eating appropriately. You can also take vitamins and supplements as recommended by doctors to make your baby feel great. All this is important both for the normal formation of the baby and for the health of the surrogate herself.
- Don’t forget to keep moving. Despite the importance of the upcoming event, this does not mean that the surrogate mother has to become a recluse in her own home. Taking leisurely walks, yoga, fresh air – it all just contributes to your well-being and the excellent health of your baby.
Calling a doctor
Any sudden changes in the surrogate’s well-being should be a very good reason to call an ambulance straight away. In the first few weeks, a gestational surrogate’s pregnancy is very fragile and a miscarriage or an irreparable threat to the woman’s health can occur. Even if the threat to health does not seem serious, you should still consult a doctor at a fertility clinic or a gynaecologist who supervises the pregnancy.
3 & 4 MONTHS
In the 3rd and 4th months of pregnancy, the baby’s body is almost fully formed and continues to grow and develop. By the beginning of the 3rd trimester, the embryo has already developed the hemispheres of the brain, the digestive tract and the eyes. It is at this time that the baby begins to move actively and the first abdominal movements are felt. It is true that during these months the baby’s movements may be somewhat chaotic. They will be smoother later, when the formation of the brain is completed and the baby will then start to respond to the surrogate and to external events.
The gestational surrogate’s body
Even if in the first 8 weeks of pregnancy the surrogate has toxicosis, this already goes away by the 2nd trimester. This makes you feel much better, so it is best to devote the third and fourth months of pregnancy to doing the things you love. Make time for your hobbies: go for walks, relax, listen to music and watch films.
Mood swings may still occur in the third and fourth months, but these quickly go away. On average, by the end of the third month the woman’s hormonal balance is back to normal and the rapidity of fatigue and constant mood swings stops. But it is important to remember that every woman’s body reacts to pregnancy individually, and you should not worry if a bad mood without any reason follows you after 4 months of pregnancy.
In this period of time, the baby begins to move more actively, you can already feel a palpable thrust. But if they become too sharp, it is a sign that the baby is not getting enough oxygen. In this case, you should go for a walk in the fresh air or stop doing the physical work that was done before.
It is also very important to make sure that the surrogate’s body has enough vitamins and minerals. Consult your gynaecologist and find out what vitamin supplements you need to take in order for your baby to grow and develop properly.
5-6 MONTHS
During this period the baby’s skeleton starts to form actively. This means that the surrogate mother should pay special attention to the amount of calcium in the body. The surrogate mother may also notice a lack of calcium herself: In this case, the condition of the teeth deteriorates seriously for no apparent reason. The gynaecologist supervising the pregnancy will certainly advise you on a safe dosage of calcium that will allow the child to develop normally and form a bone system.
The surrogate has an increased heart rate: this is a consequence of the fact that the body has a new circle of circulation, so an increased heart rate is nothing to be afraid of. Also in the fifth or sixth month some women describe sensations similar to weak contractions. If they do not cause serious discomfort, they are perfectly safe: this is how the uterus reacts to the movement of the baby.
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SURROGATE MUM’S ADVICE:
For this period you should put off shoes with a heel, the best choice would be a 2 cm high heel that is comfortable and stable enough.
To avoid varicose veins, which are common in pregnant women, try to rest lying on your side.
Watch your diet: eat as much fresh fruit and vegetables, boiled meat, fish or cottage cheese as possible.
Leave enough time for rest: sleep at least 8 hours a day, don’t forget to go for walks in the fresh air, you can do gymnastics.
LAST TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY
The baby will love it if the surrogate mother listens to classical music in the third trimester. Scientists believe that this helps brain development and shapes the baby’s character.
At such late terms it is possible to use a special maternity bandage: this will keep the baby in a stable position and also help the surrogate mother to get back into shape faster after the birth of the child.
At this late stage of pregnancy, heartburn may bother the woman: to avoid this, eat often, but in small portions. Immediately after eating you should take a short walk or sit in a comfortable position. The main thing is not to lie down immediately after eating, as this will trigger a new heartburn attack. Also, to avoid heartburn, try not to bend sharply.
To avoid swelling, you need to control the amount of fluid you drink. Your gynaecologist can help you with this control.