After the surrogate baby is handover to the intended parent breastfeeding is an important aspect let’s discuss it all. From ancient times, humans have developed several methods to fight against infertility. Surrogacy, an assisted reproductive technique is the modern medical approach to overcoming infertility issues.
In this process, a woman agrees to become pregnant and carry the fetus on behalf of the intended mother, and handover the neonate to the intended parents for their paternal and maternal responsibility.
Typically, a surrogacy contract specifies that surrogates must give up their child “immediately after birth,” “as soon as birth,” or “upon birth.” Neonatal, however, require nursing soon after delivery because it is crucial for the child’s nutritional needs as well as for the development of a foundational immune that will protect them from diseases.
Using the Surrogate Mother’s Breast Milk
This crucial element to preventing emotional conflict is not taken into account in the surrogacy agreement. Most of the time, intended parents and surrogates disagree on breastfeeding because it fosters a strong emotional bond between newborns and surrogates.
However, it is legal to nurse every child. If intended parents and surrogates agree to adopt the child’s basic rights, then this part of surrogacy will work.
However, this must be explained to both intended parents and surrogates before they sign the contract, along with information on the benefits of breast milk for both the mother and the child. For those who fervently support the advantages of breastfeeding, this is crucial.
In this situation, the intended parents use the supplemental nursing method to feed the baby the milk that the surrogate mother pumps for at least the first six weeks after the baby is delivered. So, without the help of the intended mother, the born kid benefits from breast milk.
However, because the surrogate must frequently pump the milk, the job of pumping and the timely conveyance of milk need time, effort, and attention. For this extended period of duty, the surrogate may be entitled to additional remuneration.
If the intended family is willing to pay the additional cost, which may include caring for the surrogate mother during this time so she can make adequate milk, shipping fees, and other expenses related to the procedure. For the smooth completion of the entire event, the surrogacy agreement often includes all these elements.
Alternatively, the following are potential non-surrogate solutions to the breastfeeding problem for a kid delivered through surrogacy:
Administration of lactation medicine
During the gestation stage, the intended mother should visit the doctor if she intends to breastfeed her surrogate kid. A pregnant woman may be able to breastfeed her unborn child if she takes the right lactation medication at the right time. Such medications need to be prepared in advance for administration.
Hormonal therapy
At the start of the treatment, the doctor frequently recommends hormone therapy. One of the major methods used to get the body ready for pregnancy-related hormonal changes is the birth control pill. The body is internally preparing to make breast milk at this period.
Hormonal therapy has been substituted with various vitamins and drugs in the later stages. Prior to childbirth, the doctor advises quitting birth control pills and suggests using herbal supplements or other prescriptions to increase milk production.
Start pumping
Breast pumping should begin as soon as hormonal therapy is stopped and breast milk-producing medications are introduced. Breast pumping frequency and duration gradually increase to support eventual breast milk production. The intended mother must prepare for the baby’s arrival by following the doctor’s instructions and guidance to induce lactation.
Initiate nursing to the neonate and supplement your milk
At first, the intended mother’s milk production rate may be insufficient to completely sustain the neonate with the produced breast milk. In such cases, using a Supplemental Nursing System allows your baby to get enough milk to eat while also meeting the requirement.
In this procedure, supplemental milk obtained from a milk donor or surrogate milk obtained via a breast pump is poured into a container attached to the Supplemental Nursing System unit. The container is then placed on the mother’s chest, allowing the baby to suck milk from both sources, namely the mother’s breast milk and the milk stored in the Supplemental Nursing System container.
Read Also: Challenges in Surrogacy Pregnancy.
Ravi Sharma is a self-motivated, successful entrepreneur and has a solid experience in the fertility segment. and he is the director at ARTbaby Global (ARThealthcare). He is a pharmacy graduate with post-graduation in business administration and has 14 years of rich experience in the field of infertility segment. He loves to write about IVF, Surrogacy, and other ART (assisted reproductive technology) news, issues, and updates. He is a Pharmacy graduate (B. Pharm) and M.B.A (marketing).
His most recent success includes the successful launch of the medical tourism company, ARTbaby, which offers treatment options for infertility, egg donation, and surrogacy. He likes spending time with his family and writing about various aspects of IVF surrogacy and donating eggs.