Both happiness and challenges are part of any pregnancy and childbirth. Surrogate pregnancy does not have much difference from traditional pregnancy. The physical changes and development of emotional affection are gradually developing with the advancement of the gestational period and development of the fetus.
However, some additional medical procedures required to prepare the body and mind of the surrogate to continue this complex process. Clinically, screening, prescribing fertility medications, and embryo transfer are certain additional steps in gestational surrogacy. Health and safety are the topmost priority in every surrogacy program.
Counselor, IVF expert, midwife, gynecologist & obstetrician, lab technicians are mainly medical teams working to support surrogacy procedures. Surrogacy involves following additional clinical processes for this certain additional clinical step requires.
The role of a fertility counselor
Counseling is an integral treatment part of surrogacy. Infertility counselor must work in a Licensed Clinic which has the complex environment of a Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). They should fulfill the requirements of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act.
They should do a master’s or doctorate from an accredited program in the field of psychiatry, psychology, social work, psychiatric nursing, or marriage and family therapy after completing their graduate degree in a mental health profession. Infertility counselors must have a licensed practice to offer counsel to the surrogate and intended parents both separately and together.
Infertility counselors must maintain the patient record during the discussion and decision making. If required he/ she can further refer a specialized consultant at the early stage if it is a high-risk case. Infertility counselor experts must be expertise in
- psychological assessment and screening
- grief counseling
- staff consultation
- diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders
- supportive counseling
- crisis intervention
- psychometric testing (psychologist)
- education/information counseling
- sexual counseling
- decision-making counseling
- support group counseling
- psychotherapy
- couple and family therapy
- referral/resource counseling
IVF expert (embryologist)
An embryologist has a specialization in the embryology field. He or she is a scientist who creates embryos outside the ovary by artificially fertilizing the sperms and eggs. Thus, he/ she plays an important role in helping couples conceive who are facing challenges in conceiving naturally.
An embryologist must be biological science graduate along with specialized post-graduation qualification in Assisted Reproductive Technology or Embryology or biotechnology. Along with these, adequate training and experience are required to become an established embryologist.
Lab technicians specialization in assisted reproductive technology (ART)
Previously, lab technicians who were working in fertility clinics had backgrounds in an animal in vitro fertilization (IVF) or general clinical lab backgrounds. But currently, more specific expectations include embryology-specific education, practical training experience, and a state license. Lab technicians who are working on fertility clinics must have detail-orientation with a focused mind to avoid losing microscopic eggs and embryos. He or she must have a combination of good technical skills and an emotionally warm, yet professional, demeanor with patients.
Midwife
In some countries, a midwife is appointed to provide antenatal care. The midwife should have a university degree, an apprenticeship, and a specialist course run by a professional body. An individual can also do a three years full course approved by the Nursing & Midwifery Council. After confirming the pregnancy test, the surrogate needs to maintain the follow-up visit to the gynecologist & obstetrician clinic periodically until giving the birth of the child/children.
The additional medical services require in surrogacy due to the Medical screening, egg and sperm harvesting, and the in-vitro fertilization process, pregnancy testing is necessary to perform to proceed surrogacy.
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.