As someone who has experienced pregnancy, you know how important it is to be intentional about your health during this time. The same is true when you’re carrying a baby for someone else.
You might have questions about how in control you are of your dietary choices since the baby you’re carrying isn’t your own. While every agency has different requirements, we do not require you to be on a specific diet during the surrogacy process, but the intended parents might have their preferences.
If you have questions about accommodating certain preferences the intended parents may have, we can help. Contact us today or text 912-204-0224.
Will I Have to Go on a Diet During Pregnancy?
While surrogacy agencies have requirements for a surrogate's BMI, we do not necessarily have requirements for your diet. This will be between you and the intended parents.
Some parents have specific diet requests they want from their surrogate to ensure the health of their baby This would be something you discuss with your surrogacy specialist and whether you are comfortable with. If this is something you are not comfortable with, you can let us know at any time, and we can find intended parents who do not have any dietary preferences.
Why Your Diet May Matter to the Intended Parents
There may be instances where intended parents have diet preferences based on lifestyle, religion or out of an abundance of caution for their baby. They may want their surrogate to eat based on these diet requirements. It can be helpful to meet the family, get a better understanding of why they want the diet for surrogates and then determine if you think it’s a good fit.
Know that many intended parents have experienced setbacks while trying to conceive a child on their own, and want to take every measure possible to ensure that their baby is safe and healthy from their conception to their birth. Any dietary requests they may ask of you are not to be picky, but to ensure they’ve taken every precaution for their child’s health.
Will I Have Restriction From the Parents During Surrogacy?
Some foods are recommended that pregnant women limit or abstain from during their pregnancy. Talking to the parents about how they feel about these foods and talking to your OB about what they recommend can be good for preparing your surrogate pregnancy diet. Some of the foods pregnant women are not supposed to eat include:
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Undercooked or raw meat and seafood
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Soft cheeses
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Pre-prepared or unwashed fruits and vegetables
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Lunch meat
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Deep sea fish
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Undercooked or raw eggs
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Soft-serve ice cream
Will I Have to Exercise a Certain Way During Pregnancy?
We will not require you to follow a specific exercise regimen during your pregnancy. While we do not have specific requirements on staying on a diet or weight management for surrogates, there are BMI requirements you must meet to qualify as a surrogate.
We require surrogates to be in a weight that meets a BMI range of 18-30. If you do not meet the BMI requirement for surrogates, we can connect you with resources to help you lower your BMI.
When your BMI is within this range, it’s more likely that you will maintain a healthy pregnancy without the risk of complications such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia. Exercising during your pregnancy is a great way to ensure you and the baby you’re carrying remain in good health. Here are activities that are safe to do during pregnancy:
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Walking
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Swimming
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Riding a stationary bike
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Yoga
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Strength training
The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always ask your doctor about best practices before exercising.
You Have a Voice
You are always in control of your surrogacy journey. This means you never have to agree to any terms you are not comfortable with.
If you are being asked by the intended parents to follow a diet or exercise plan that you do not agree with and attempts at a compromise have not proven successful, you can let us know and we can communicate with the intended parents on your behalf, or help you find a match that shares your surrogacy preferences.
Have a Healthy Surrogate Pregnancy
Our surrogacy specialists are here to help you throughout your entire surrogate pregnancy. We want you to feel safe, secure and healthy, and we will give you the tools to do so. If you have questions about the surrogacy process and how to get started, contact us today.