What happens when a surrogate mother miscarries?
- 25 May, 2021
- IVF and Infertility
- infertility
- Medically Reviewed By:
Dr. Nishi Singh - Author: Prime IVF Centre
A surrogate is a woman who harbors the embryo of a couple who have normal functioning gametes (egg and sperm) but the female cannot provide the right environment to the growing baby. The embryo formed after the in-vitro fertilization of the egg and the sperm of the couple is then implanted into the uterus of the surrogate mother.
Surrogacy is often a very good option for couples who cannot have a baby on their own otherwise. This process is a life-changing event for the surrogate as well as for the couple.
Surrogate pregnancy is similar to a normal pregnancy after the embryo has been implanted in the surrogate mother. Thus, it can also suffer from the same problems of a normal pregnancy like miscarriages.
Table of Contents
Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:
- What is a Miscarriage?
- Surrogacy and Miscarriage
- Chromosomal abnormalities in the baby.
- Any substance abuse.
- Maternal factors like age, weight, general health, etc.
- History of previous miscarriages.
- Invasive prenatal testing.
Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is a phenomenon that leads to the loss of a baby before it can survive independently, which is usually timed at 20 weeks. The most common symptom of abortion is vaginal bleeding which can occur with or without abdominal pain.
During the course of your pregnancy, any bleeding or leaking through vagina or any abdominal pain should be immediately reported to your doctor.
Miscarriages can occur in about 10-50% of pregnancies. Miscarriages occur frequently in primigravida females, i.e women who are first-time mothers. Most miscarriages occur in the first trimester of the pregnancy (first 3 months of the pregnancy).
There are a lot of causes and risk factors for miscarriages and not every factor can be controlled. In case you have vaginal bleeding during your pregnancy, consult your doctor immediately. If you do suffer from a miscarriage, the doctor would make sure that all the products of conception have been removed from your uterus so that they do not cause any infection.
A bunch of tests need to be conducted to figure out the cause of the abortion that will be treated accordingly so that there are no complications in your subsequent pregnancies.
Miscarriages in surrogacy can occur due to a variety of causes some of which are mentioned below:
Surrogate pregnancy differs from a normal pregnancy in the fact that the egg and sperm are chosen from the host couples’ bodies and are fertilized outside the woman’s body in a petri-dish. The fertilized embryo is then implanted in the surrogate mother.
For this process, only the best gametes are selected, and thus it is unlikely that the embryo will have any chromosomal abnormalities after the fertilization.
Surrogate miscarriages can also occur without any known reason. Miscarriages in surrogacy can have deep psychological effects on both the couple and the surrogate mother. While the biological parents are grieving the loss of their baby (and the loss of a chance of having their own baby), the surrogate mother has to deal with all the physical symptoms of a miscarriage. Surrogate miscarriage can also be a very emotional affair for the woman carrying the baby.
The most important thing for both parties to remember is not to lose hope. Your doctor will try to figure out the cause of the miscarriage and will treat it accordingly so that you can have a baby in the subsequent pregnancy.
After you have gone through surrogate loss, the first step will be to make sure that the current pregnancy is fully terminated and you do not have any remnants left inside your uterus. This will be ensured by getting an ultrasound done. If there are any products remaining, they will be removed either through medicines or by using a procedure called Dilatation and Curettage.
It is possible to have a pregnancy after you have suffered a miscarriage. Your doctor will conduct some blood tests and imaging etc to find out the reason for the miscarriage. Once the cause is found, it can be treated accordingly.
Once the cause for the surrogacy miscarriage has been treated, the couple can again go for ART to have their baby with the same surrogate mother. Another option that is available for the couple is to find some other woman willing to be a surrogate for them.
Take Away
This is a brief article on surrogate miscarriages and how to go about them. For any further information, contact a qualified professional who would be able to guide you further.
At Prime IVF, you will get the best suggestions from the beginning to the end of the procedure from the skilled doctors (and the team).
