When someone decides to become a surrogate, they are helping another couple start a family. A traditional surrogate often uses a sperm donor and her own eggs, while gestational surrogates may use in-vitro fertilization so that they are not biologically related to the child. Either way, the surrogate carries the baby until birth, when the parents take over.
As such, surrogates might wonder what rules they have to follow. Do they have to eat a diet that is good for fetal development and healthy for the baby? Do they have to refrain from things that are known to cause harm to a fetus, such as drinking or smoking?
The surrogacy contract
The answer is likely different in every case. A surrogate will have signed a legal contract. It may stipulate what they can eat or what they need to avoid, like cigarettes and alcohol. If the surrogate signs this contract, they are legally obligated to follow it.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that the surrogate even agrees with the contract. Maybe it says that they cannot drink any alcohol. However, the surrogate has read reports that it is safe to have a small amount of alcohol while pregnant. Regardless of their own medical beliefs, they still have to follow the regulations in the contract that they signed.
The legal process
As you can see, it is very important for surrogates and future parents to understand exactly what steps to take and how the legal process works. If there is a dispute, it can sometimes help to work with an experienced law firm to seek solutions.