How do you know if the surrogate is going to follow the contract and not do drugs or other bad stuff?

Learn the answer to this week's user-submitted question about surrogacy in this week's installment of Ask a Surrogacy Expert! Have a question about surrogacy that you'd like answered? Submit it at https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ask.

Hey everyone, it's Amanda Kinnard-Fuchsgruber, Director of Bright Futures Families Surrogacy, with this week's Ask Question. And today's question is: How do you know if the surrogate is going to follow the contract and not do drugs or other bad stuff?

The honest answer is you just have to trust them. So you have to trust that she's been screened with medical records from her previous pregnancies and deliveries, that she's followed OB orders and not done any of these things in previous pregnancies. Most surrogates are even more cautious with the surrogacy pregnancy than they would have been even possibly with their own children when they were pregnant with their own children. With that being said, you have to trust that they're doing this, that they're doing it for the right reasons and they don't want to put themselves or your baby in jeopardy. Also, during the pregnancy, of course she's going to be monitored by an OB and need to see regular OB care and hopefully you have access as intended parents to that OB and can ask questions and do follow up items as needed. Your clinic will also do testing when they do their screening as well. But honestly, I hope that helps. But the process really is about kind of letting go and trusting that she's going to do the right thing. I know that's not always easy and we know that's not always what happens. But I will say most surrogates are doing this for the right reason and just want the best for you and want a happy and healthy baby.