In today’s modern technologically-driven world of smartphones and instant messaging, staying in touch with people might seem like a breeze. However, humans are complicated creatures — especially when it comes to communicating with each other. Even with all of these different modes of communication at our fingertips, it can be easy to feel disconnected. Communication is of the utmost importance in surrogacy, so it’s important for you to know what steps you can take to maintain good communication, whether you are a gestational surrogate or the intended parent.
Let’s take a look at ways you can stay afloat in your surrogacy journey and keep everyone in the loop — but first, let’s talk about why good communication in surrogacy is important in the first place.
In Surrogacy, Good Communication Is Key
Let’s be real – surrogacy can be a rollercoaster ride of emotions. But one thing that can help make the journey smoother is good communication between the surrogate and intended parents. Good communication is critical, and it’s important to be on the same page every step of the way. Having good communication can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. By staying in touch and keeping each other in the loop, you can reduce those feelings of uncertainty and avoid potential misunderstandings. This helps you to foster a strong bond throughout your journey.
Plus, by keeping lines of communication open, you’ll be able to keep everyone aware of what’s happening throughout the surrogacy process, like updates on the surrogate’s health and the progress of the pregnancy, as well as any issues or concerns that may arise. You’ve come so far in your surrogacy journey – it can feel devastating if you start to feel left out of something or think you’re being ignored.
What to Do When Distance Is a Barrier
Sometimes, surrogacy journeys happen with a long distance between a surrogate and the intended parents. Timezones and language differences might present some communication barriers at first; however, there are ways you can communicate with each other, even when you’re not physically close. For example, instant messaging apps like WhatsApp can be helpful for keeping in touch no matter where you are in the world. Zoom and FaceTime are also great apps to stay in touch with video calls.
Depending on the boundaries of your relationship with your intended parents or surrogate, you can also consider linking up with them on social media to share news, talk about what’s going on in your world, share pregnancy pics, and more. If you’re a gestational surrogate and your intended parents speak a different language, you can also use translation tools on your smartphone to help communicate.
Tips for Effective Communication
Effective communication is a two-way street. To make sure that you and the intended parents are on the same page throughout your surrogacy journey, it’s a good idea to not only speak up – but to also actively listen and understand each other’s points of view. Remember to be respectful and patient, and try to approach each conversation with an open mind.
Keeping good communication throughout the surrogacy process may seem challenging, especially for first-time surrogates or intended parents. Here are some helpful tips that can help you prioritize good communication during your surrogacy journey:
Keep lines of communication open
Try to prioritize keeping everyone in the surrogacy journey in the loop. This includes regular check-ins, updates, and meetings, as well as being available to answer any questions or concerns that may arise. This can help alleviate any worrisome feelings the other party may develop – anxiety can creep up quickly when you don’t know what’s going on and start making up scenarios in your mind. Avoid having the other party think you’ve been kidnapped by aliens, and keep regular communication with each other.
Be respectful of each other
Surrogacy is an emotional journey for everyone involved. So, it’s important to be respectful of everybody’s feelings, beliefs, and opinions. It’s helpful to focus on consistently approaching communication with empathy and understanding.
Maintain boundaries
With respect in mind, it’s key that you also maintain and respect appropriate boundaries. If you’re an intended parent, you should respect the surrogate’s potential boundaries for maintaining a healthy pregnancy and managing her other responsibilities, like her own family. If you’re a surrogate, you should respect the intended parent’s possible boundaries too. Some intended parents have never been pregnant before, and they might feel intimidated about growing their family with someone they may have only recently met. Understanding these things and setting appropriate boundaries leads to a more meaningful and respectful relationship between you both.
Keep communication clear
Make sure to be clear and concise with your messages, and keep in mind the methods you use to send your messages. Some messages may be better received in person or over a video call than on an instant message, for example. Keeping this in mind can help prevent misunderstandings and also help make sure that everyone is on the same page.
We’re Here for You
Communication is key for both parties to feel heard, respected, and supported, and having an open dialogue is essential for building a strong and trusting relationship.
At Fairfax Surrogacy, we can help guide you with tips on keeping your intended parents up-to-date as a surrogate and keeping your surrogate in the loop on important news as intended parents. Give us a call or request a consultation, and we can walk you through how we support both surrogates and intended parents in maintaining strong and meaningful communication with one another throughout their surrogacy journeys.
