Surrogacy Was the Way: Twenty Intended Mothers Tell Their Stories

by Zara Griswold

Surrogacy Was the Twenty Intended Mothers Tell Their Stories documents the true stories of twenty women who had children via surrogacy. Surrogacy is a complete possibility in today's day and age, but anyone considering this route to parenthood should know the pros and cons. The women featured go to surrogacy for a variety of reasons, ranging from Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH) to cancer to unexplained infertility and everything in between. Some of the journeys go rather smoothly-while others are filled with one obstacle after another. Some of the women have children already and want to add to their family, while most are attempting to become moms for the first time. What they all have in common, however, is that every woman whose story is told knows what it's like to be an intended mother-the term for the "mother to be" if and when a baby is born. And all of the women ultimately end up having a child (or more) through surrogacy. When I first started researching surrogacy, I was fortunate to find several Online support groups. As I gave and received support to so many other women I became fascinated with the extent to which people would go to simply have a baby. I realized that their stories-our stories-needed to be heard; thus, the idea for this book was born. For the millions of women who have been touched by infertility in some way, or know someone who has, Surrogacy Was the Way will open their eyes to amazing possibilities. It will show them that they do have options, and with persistence and faith, they can achieve their dreams of motherhood after all.

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2006

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are my people!! Reading this book made me so thankful of my story and journey. I swear I couldn't go more than a couple pages without saying, "She did what?" Or "They transferred how many?" Granted, the author wants to sell as many books as she can so maybe that's why all these stories seem like extreme cases to me. Or maybe we're just boring (which I will take in a heartbeat.) I'm so thankful for my GC, so thankful for my clinic, so thankful for a boring, easy surrogacy experience. I'm also thankful that technology can do almost anything when it comes to helping people build families. 20 women in this book worked their asses off to become mothers and that is something worth celebrating.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely essential reading for anyone embarking on the journey of surrogacy!
As a potential Gestional Surrogate (GS) I found each story (from the Intended Mother's point of view) to be informational and educational. This journey is emotional beyond imagining, and the best we can each do is try to understand where we are both coming from.
I think this book also highlights one major aspect of surrogacy--matching. The right match, much like a marriage, must not be entered into hastily or lightly. Just because logistics work out, doesn't mean the match is right. There must be a "good vibe" between the surrogate and the intended parents, before making the match official.