All of our surrogates are volunteers. These are women who seek us out themselves, who must pass medical examinations and demonstrate the support of a husband or other appropriate party. In addition, all of our surrogates must be mothers themselves and capable of understanding the rigors of pregnancy and the risks of attachment. Dr. Nayna Patel counsels all potential surrogates herself, explaining the health and emotional risks of surrogacy. Only after the surrogate has signed a contract declaring her understanding and full consent will Dr. Patel consider working with her.
Our mission is to provide world-class care to our patients as well as extraordinary care for the women who choose to become surrogates. In addition, we are dedicated to caring for these women, both during their pregnancies and, if they ever need us, in the future.
In fact, there are two independently run houses that were established to help look after the surrogates. These houses provide a safe environment, a clean bed, nutritious food as well as camaraderie. One house, located quite close to the clinic, is run by a former surrogate who had a vision to care for her “sisters” while the other is overseen by a nurse who also happens to be a midwife. Both houses are nurturing environments where families are free to visit, and which provide classes to those who wish to participate. But these houses are not mandatory, unless medically indicated or the surrogate has come to an agreement with the baby’s parents.
We are not in the business of “renting wombs,” a term tossed around by the media but which could not be further from reality. That term implies we care nothing for the rest of the woman that a body part could be so easily outsourced. Rather, we provide a legitimate service to those in need, whether it is the couple who desperately wants a child, or the woman who wishes to change her circumstances, to educate her children or build a house or pay off debts. And we look after the whole person – her physical needs and beyond.
The surrogates receive the full amount for their surrogacy, the clinic taking nothing at all. In addition, while Akanksha Infertility Clinic helps counsel the surrogates on money matters, we neither expect a single rupee of it nor would we take any. This service is for their benefit, as well as those of our valued patients. It is a win-win situation and we consider ourselves blessed to be able to fulfill people’s dreams.
