When I started this journey I thought I would have to put up with an avalanche of judgment.
It has been surprisingly limited, I have been supported by virtually everyone that knows me.
But by far the most regular question has been:
Is it legal?
I think this is such a shame. I fear that people thinking about being surrogates in Australia (and in particular WA) might think they are breaking the law.
It is legal, it is just not common.
(Refer to Surrogacy Act details on useful links section of this blog)
I think that there is such a lot of shame and guilt wrapped up in the surrogacy decision that is not useful.
It is obviously not a decision any one takes lightly. There are comprehensive processes that take months to get through, including psychological assessments, before you can even start a surrogacy process.
To feel ashamed of your ability to become pregnant, or ashamed to ask for help or fearful of what others think, complicates an already complex and emotionally challenging journey.
Then to be thought of someone who might break the law is heart breaking.
With a better attitude more people might be less likely to look to international options.
Maybe it's just me but I find it a little disingenuous that people would ask "is it legal?" This is your future family you're talking about, your children, the most important thing in your life! Do people think you'd really risk the security of that by doing something illegal?? Lots of us want to be rich but we don't go around assuming people will rob banks to achieve that goal, so I don't know why they'd think it of people who are trying to make a family :(
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