5.6 Breastfeeding & Surrogacy: Essential Guidelines for Prospective Surrogate Mothers | GSHC

For women considering becoming a surrogate mother, it is crucial to understand the impact of breastfeeding on the medical screening process. Many prospective gestational surrogates are new mothers who may still be nursing. However, breastfeeding can significantly affect medical screening results, which is why GSHC Surrogacy & Egg Donation and most fertility clinics require surrogates to stop breastfeeding before proceeding with screening.

How Does Breastfeeding Affect Medical Screening for Surrogacy?

Breastfeeding alters hormone levels, which can interfere with the necessary medical assessments for surrogacy. Here’s why this is important:

✔ Elevated Prolactin Levels – Prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production, remains high during breastfeeding. This can disrupt hormonal balance and impact medical screening results. Many fertility clinics, including those working with GSHC Surrogacy, may disqualify a surrogate mother if prolactin levels are too high.

✔ Irregular Menstrual Cycles – Breastfeeding can cause irregular or absent periods (lactational amenorrhea), making it challenging to track ovulation and confirm reproductive health. Surrogacy agencies and fertility clinics require regular cycles before beginning fertility treatments.

✔ Hormonal Testing Accuracy – Many clinics require comprehensive hormonal evaluations to assess a surrogate’sreproductive health. Since breastfeeding influences hormone levels, test results may not accurately reflect the surrogate's true fertility status.

When Should a Surrogate Stop Breastfeeding?

To meet medical screening requirements and prepare for a successful frozen embryo transfer (FET), most fertility clinics, including those partnered with GSHC Surrogacy & Egg Donation, recommend the following:

✅ Cease breastfeeding before undergoing medical screening. This ensures that hormone levels normalize for accurate fertility assessment.

✅ Wait until regular menstrual cycles resume before scheduling screening. Most clinics require at least two full menstrual cycles to confirm reproductive readiness.

✅ Allow at least two to three months post-weaning for prolactin levels to return to baseline and for reproductive hormones to stabilize.

✅ Confirm hormone balance through blood tests. Some fertility clinics may require additional hormonal evaluations to verify readiness for gestational surrogacy.

Key Recommendations for Surrogates

Plan ahead for weaning if you are considering becoming a surrogate mother. Stopping breastfeeding is a necessary step before medical clearance.
Consult with your surrogacy agency or fertility clinic to understand specific guidelines and timelines for medical screening.
Ensure that at least two regular menstrual cycles have occurred before undergoing screening to optimize chances for a successful pregnancy.
Seek guidance from your OB-GYN or fertility specialist on the best approach for weaning in preparation for surrogacy.

Conclusion

While breastfeeding is a natural and beneficial process, it can interfere with medical clearance for surrogacy. For this reason, GSHC Surrogacy & Egg Donation and most fertility clinics require surrogates to stop breastfeeding and wait for their cycles to normalize before proceeding with medical screening. Proper planning and proactive communication with your surrogacy agency and fertility specialists will ensure a seamless transition into your surrogacy journey.

For more information about becoming a gestational surrogate with GSHC Surrogacy & Egg Donation, contact us today.

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