5.6 Breastfeeding & Surrogacy: Essential Guidelines for Prospective Surrogate Mothers

1. Why Breastfeeding Impacts Medical Screening

Breastfeeding keeps certain hormones—like prolactin—at high levels. That’s great for milk production, but it makes it harder for clinics to get an accurate read on your fertility. Here’s why:

Prolactin levels stay elevated while nursing, which can interfere with bloodwork used to assess reproductive health. Some clinics may not approve a surrogate if these levels are too high.
Cycles may be irregular or absent, which makes it difficult to assess ovulation and readiness for treatment.
Hormonal testing can be skewed, meaning the results won’t reflect your true baseline.

To make sure everything is accurate and aligned, most clinics ask that you stop breastfeeding before medical screening begins.

2. When Should You Wean?

Every body is different, but as a general rule:

It’s best to completely stop breastfeeding before your screening appointment.
You should wait for two full menstrual cycles to return after weaning.
It may take 2–3 months for prolactin and other hormones to return to pre-pregnancy levels.

Some clinics will request additional hormone testing to confirm that your levels are back within range before approving you to move forward.

3. Planning Ahead

If you’re thinking about becoming a surrogate but are still nursing, we recommend planning ahead so you have time to wean, let your body reset, and begin the process with confidence. Here are a few tips:

Talk with your OB or fertility specialist about how and when to start weaning.
Reach out to your GSHC coordinator—we’re happy to walk you through the timeline.
Don’t rush yourself. Give your body space to return to its natural rhythm before medical screening.

Communication is Key

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.

Start Your Surrogacy Journey Today!

📩 Contact us now to learn more about becoming a surrogate mother and making a life-changing difference for intended parents!
📞 Call: 310-953-0137
📍 Apply to Become a Surrogate: Start Your Application Here

Follow Us for Surrogacy Insights & Updates!

📲 Stay connected and learn more about surrogacy through our social channels: