Hospital's Role In Surrogacy
Authors:
Elaine Gay, RN, ADN
Joyce McMurrain, RN, MSN
Women & Children's Services
Promina Kennestone Hospital
HOSPITAL'S ROLE IN ASSURING A SATISFYING SURROGATE BIRTH EXPERIENCE
PROMINA Kennestone Hospital has been involved in coordinating surrogate birth experiences since 1992. We have certainly refined our protocols since that first unfamiliar event to now having a well-defined team effort.
Our goal is to have the surrogate birthing experience flow as naturally as any planned pregnancy experience.
These are the steps we have taken to assure the biological parents as well as the surrogate that the team has their best interest in mind throughout the course of the pregnancy.
1. Upon being notified of a forthcoming surrogate delivery (via letter from the attorney), we set the process in motion.
2. We then contact the biological parents and gather information. We may gather the information by phone or in a personal interview. Questions to ask could include but are not limited to:
- Who will be attending the delivery?
- Have you discussed the details with your obstetrician or midwife?
- Have you selected a Pediatrician?
- Would you like to have a personal tour of our facility or do you plan to attend the Sunday tour group?
- Are you aware of our childbirth classes?
- Do you have our Prenatal educational packet?
- What information might you need to know at this time?
3. We then determine the team composition to make this delivery both a wonderful and memorable experience.
Team members should include:
- Obstetrician and Pediatrician
- Administrative Representative for Women's Services
- Nurse Managers for Labor Suite
- Nurseries
- Maternity Unit
Other members may have a more limited involvement in the process and may include representatives from:
- Admissions Department
- Risk Management
- Medical Records and/or Birth Certificate Clerk.
4. A contact person should be designated so that he or she may facilitate the course of the hospital stay and bridge communications from physician's office to hospital and ultimately home care follow-up. This person is knowledgeable of the required paperwork and serves as advocate for the biological parents during the stay. Due to the confidential nature of surrogate delivery, this contact person keeps appropriate staff informed and at ease with the steps on an ongoing basis.
5. At the time of delivery of the infant, double banding may be necessary. One set of bands identifies infant information to match that of the biological patents. (Refer to court order which should be on file prior to delivery). A second set of infant banding will link the infant to the surrogate. Certainly there are other options to consider when completing the identification process.
The birthing experience then flows along the natural lines, striving to meet family expectations for the birthing experience.
While the process itself may take a few additional steps, it is a wonderful gift we can offer to families seeking to have a baby. Remembering that it is an experience that will be relived over and over again, we desire to make it the experience of a lifetime.
The staff help to facilitate the bonding process through support of appropriate parenting skills thus enhancing an understanding of mutual goals at the time of discharge. We at PROMINA Kennestone believe that "families have babies . . . not just mothers."
Copyright 1996. The American Surrogacy Center, Inc.(TASC), Marietta, GA
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