Surrogate Mothers in India

A pregnant belly. I always wanted a pregnant belly, but I couldn't have one. My only wish is that those who can have pregnant bellies, do not take the gift of life for granted (though I know alot of them will anyway).

But that's by the by- onto to the larger and growing issue of paying surrogates in order to start a family. It's imperative that all involved volunteer out of their own free will and that all medical checks are done along the way so the surrogate mother is well taken care of. If both of those conditions are met, I don't see a problem.

Is it any different to hire a surrogate in the country where you live versus elsewhere on the globe? In this global world, I don't think so.

My only concern is that this emerging industry in India lacks government regulation at the present moment, and that could pose some problems down the road. The regulations should be very strict and hospitals in India who are taking part in this should be watched to ensure they are ethical and that the surrogate mothers are well cared for and receive excellent counselling.

If all checks and balances are in place, who has the right to stop an infertile couple from starting a family and an Indian women who will be well cared for and earn enough from this to buy a house or send her children to school? I don't understand how that could be wrong.

What is wrong, is that infertile couples have to pay tens of thousands of dollars to start a family, when so many others can do so for free. At the moment, an Indian surrogacy is $30,000. Usually couples have tried at least one round of in vitro themselves first, which is at least $10,000 as well. $40,000 as a minimum is a staggering amount of money. Think about how many months or years you would have to work in order to earn that. It's not fair.

It seems to me, that people who have biological children who have never endured the frustration of yearning to procreate, can easily find problems with "renting a womb." Needing to reproduce is an instinct as natural as sleeping or eating. How would it feel to not be able to sleep anymore? You can feel you need it, but you just can't do it. It may not be fair, because other people get to sleep, but for one reason or another, and the reason is immaterial, the fact is, you can't sleep. That's the same feeling as not being able to start a family.

Are there a few major kinks yet to be resolved? Yes. Do I think they should proceed with caution? Absolutely.