tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743746633913926150.post2513110528170048972..comments2024-03-12T07:00:44.143-04:00Comments on CHILDMYTHS: Surrogates: Another Day at the Office--- A Guest PostJean Mercerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619393019771381980noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743746633913926150.post-82860917552610604082013-03-11T11:39:22.454-04:002013-03-11T11:39:22.454-04:00I don't ordinarily publish comments that are f...I don't ordinarily publish comments that are forms of advertising, but this one is accurate and has some relevance.Jean Mercerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14619393019771381980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743746633913926150.post-87680654576628568142012-11-07T20:19:47.231-05:002012-11-07T20:19:47.231-05:00Hi,
Thank you for your concern on the topic. I app...Hi,<br />Thank you for your concern on the topic. I appreciate your sympathy on my health issues. It has been a tough road to recovery. I, too, am very sorry to hear what you went through. I realize how tough that is, given that my sister went through something similar.<br /><br />This is a very controversial topic, and one that will stir up many emotions and different viewpoints, and rightfully so. It is not one that I take lightly. You commented: "Don't be so quick to assume how "fine" some of these women are, and will be in years to come." yet, in my defense I did acknowledge the health risks, physical strain, and a range of emotional elements (precisely stated in my article) that these women face. <br /><br />It is a very biased opinion on your part that only financial need compels them to be surrogates. Some may do it out of kindness and compassion, while others might do it simply for business. (I personally know a few women who have no problem going through this process, granted there is a monetary pay-off). And, surprisingly enough, it is not because they are starving. We have to be open-minded, in order to realize why this has become so popular. <br /><br />I believe that protecting surrogates should be a primary concern. If legalizing it so that they are given proper health care and insurance, rather than having surrogates undergo riskier circumstances than necessary turns this process inevitably into a business, then so be it, for their sake and well-being. <br /><br />As with any business, especially this type, the risk of exploitation is expected. It is the responsibility of regulatory bodies do control this process, and more pressure should be placed on them so that exploitation is eliminated. <br /><br />As far as your concern about me citing evolution, it is simply to state what has been found in many studies;it is part of our evolutionary makeup to want to contribute to the "gene pool" and ensure that we live on as a species, "survival of the fittest", if we wish to simplify the topic further. We cannot overlook this component, or give it full attention. Now that we are some-what logical human beings, our norms and mores, are more likely to define evolution and dictate the decisions that accompany how we accomplish that, both for surrogates and the expecting family. <br /><br />Many women do not create a bond during a pregnancy; some don't create a bond afterwards. There is so much to be said on this topic that cannot be achieved through a blog post. <br /><br />As with any new development,(e.g. In Vitro fertilization) there is bound to be collateral damage. What might seem like an outrage to you, may be a blessing for others. <br /><br />Thank you for the great discussion.<br />Kindly,<br />LiliAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15732756954106594663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743746633913926150.post-17418446317148576592012-11-07T08:51:00.290-05:002012-11-07T08:51:00.290-05:00Lily, I am so sorry that you have health problems ...Lily, I am so sorry that you have health problems that would be life-threatening in a pregnancy and sympathize with your desire to have a genetically related child. I do not take the ability to be a mother for granted, because I was in a situation where I surrendered my firstborn much loved child for adoption, due to being abandoned by my boyfriend in 1968 and severe post-partum depression. In the long run this worked out terribly for both me and my son. I was fortunate to have 3 more sons but no child replaces another.<br /><br />However, I am troubled by your statement about genetic related children that "it is our primal evolutionary nature to want this". If you are citing evolution as your motivation for wanting a child, what about the "primal evolutionary nature" of surrogates? What about the pregnancy hormones and primal drives of women carrying babies for money, babies who may be from both egg and sperm from others not related to the surrogate or the ones who are buying the finished product baby? Yes, you want a baby, and would prefer it genetically related, but don't make that sound like some kind of biological mandate. <br /><br />I would hope if you do someday use a surrogate it will be with your egg and partner's sperm, and it will be someone you know who is doing it for love of you, and whom you will stay in touch with if possible. It can work for some people, but as a large-scale commercial enterprise the potential for abuse and exploitation is huge.<br /><br />Have you ever been so poor that you would be "fine" with selling your body as either a surrogate or prostitute to survive and perhaps support children you already have? Don't be so quick to assume how "fine" some of these women are, and will be in years to come. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743746633913926150.post-69082240716817470902012-11-06T20:08:58.348-05:002012-11-06T20:08:58.348-05:00I would like to follow up and say that I agree wit...I would like to follow up and say that I agree with you that the surrogates should not be treated as "commercial enterprises." Yet, we must also realize that many of these women are fine with the idea of this being a monetary transaction. I wrote this article precisely to gain feedback on this issue. Many women take the ability to be mothers for granted. I, for one, may not be able to have children. I suffered from a stroke last year at only 25 y/o and pregnancy /childbirth now puts my life in severe danger. For some of us, this might be the only way to have a child that is genetically similar to us. It is in our primal evolutionary nature to want this. Yet, in this process we have become so selfish that we have turned such a precious gift into a commodity. Thank you for your feedback! -Lili MillerAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15732756954106594663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743746633913926150.post-25708564648850557622012-11-04T19:00:28.320-05:002012-11-04T19:00:28.320-05:00My immediate reaction is that this makes me nauseo...My immediate reaction is that this makes me nauseous. Also how naive to assume that surrogate agencies actually care about anyone but the paying clients, those who are buying the baby, not the "factory" that is producing it. Some things should not be commercial enterprises, this is one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com