SURROGATE MOTHERS
A. Introduction
Today in America there is a move toward the use of surrogate
mothers for those couples unable to bear children. Simply
put, the surrogate mother is artificially inseminated by
the Husband of the woman who is unable to conceive. Usually
there is a contract signed that makes both parties legally
bound to the conditions of the agreement. However, there is
still much debate today about the rights of the various
parties involved despite the contract.
This brief discussion is to provide a review of some
considerations that a Christian couple should pray about
before either trying to utilize a surrogate mother or allow
themselves to surrogate for someone else.
B. Biblical Perspective
1. God's Sovereignty over Conception
God has revealed to us in the Scriptures that He is the one
who opens and closes the womb. If a couple is married and
are Christians and God has not opened the womb then I would
caution them to be very careful in seeking alternate ways of
obtaining children. Often it is not the right time for
children. Likewise, Christian couples should be sure that
God is leading them to avoid the conception of children
prior to deciding to use birth control.
a) God closes wombs
1) Genesis 20:18 "...the Lord had closed up every womb in
Abimelech's household..."
2) 1 Samuel 1:5 "...the Lord had closed her womb..."
3) 2 Samuel 6:16,23 "...Michal daughter of Saul watched from
the window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing
before the Lord, she despised him in her heart...And Michal
daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death."
b) God opens wombs
1) Genesis 25:21 "Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his
wife, because she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer,
and his wife Rebekah became pregnant."
2) Luke 1:7,13 "But they had no children, because Elizabeth was
barren; and they were both well along in years...the angel
said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has
been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son...'"
3) 1 Samuel 1:5,10,20 "..the Lord had closed her womb...Hannah
wept much and prayed to the Lord...So in the course of time
Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son."
2. Man's Use of Surrogates
Man has used the surrogate method of obtaining children in
times past. The only real difference from today is the
method of insemination.
a) Gen 16:1,2,4 "Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no
children...so she said to Abram, "the Lord has kept me from
having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I
can build a family through her...He [Abram] slept with
Hagar, and she conceived. When she [Hagar] knew she was
pregnant, she began to despise her mistress."
b) Gen 30:3 "Then she [Rachel] said, 'Here is Bilhah, my
maidservant. Sleep with her so that she can bear children
for me and that through her I too can build a family.'"
C. Cautions
1. Costly
a) Time
1) The insemination process can be rather lengthy requiring
many trips to the doctors office. Those agencies that
arrange the use of surrogates often have a childless couple
in one city or state and the surrogate mother from another
state or city. This helps when after the birth that the
original mother has no accessibility to her natural child.
But for the insemination procedure this will cause the
surrogate mother to travel long distances many times a month
trying to become pregnant.
2) Another consideration is that the surrogate mother is
pregnant for nine months which is a considerable length of
time. And the physical effects of the birth may linger for
many months afterward depending on the type of birth.
b) Money
There is usually a large sum of money paid to the surrogate
mother for her part ($15,000). The couple that hires the
surrogate will of course pay all bills for the pregnancy
(which could total $25,000 plus).
2. Dangers
a) Physically
Natural childbirth can be fatal in a minority of cases and
must be a consideration for surrogate mothers. Of course,
if the mother needed a "C" section in order to remove the
child, then the risk factor goes higher. Also a number of
births result in the sterility of the mother and must be a
price she is willing to pay.
b) Emotionally
It is inherent in the pregnancy that the mother will
develop a emotional relationship with the baby she bears.
This is designed by God for a lasting mother-child
relationship. To have to immediately "give up" the child to
another couple is very costly emotionally. In nearly all
cases of surrogate mothers there is a grieving process that
begins when the child is "given up." Some surrogate mothers
say they have never stopped grieving.
c) Socially
1) Creates an unnatural relationship between the Father (donor)
and the surrogate mother. Even though they would have had
no sexual relationship they still have become "one flesh" in
one sense by producing a child together. If the two persons
live in close proximity and see one another on a regular
basis then an aduterous relationship could result because of
the special bond that they have because of the child. The
sterile wife may also feel estrangement from her husband
because the child is from her husband and another woman.
2) Society may also place a stigma on the surrogate mother for
its perception of "selling babies." Although some surrogate
mothers may do it for reasons other than money, they may
still be branded as someone willing to sell their child for
a price.
d) Possible Complications
The following are possible problems that could arise that
would cause real distress for all parties.
1) Custody Battles Surrogate and Couple
a> What would happen if the child was retarded or had physical
problems requiring special medical expenses or care for the
rest of his life. Would the couple refuse the child? Would
the surrogate mother abort the child if she is aware before
the birth that problems exist?
b> What if the marriage later broke up; then who would the
child go to? To the natural mother? To the natural father?
Or to the mother who did not bear the child? The same
questions could come up if there was a death of a parent.
c> What if the surrogate mother refused to give up the child
when he was born? Many courts could side with her rights as
the natural mother even charging the father child support
payments.
2) Custody Battle Initiated by Child
a> What if the child later rejected the adoptive parents and
wanted his rights to have his natural mother?
b> What if a Christian surrogate mother bears a child and the
other couple fails to raise the child in the Lord, would the
natural mother feel any responsibilities for the spiritual
direction of the child?
D. Conclusion
It is my personal opinion that the use of surrogate mothers
should be avoided by all Christians. God is able to open
and close the womb at will. There are too many problems
involved with the surrogate process that could cause
conflict for the Christian. The joining of a man into a
relationship with a woman outside of his own marriage and
the resultant child would be harmful to the God ordained one
flesh marriage relationship.
Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 130
Shreveport, LA 71110
MODEM (318)-949-1456
300/1200/2400/9600 Baud
