SURROGATE MOTHERS

                                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 adulterous 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.

    While I most strongly advise against surrogate mothering, I most 

    certainly believe that adoption and medical procedures to aid in 

    conception are valid options.

              

    However, let me add a few comments with this.  First, we are 

    again assuming a Christian couple.  A couple that is walking with 

    the Lord and seeking His Kingdom and His Righteousness would be 

    "Delighting themselves in the Lord," and could therefore take 

    confidence, in the fact that God is giving them, "The desires of 

    their heart" (Psalm 37:4).  If they have a desire for children 

    but are unable to conceive, then they should prayerfully consider 

    adoption and medical procedures.  But, and this is so important, 

    they must make sure that any medical procedure that involves "In 

    Vitro Fertilization" be avoided.  

                

    "In Vitro Fertilization" is the process where the egg of a woman 

    is join with the sperm of a male in a laboratory test tube.  The 

    problem arises in that numerous fertilized eggs are destroyed in 

    the process of trying to get one that will be "just right."  Each 

    fertilized egg that is destroyed is a human life!  As long as 

    procedures such as these are avoided then I would encourage a 

    Christian couple, who want have children but have been unable to 

    conceive, to try Adoption or safe medical procedures.

               

Tony Capoccia

Bible Bulletin Board

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Shreveport, LA 71110

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