Gestational carriers assisting intended parents are often subject to many responsibilities. They have to attend routine prenatal visits and may need to adhere to a strict diet as well.
The parents hoping for a healthy child usually discuss their prenatal expectations with their surrogate and also outline the standards they hold in the contract that they signed. One of the many concerns that aspiring parents may need to address relates to travel before the birth of their child.
Why might a surrogacy contract include limitations on late-term travel?
Third-trimester travel can be risky
As a general rule, flying during the last month of pregnancy is a risky choice. Many times, commercial airlines do not allow women near their due dates to fly because of the risk of complications, including early labor that starts on the plane.
Even if the gestational carrier has no intention of traveling via airplane, road trips or other forms of ground travel can also prove problematic. A trip to visit family in Nevada, for example, may end with the surrogate going into preterm labor and delivering in an out-of-network hospital.
The potential costs involved in out-of-state delivery and medical care can be a concern for those assuming responsibility for the medical expenses of the gestational carrier. Factors, including the restrictions of the parents’ insurance policy involved and the medical history of the surrogate, can influence what specific protective terms a surrogacy contract needs to include.
Those aiming to expand their families through assisted reproduction may need help identifying potential concerns and protecting themselves, and that’s okay. Integrating the right terms into surrogacy contracts can limit the financial vulnerability that comes with medically-assisted reproduction.