Surrogacy

<<standing in>>

In medical terms this is an arrangement whereby a woman agrees to carry a pregnancy for another person (normally because of infertility issues) who will become the newborn child’s parent(s) after birth. This highly controversial practice is permitted in some countries. Regardless of whether there is monetary compensation for the surrogate, there are moral, social and legal issues to be considered, let alone the pain, heartache and confusion for the birth mother and the child, due to the bonding during pregnancy. 

The Bible records two instances of surrogacy (Gen 16:2, 30:3).

See also: adoption, bonding, infertility.