Surrogate Mother (Completed)

Chapter 1: You're Not Pregnant

AFRA

I was laying  flat on my back on the lay out chair of a patient private room, completely undressed in a paper made robe waiting....waiting for the results of my pregnancy test. The clock had struck 12:30 PM and I knew that my lunch break would be ending in a half  of an hour, but I could care less about going back to work. I was more concerned about my body. I began to pray with my eyes closed, begging God to give me the serenity to accept the things I could change, the things I couldn't, the wisdom to know the difference, and the miracle of being able to carry a baby. After finishing the last  words of my prayer, I heard my OBGYN, Dr. Hicks enter the room.

Dr. Hicks looked up at Afra with a concerned look on his face, "Mrs. Coventry? Your results came back and I'm afraid to inform you that the test came back negative and it seems to me that we may have a problem..."

"Problem?....Doc, how could it be a problem? I did everything you said. I've tried birth control, changing my diet, having sex with my husband during ovulation, and I still can't get pregnant!" Afra yelled while sitting herself up from the layout chair. She was frustrated and disappointed all in one. Afra and her husband, Jaeson had been married for 6 months now and all they have ever wanted was to start a family. They've tried everything from enticing their sex life, Jaeson taking medication to up his sperm count, and having sex every chance they could. And every time Afra took a home pregnancy test or went to Dr. Hicks for a blood run, it was "negative". Afra loved her husband dearly, but she was afraid if she wasn't able to carry the most precious gift called life inside of her for Jaeson, he would leave her.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Conventry, but we've weighed out all of our options. Your ovaries are just not functioning properly. From the results, your estrogen levels are low and your ovaries can't produce an efficient amount of hormones, which is why your periods are so irregular, the hot flashes, mood swings, and also the irregularity of releasing eggs so that you can get pregnant. This is called primary ovarian insufficiency or perhaps early menopause."

"But how could I have early menopause? I'm only 35.  This cannot be happening....I... I can't have a baby." Afra collapsed back into the layout chair facing away from Dr. Hicks. She was too embarrassed to face him. Afra tried to hold back her tears, but it was too late. A tear began to fall out of her left eye.

"This type of condition can happen to anyone. It's just the way the body works. Again, I'm sorry Mrs. Coventry. I know how much having a baby is important to you."

Dr. Hicks moved closer to Afra to console her after the news had had given her. She was a patient of his for years, so he knew how disappointing it was to deliver the same news over and over again. He patted her on the back while She continued to cry out sorrowful sighs to herself. 

" Have you talked things over with your husband about adoption?" He asked.

Afra whipped away her tears with her hand and turned to face Dr. Hicks, "No, I haven't talked to him about that yet because.... I thought  I could get pregnant soon."

Dr. Hicks raised his eyebrows in excitement, "Well, maybe that's something you and Jaeson should consider or perhaps having a surrogate mother? It's a really safe and calm process.  Would you like more information about it?"

"A surrogate? Well, how does it work?" Afra asked as she sat up from the chair, appealing interested in the option her doctor suggested, since all the other options were outweighed. She really wanted a baby and was willing to do whatever it takes to start a family.

"When a couple, such as you and Jaeson aren't able to make a baby, they usually find a surrogate under a mutual agreement to have the man's sperm injected in the woman's uterus where the egg is fertilized into a beautiful baby. The surrogate can carry your baby while  living in your home, staying close to you  in a nearby town, or even states away. And I know the perfect surrogate clinic for you here in the Cloverdale area."