The practice of surrogacy has stirred up controversy in the conservative world. Surrogacy along with in vitro fertilization (IVF) have been practiced by many hopeful couples across the political spectrum. For some, the road to natural conception has been heartbreakingly difficult. For others, mostly celebrities, surrogacy has been used as a method to not “disfigure” the body. Couples may go on to be wonderful parents who raise great children and build strong families, yet there are many things about surrogacy that are left in the dark but are widely backed by science.

Whether the intentions for surrogacy come from a deep longing for children or other reasons, the truth must be said. Surrogacy makes children a commodity that can be shopped for and sold to fulfill adult desires.

Recently, Twitter feeds have been filled with images of same-sex couples holding a newborn they purchased through surrogacy. The pictures often depict a man sitting on a hospital bed holding a newborn with his partner standing next to him. The newborn may not yet know that he or she was created and bought for his new “parents.” This newborn’s connection to his or her mother that started in the womb will soon be severed, and the newborn will be deprived of that primal, biological, motherly connection he or she needs.

A 2018 study published by Science Daily states: “When a baby is taken from its mother for even a brief period early in life, this traumatic event significantly alters the future, adult function of the brain, according to a new animal model study. These changes in the brain are similar to disturbances in brain structure and function that are found in people at risk for neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia.”

A testimony coming from someone created through surrogacy states: “Children of surrogacy, just like children of a traditional adoption, deal with traumas. We want to know where we come from … who gave birth to us and what they are like. When we have children in this world who already need homes, why are we intentionally creating children [via surrogacy] to go through adoption traumas?”

Children are considered a vulnerable population that requires the protection of adults. When adults are using science to breed children to fulfill a couple’s desires, it takes away the natural right that children have to their biological parents. Surrogate mothers are sold when they hear they can make thousands only to find it difficult to give her baby up to the parents who rented her womb.

Some reading this may believe that adopting a child is like surrogacy. Adoption is a system created to benefit children who were brought to this world naturally but do not have their biological parents present. Adoptive parents know children may come with trauma; surrogate parents don’t know they are causing their new child trauma. Surrogacy provides couples a catalogue of woman to chose from. They can choose the traits they want their baby to have. It is fine to shop for seeds via a catalogue, not children.