STUDY QUESTION How do surrogates think, feel, and reflect on their experiences of being a surrogate over time? SUMMARY ANSWER Despite continuing to require physical, emotional, and interpersonal labour, surrogates in this study reflected positively on their experiences of being a surrogate decades later. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Research on families created through surrogacy shows that it can be a positive experience for both the intended parents and the surrogate. No existing research has examined the experiences of surrogacy for surrogates beyond 10 years post-birth. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 women who had completed a total of 71 surrogacy arrangements. Participants had given birth to their first surrogate child on average 20 years previously. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTINGS METHODS Data were collected about (i) surrogates’ relationships with the families they had helped, (ii) how important being a surrogate was to their own identity, and (iii) how they felt surrogacy was perceived by the public. Data were analysed according to the principles of reflexive thematic analysis. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Surrogates’ reflections on their experiences were constructed into two themes: (i) hard work but worth it and (ii) part of who I am. Surrogacy had taken a physical toll on some participants, and for most, being a surrogate continued to involve emotional labour and effort to maintain relationships with the families. Making friends through the process and feeling proud of what they had done to help someone meant that overall, surrogates reflected positively on surrogacy and had incorporated their experiences as surrogates into a stable aspect of their identity. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION There is a risk of selection bias, with surrogates who had a more positive experience being more likely to continue to participate in the research. All surrogacies occurred within the UK. While the sample is relatively diverse in terms of surrogates’ ages, current employment status, and relationship status, the sample lacks ethnic diversity. Most participants had been surrogates for heterosexual couples, and thus long-term relationships involving gay couples or single men may differ. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The findings from this study show the importance of understanding surrogacy as a ‘relational’ process and suggest to prospective surrogates and intended parents what they may expect from their relationship over time. Given the findings that even as the children grow up, being a surrogate continues to require emotional labour, support should be made available to surrogates over the longer term if required. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This project was funded by the Wellcome Trust [grant number 208013/Z/17/Z] and the University of Cambridge Returning Carers Scheme. The authors have no competing interests to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.

中文翻译：

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“一切都在正确的页面上解决了”代孕者的感受和代孕二十年来的反思


研究问题 随着时间的推移，代孕妈妈如何思考、感受和反思他们作为代孕妈妈的经历？摘要答案 尽管仍然需要体力、情感和人际劳动，但本研究中的代孕妈妈对几十年后作为代孕妈妈的经历做出了积极的反映。已知的情况对通过代孕创建的家庭的研究表明，这对于意向父母和代孕妈妈来说都是一次积极的经历。现有研究尚未调查代孕妈妈出生后 10 年以上的代孕经历。研究设计、规模、持续时间 对 21 名已完成 71 次代孕安排的女性进行了半结构化定性访谈。参与者平均 20 年前生下第一个代孕孩子。参与者/材料、设置方法收集以下方面的数据：(i) 代孕妈妈与他们所帮助的家庭的关系，(ii) 成为代孕妈妈对他们自己的身份有多重要，以及 (iii) 他们认为公众如何看待代孕。根据反思性主题分析的原则对数据进行分析。主要结果和机会的作用 代孕者对其经历的反思分为两个主题：(i) 努力工作但值得；(ii) 我是谁的一部分。代孕对一些参与者造成了身体伤害，而对于大多数参与者来说，成为代孕者仍然需要付出情感劳动和努力维持与家人的关系。通过这个过程结交朋友，并为自己为帮助某人所做的事情感到自豪，这意味着总体而言，代孕妈妈对代孕做出了积极的反映，并将他们作为代孕妈妈的经历纳入了他们身份的稳定方面。 局限性和注意理由存在选择偏差的风险，拥有更积极经历的代理人更有可能继续参与研究。所有代孕都发生在英国境内。虽然样本在代孕妈妈的年龄、当前就业状况和关系状况方面相对多样化，但样本缺乏种族多样性。大多数参与者都是异性恋伴侣的代理人，因此涉及同性恋伴侣或单身男性的长期关系可能会有所不同。研究结果的更广泛意义 这项研究的结果表明了将代孕理解为“关系”过程的重要性，并向未来的代孕者和准父母表明随着时间的推移，他们对代孕关系的期望。鉴于研究结果表明，即使孩子长大了，作为代孕妈妈仍然需要情感劳动，如果需要，应该为代孕妈妈提供长期支持。学习资助/竞争利益 该项目由 Wellcome Trust [拨款号 208013/Z/17/Z] 和剑桥大学回归护理人员计划资助。作者没有需要声明的竞争利益。试用注册号 不适用。