If you are considering becoming a surrogate in Minnesota or some other part of the country, you know that taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do. Not only will it help you to feel better physically, in most cases, it will also help you to feel better mentally. Being pregnant can cause many different hormones to rush through your system, making you feel “all the feels” as they say.

If you are going to become a surrogate, you already are a surrogate, or you are just pregnant and want to treat yourself, there are some ways that you can get what you need that may not be as effective when you aren’t on this journey.

Here are our 5 favorite ways to treat yourself during surrogacy:

Get A Pregnancy Massage

When you are pregnant, you need to treat your body well. This may mean exercising, getting enough sleep, eating well, and it could also mean getting a pregnancy massage. This is different from a typical massage because it focuses on the aches, pains, and problem areas that pregnant women have – including areas that you probably didn’t even know could feel pain. 

If you have insurance, you may want to give them a call to see if they cover prenatal massages. If not, you may want to contact the surrogacy agency to see if they have supplemental coverage for those massages – many do. As an additional tip, either go to a masseuse who specializes in pregnancy massages or tell the spa that you are pregnant when you book an appointment.

Get A Pedicure

Let’s be honest, we all have a fear of our feet looking like Kim Kardashian’s when she was pregnant – they swelled and just looked uncomfortable. If you are worried that your feet are encroaching on that territory, then you may want to treat yourself to a great pedicure. Not just the routine type that you can get at the mall, but one that is really deep and does the job. One where your feet get a nice massage (sensing a theme here?) and you leave with pretty designs on your feet.

This is true even if you cannot see them – you will at least know they look great.

Update Your Wardrobe A Bit

If you are the type of person who likes to look put together, getting pregnant can cause some pretty big problems. You probably don’t fit into your favorite clothes, so you may want to do some shopping. Trade in your sweatpants and that 1998 Backstreet Boys t-shirt and wear something smart and comfortable, like a cashmere sweater that is soft to the touch and a pair of maternity jeans that actually stay up when you walk.

When you are a surrogate, there is usually a fund to provide for some maternity clothing, so you may as well spend it – go on a bit of a shopping spree!

Have A Date Night – Sans Kids

If you are a surrogate, you already have kids of your own. This means that you and your partner probably don’t get a lot of time together. Take a few hours one night and just go on a date with your beloved. Whether you have a movie night in your own basement or you go out to the theater to see a show, spend some time together. You are giving a gift to someone else, but that doesn’t mean you should forget about the people who are gifts to you.

Sometimes all it takes is a few hours with someone who loves you unconditionally.

Get A Housekeeper

If you are tired and ready to give birth any time now, you probably want to keep everything organized, cleaned, and ready to go in your own life. However, you may not even be able to bend over at this point. Your bump is probably in the way and you are getting tired easily. You may want to hire a housekeeper at this point. Even if it is only for one deep cleaning, it will certainly make you feel that much better.

As a surrogate, your desire to nest will probably feel different, but that doesn’t mean you can’t utilize those feelings for your own benefit? Even better? You guessed it – many surrogacy agencies have money set aside to get you a housekeeper.

Remember that when you are a surrogate, you are performing an absolutely vital task for the intended parents. You deserve to treat yourself, your mind, and your body to various forms of relaxation. Even if you haven’t done something on this list just yet, it may be something to consider. Now is the time to try something (safe and) new.