Surrogacy at 13 Weeks: Swollen Feet and Weird Food Cravings

Hey guys! I am officially 13 weeks into my first surrogacy journey—hello, halfway point! Here is the unvarnished truth: my feet are too swollen for my favorite sneakers, the heartburn makes me feel like a fire-breathing dragon, and last night at 2 AM, I cried because I wanted pickles dipped in chocolate sauce. The hormones are officially running the show.

As a first-time surrogate, the early IVF injections were no joke. My glutes were so sore, and I definitely had moments of, “What did I sign up for?” But every time the intended mom texts me a hilarious meme, or when I see her tearing up over the ultrasound monitor during our FaceTime check-ups, the discomfort completely fades.

This little guy has 100% of their DNA, so he’s going to look just like them. Right now, he’s kicking inside me like a pro soccer player. My current goal is super simple: eat my meals, get some sleep, and keep this high-value “little tenant” safe and cozy until delivery day!