Navigating the Emotional Landscape of Surrogacy Preparing Your Heart for the Surrogacy Journey with Dr. Tonya Wood

Surrogacy is often discussed in terms of medical milestones, legal steps, and timelines — but for Intended Parents, the emotional journey can be just as significant. Feelings of hope, uncertainty, anticipation, and vulnerability are all part of the process.

In the webinar “Preparing Your Heart for Surrogacy,” independent psychologist Dr. Tonya Wood offers thoughtful guidance on the mental and emotional well-being of Intended Parents, helping them approach surrogacy with clarity, resilience, and confidence.

This session is especially valuable for Intended Parents preparing for surrogacy in 2026, as it focuses on emotional readiness alongside practical mindset tools.

🎥 Watch the Full Webinar

👉 Preparing Your Heart for Surrogacy | Dr. Tonya Woodhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeHSHCra4mY

Why Emotional Preparation Matters in Surrogacy

Surrogacy is more than a legal agreement or a medical pathway — it is a deeply personal experience that unfolds over many months. Intended Parents may experience:

• Loss of control over parts of the pregnancy

• Anxiety during waiting periods

• Emotional highs and lows throughout the journey

• The challenge of balancing hope with uncertainty

Dr. Tonya Wood emphasizes that emotional preparation is not about eliminating difficult feelings, but about learning how to recognize, process, and navigate them in healthy ways.

Developing emotional awareness early can help Intended Parents feel more grounded and supported throughout the surrogacy journey.

Key Themes Covered in the Webinar

Building a Resilient Mindset

Dr. Wood discusses how Intended Parents can cultivate emotional resilience by understanding their expectations, acknowledging uncertainty, and creating space for self-compassion throughout the process.

Maintaining Healthy Communication

Open, respectful communication — with your partner, your support system, and your Surrogate — plays a critical role in emotional well-being. This session explores how to stay connected and aligned as the journey progresses.

Supporting Mental Health During Surrogacy

The webinar highlights the importance of prioritizing mental health during surrogacy, including recognizing stress signals, seeking appropriate support, and normalizing emotional complexity.

Preparing for Parenthood Emotionally

Beyond pregnancy and birth, Dr. Wood encourages Intended Parents to reflect on how emotional readiness during surrogacy can support a smoother transition into parenthood.

A Compassionate Perspective for Intended Parents

Taking the first step toward surrogacy can feel overwhelming. Many Intended Parents carry years of emotional history related to fertility, loss, or uncertainty. Dr. Wood’s approach is grounded, compassionate, and practical — offering reassurance that emotional ups and downs are not only normal, but expected.

Rather than striving for emotional perfection, this webinar invites Intended Parents to focus on emotional presence, flexibility, and support as they grow their family through surrogacy.

Who Should Watch This Webinar?

This session is especially helpful for:

• Intended Parents considering surrogacy

• Individuals or couples at the beginning of their surrogacy journey

• Intended Parents preparing emotionally for surrogacy in 2026

• Anyone seeking mental health support during family building

  
  

a Breakdown of the Practical Tools

Dr. Tonya Wood shares several practical mental health tools in this session to help Intended Parents navigate stress, uncertainty, and emotional transitions during surrogacy.

Below is a summarized guide to the key emotional tools discussed in the webinar.

1. Normalize the Emotional Roller Coaster

One of the most important takeaways is understanding that mixed emotions are normal in surrogacy. Excitement, fear, grief, hope, and uncertainty can coexist. Dr. Wood emphasizes that emotional fluctuations do not mean something is wrong — they are part of the process.

Why it matters: Normalizing emotions reduces guilt and self-judgment, helping Intended Parents feel more emotionally grounded.

2. Focus on What You Can Control

Surrogacy involves many factors outside an Intended Parent’s direct control. Dr. Wood encourages shifting focus toward controllable elements such as mindset, preparation, communication, and self-care.

Practical application:

• Establish routines that support emotional stability

• Set realistic expectations for each stage of the journey

• Release pressure to “manage everything perfectly”

  
  

3. Strengthen Partner Communication

Clear and intentional communication between partners is essential during surrogacy. Dr. Wood highlights the importance of checking in regularly, acknowledging differences in emotional processing, and creating space for honest conversations.

Key reminder: Partners may experience the surrogacy journey differently — neither experience is more valid than the other.

4. Build an Intentional Support System

Surrogacy can feel isolating if Intended Parents do not have the right support. Dr. Wood recommends identifying trusted individuals or professionals who understand the surrogacy process and can offer emotional support without judgment.

Support may include:

• Mental health professionals

• Surrogacy support groups

• Trusted friends or family members

  
  

5. Practice Emotional Self-Compassion

Rather than striving to feel “strong” all the time, Dr. Wood encourages Intended Parents to practice self-compassion. This includes acknowledging emotional fatigue, honoring past fertility experiences, and allowing space for rest.

Self-compassion helps:

• Reduce anxiety and burnout

• Build emotional resilience

• Support mental health throughout the surrogacy journey

  
  

6. Prepare Emotionally for Parenthood

Beyond pregnancy and birth, the webinar encourages Intended Parents to reflect on how emotional preparation during surrogacy supports a healthier transition into parenthood. Emotional awareness developed during the journey often strengthens long-term family well-being.

A Supportive Reminder for Intended Parents

Preparing for surrogacy is not about achieving emotional perfection — it is about building awareness, resilience, and support. Dr. Tonya Wood’s guidance offers Intended Parents tools to move forward with confidence, compassion, and emotional clarity.

If you are preparing for surrogacy and want to feel more emotionally supported, this webinar provides valuable insight and reassurance.

👉 Watch the full webinar here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeHSHCra4mY