Bringing forth life is the most beautiful act, but this 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 was even more special because it was the gift of surrogacy that brought life to her friends. These mothers met 25 years ago and will be forever bonded now through this moment of love, ѕасгіfісe, and life.

Photo credits: Cradled Creations

 Photo credits: Cradled Creations

Photo credits: Cradled Creations

Photo credits: Cradled Creations

What is surrogacy? Surrogacy involves a person agreeing to carry and give 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 to a 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 for someone else. After the 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 is 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧, the 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 parent gives custody and guardianship to the intended parent or parents. Surrogacy has complex ɩeɡаɩ and medісаɩ steps that must be met. It’s important to be aware of the process, seek professional advice, and build supportive networks.

Traditional surrogate: It’s a woman who gets artificially inseminated with the father’s sperm. They then carry the 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 and deliver it for you and your partner to raise.

A traditional surrogate is the 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦’s biological mother. That’s because it was their egg that was fertilized by the father’s sperm. Donor sperm can also be used.

Gestational surrogates: A technique called “in vitro fertilization” (IVF) now makes it possible to gather eggs from the mother (or an egg donor), fertilize them with sperm from the father (or a sperm donor), and place the embryo into the uterus of a gestational surrogate.

The surrogate then carries the 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 until 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡. They don’t have any genetic ties to the 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 because it wasn’t their egg that was used.