Laura McCarthy, 33, is a citizen from Huddersfield, United Kingdom, and for 15 years she has been the mother of four children of her own and another five that she had through surrogate motherhood, to help couples who could not be parents. “I became an addictive mother,” she says. She made the decision after watching a TV show about surrogate mothers.
Thus she offered her womb for the first time for nine months 12 years ago. And she says the feeling of handing over the baby and seeing the couple’s instant, unconditional love for the child can be addictive.
All of her surrogacy pregnancies were made by in vitro fertilization (IVF), which means that the couple’s fertilized egg is implanted in Laura’s uterus, so genetically none of the babies is hers, the newspaper says. Mirror.
The mother says that being a surrogate is an “addictive” feeling.
“I love being a mother, it’s the best job in the world and I love being able to help someone fulfill their dream of being a mother.”
Speaking of the moment when she can deliver the newborn to the expectant parents, she said, “Once you see the baby in her arms, you can see that unconditional love right away. It’s worth it. That feeling can be a bit addictive.” Inspired by a TV show, Laura is the mother of April (13), Rowan (11), Ada (6) and Eira (2), and she decided to become a surrogate for the first time after the birth of her first two children. .
Laura with her own four children: April (13), Rowan (11), Ada (6) and Eira (2),
“That unconditional love that I felt, I thought how lucky I was to have that and then I thought if I could help others, why not?
“Once they are old enough, they will know who I am and that they grew in my belly,” he said.
Laura recently gave birth to her fifth and decided on her next adventure: to have a tenth baby for a single man with a donated egg, but she has not gotten pregnant yet as she needs to lose a few kilos after giving birth and give herself time to recover.
“Having had nine babies, and definitely wanting more, I couldn’t risk having a 10th while being so overweight because of associated risk factors.”
Laura first became a surrogate mother 11 years ago.
to meet the parents
Before beginning the process, Laura meets the prospective parents she works with and keeps in touch afterwards, adding that when the children are old enough they will be told how they were born.
“Once they are old enough, they will know who I am and that they grew in my belly.” Laura adds.
Laura says there are misconceptions about surrogacy, including myths that surrogate mothers make a lot of money and concerns that they will become attached to the baby.
“People think I would be attached to the baby. Of course, I want to keep that baby safe, but you don’t have the same feelings that you have for your own child when you’re pregnant with someone else’s,” she says.
Under UK law, surrogates cannot be paid except for reasonable expenses such as clothing and medication.
“In the UK, surrogacy is altruistic. Expenses are covered, such as travel and maternity clothes.” Laura says, adding that some people ask funny questions like “do you know who you’re doing this for?”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t have a baby for a stranger.” She answers.
But there are some more personal concerns for Laura, as the number of children she has given birth to is approaching “double figures”. Laura said: “They ask me that. It’s a sensible question.”
“I would like to continue helping people to have their families. If my body gets to the stage where it’s struggling with the pregnancy, or if I have health problems or the delivery doesn’t go well, that’s where a limit will be set for me, because my kids need a mom.”
McCarthy assures that her family supports her in her decisions because it is something that makes her happy and she feels comfortable doing it.
“It’s so normal for my family that they would be surprised if I didn’t have more. My mother is my biggest supporter regarding surrogacy. She supports me in what I do (…) 12 years ago, when I started doing it, they had a lot of misconceptions. They were a bit surprised and thought that he shouldn’t. They saw an amazing journey with the parents and how respectful they were to me,” she told ‘Yorkshire Live’.
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