Surrogacy Awareness Week 2024

This lively household, complete with Katie, Isabelle, Willow, Polly, and Alfie, however, isn’t the only remarkable thing about Chloe. She is also a gestational surrogate, a role she has embraced not once, not twice, but three times.

Chloe’s initial intrigue in surrogacy was sparked after the birth of her first child. The heart-wrenching thought of so many unable to experience the joy she had just discovered struck a chord. Armed with a loving husband eager to support her decision, she resolved to extend her help where it was needed most.

Their path to surrogacy, though, was one they carefully tread, deciding to complete their own family first. This thoughtful planning led to the arrival of twin delights, affirming that their family was now complete, and they were ready to embark on their surrogacy journey.

For Chloe, the decision to carry another couple’s child came effortlessly. Even though she felt her family was complete, she was still capable of carrying a child, an opportunity she felt compelled to provide to others.

Thankfully, her husband was an unwavering pillar of support throughout this process, cheering her on at every step. The reactions from her extended family were mixed, with concerns about her health being a common theme. Some found it hard to disentangle emotionally from the pregnancy, but they respected and supported her decision nevertheless.

Public reactions to Chloe’s surrogacy journey have been mostly positive. The recurring exclamations of “you’re so brave” from well-meaning individuals, usually women, were initially jarring and left her feeling misunderstood, even judged. Over time, however, she learned to accept these comments with a gracious, cheeky smile, reassuring them, “Well, don’t you do it then.”

The influence of Chloe’s surrogate experiences has filtered into their everyday life in many small but profound ways. Her children relish in the extended family they’ve gained from their teams. They’ve learned first hand that families are not one-size-fits-all, a beautiful lesson that has become their new norm.

As a parent, Chloe has grown to appreciate her own journey to parenthood more, savouring every moment, the good and the bad.

Chloe’s advice to prospective surrogates? Start with thorough research and have a support system in place. The surrogacy journey can be exhilarating, but it’s essential to pace oneself, taking a step back to contemplate all options at each stage. Her surrogacy experiences, despite going in well-informed, proved to be an enlightening journey of continuous learning.

Chloe’s surrogate story encompasses three successful surrogacies with two different teams. Each journey, filled with getting-to-know-you sessions, agreement talks, and eventual pregnancies, was a whirlwind of emotions, expectations, and a few hiccups. However, the sense of unity and love that emerged from these experiences far outweighed any challenges faced.

Even after the births, Chloe remains close with her teams, keeping up a steady stream of communication and squeezing in visits amidst the chaos of everyday life.

No photographs can truly capture the love and chaos of their combined families, but Chloe’s narrative paints a vivid picture: a tableau of joyful chaos, mutual support, and overflowing love.

Indeed, Chloe’s surrogacy journey is not just a tale of three pregnancies, but a testament to love’s extraordinary capacity to create and sustain families in all their wonderful forms.