Would You Use A Surrogate To Have Your Baby?
Marie Claire - UK|February 2018

These celebrities did and, due to increased awareness, the practice is more popular than ever. Polly Dunbar investigates how surrogacy went mainstream

Polly Dunbar
Would You Use A Surrogate To Have Your Baby?

When Kim Kardashian announced she had used a surrogate to carry her third baby, rumoured to be due this month, her decision sent social media commentators into a frenzy. There was speculation that the star was too posh, lazy or rich to bother with the marathon of pregnancy and childbirth, but it also put a spotlight on a practice that is becoming increasingly widespread.

In fact, Kardashian’s decision was purely medical, after she suffered with placenta accreta – a condition where the placenta attaches too deeply into the uterine wall and can lead to haemorrhaging – during her first two pregnancies. Her announcement last September came in the same month that Natalie Massenet, the founder of Net-a-Porter, became a mother for the third time at 52 when a surrogate gave birth to her son, Jet, in LA. Actresses Sarah Jessica Parker and Nicole Kidman, supermodel Tyra Banks and singer Elton John are among other A-listers who have used surrogates.

Today, surrogacy rates are rising rapidly, with 400 surrogate babies registered in Britain in 2016, almost four times the number in 2011. For couples who’ve suffered repeated miscarriages, failed IVF treatments or early menopause, a woman offering to carry a baby for them can transform their lives, giving them a child they could never otherwise have had. For gay male couples, it’s a game changer.

In the US, commercial surrogacy is legal in many states, but it can cost vast sums – Kardashian’s arrangement is thought to total almost £90,000. In Britain, by contrast, paying fees is illegal, although surrogates usually receive between £9,000 and £15,000 to cover expenses such as travel costs, childcare and maternity wear.

Denne historien er fra February 2018-utgaven av Marie Claire - UK.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra February 2018-utgaven av Marie Claire - UK.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA MARIE CLAIRE - UKSe alt
Uma Thurman
Marie Claire - UK

Uma Thurman

‘I Managed To Stay In The Business That I Love All My Life, And I Know That’s Not A Given. I Can’t Not Feel Lucky About It, No Matter What The Downsides Can Be’.

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2019
Pollution Proof Your Life
Marie Claire - UK

Pollution Proof Your Life

From your daily commute to your wood-burning stove, you’re unwittingly inhaling a variety of toxic substances. But you can take action to reduce their impact, reveals Claire Thorp.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2019
We Love Lucy
Marie Claire - UK

We Love Lucy

From a star-making turn in Bohemian Rhapsody to a leading role in sassy new Netflix show The Politician, Lucy Boynton is ready for her close-up. Here, she tells Jane Mulkerrins about her life-changing year.

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2019
Human Touch
Marie Claire - UK

Human Touch

Connecting with others can have a confidence-boosting effect, support skin health and help you live longer. Here’s why the wonders of physical contact really matter...

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2019
Facing The Floods
Marie Claire - UK

Facing The Floods

Photographer Gideon Mendel has spent 12 years capturing the extreme rise in flooding across the globe. Here, he tells Marie Claire about the devastating human impact.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2019
'Learn How To Please Yourself First' –and Other Sex Tips From Our Mums
Marie Claire - UK

'Learn How To Please Yourself First' –and Other Sex Tips From Our Mums

Three mothers and daughters explain how talking openly to each other about sex, identity and pleasure has strengthened their relationship and enriched their love lives

time-read
9 mins  |
September 2019
10 Mindful Ways To Approach Health And Well-Being
Marie Claire - UK

10 Mindful Ways To Approach Health And Well-Being

From cortisol-free fitness to stress-busting diets and calm skin, Fiona Embleton reveals ten mindful ways to approach health and well-being

time-read
6 mins  |
May 2019
Sex Crimes on Campus
Marie Claire - UK

Sex Crimes on Campus

This month, thousands of female students will head for university, but many will become the victims of sexual assault and harassment.Polly Dunbar investigates the alarming rise of college rape culture.

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2016
Fight The Fear
Marie Claire - UK

Fight The Fear

Approximately ten million people in the UK suffer with a debilitating phobia. When Charlotte Haigh’s fear of flying threatened to damage her mental health, she took action…

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2017
Celine Dion
Marie Claire - UK

Celine Dion

‘Growing Up, I Used to Feel Awkward and Insecure. I Remember Not Feeling or Looking My Best’

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2017