This is definitely going to be an unpopular opinion but I really disagree with all the above comments about surrogacy. I absolutely think it should be strictly regulated and laws need to brought in to protect both the surrogate and genetic parents (mother and father on birth certs etc), but I don’t think it’s as awful as it’s being made out. If a couple can’t have a baby and are willing to pay someone to carry one for them then that’s their own business. Everyone deserves the chance to have their own children whether they give birth to them or not. Saying people should adopt instead really isn’t a solution given how difficult that process is in Ireland
Absolutely agree. I have two friends who have had their children through surrogacy. Neither of them were in any way rich, they both sacrificed a huge amount and remortgaged their homes to afford it. Both had multiple IVF rounds and losses before undertaking it. Both were told that they were significantly risking their own lives to try to carry a child and even at that the chances of carrying yo term were almost zero. One of them moved to the UK for 5 years to qualify to adopt there, because Irish adoption basically doesn't exist. Even doing this and going through the process they ultimately hit a brick wall because she had health issues. When you do get to adopt it's often an older child who sadly often comes from a very difficult background. Both my friends have an ongoing close relationship with their surrogates. I have spoken to both their surrogates (one now lives in Ireland and I have met her many times). They are both supporting financially and emotionally these amazing women. Both surrogates are incredibly proud of giving these two amazing families their precious children. The girl I know that lives here spoke in front of the Dail to tell them that she went into surrogacy both because she wanted to help a family in need and also because the money she would earn allowed her to give her own children a much better quality of life.
It's very easy for privileged women who have their own families to sit in judgment, but you may find if you needed a surrogate to have a child, or if your daughter needs one in the future, you might be a lot less quick to judgement.
All paid work is the use of your body or mind in some way for the benefit of others, and yet with surrogacy the use of that particular part of the body makes it seem less acceptable? No-one is giving away their own babies. All regulated surrogacy is gestational, ie using the eggs of the intended mother or a donor, never the surrogates eggs.
Absolutely it needs to be regulated. Absolutely it's open to abuse, as are most industries. What I have seen though is the partnership between two pairs of two amazing women for the benefit of both their families. What I have witnessed is sisterhood, is openess, is love.