P.A. woman shares her surrogacy journey

After talking with some friends and doing some research on her own, Davidson found a company in Ontario which could potentially match her up with a couple in need. Prior to getting approved, Davidson was exposed to a number of medical tests including a breast exam, tests for HIV and STD’s, and a psych analysis. Davidson was then asked to find a couple she would be interested in helping.

“It’s not my child…. I am the oven and that’s their bun” _{– Erin Davidson}

“I read through a few profiles and I didn’t like a lot of them but as soon as I saw theirs, it was like an instant ‘Yeah that’s them right there,'” she said. “It turns out they’ve been searching for a few years now and have gone through a few surrogates who have backed out and I’m the first one that stuck around.”

Davidson said she will get reimbursed for what she spends every month during the pregnancy, including a clothing allowance and travel expenses when she goes to Toronto for the egg transfer. When asked how she would handle the separation from the baby afterwards, Davidson said she had mentally prepared herself for it.

“It’s not my child, it’s not my egg, it’s not my blood, it’s not my DNA, I am the oven and that’s their bun,” she said.

Davidson estimates she will have the baby sometime early next year. The next stage of the process involves completing the contract with the couple and within a month doctors will do a lining check on her uterus to see if it’s ready for the impregnated eggs. Two impregnated eggs will then be transferred into her body just in case one egg does not stick. Davidson acknowledged there’s a possibility she could still end up carrying twins.

“Somebody who can’t do something for themselves and I have the ability to help them. That’s what I want to do,” she said.

There is a growing need for surrogate mothers, according to one Canadian company. (submitted photo/ANU Fertility Consulting Ltd.)

ANU Fertility Consultants in Ontario is one of many companies across the country that works with surrogate parents. Admissions Manager Angie Campeau said for every one surrogate mother, there are 10 intended parents. She explained the typical wait time from the time a couple signs up, to the time they are matched with a surrogate can be six months.

“It really depends on their wants in their surrogates. For example, where she lives or what relationship they are hoping for,” she said.

Campeau explained in order to become a surrogate, a woman must have a healthy pregnancy history. A follow up interview period is done to ensure the woman is also a suitable candidate for this process. Campeau said all their surrogates are matched based on their values, needs and desires for a relationship before and after this process. She added they work with many types of familes — single, heterosexual and homosexual families.

“There is no one way any longer. We live in a time that if you are a single guy, and all you want is to be a dad, that is not only possible, it is welcomed with excitement and joy,” she said.

Jennifer Brockman, secretary of the Prince Albert Pride board, told paNOW they have not yet had any community members requesting information. She explained she had some personal questions surrounding surrogacy.

“There are things to consider that are specific to Gender and Sexual Diverse (GSD) surrogacy, like having medical care, doctors, nurses, that are understanding and open to working with GSD patients and parenting support programs that are not just geared towards supporting heterosexual parents or cisgender people,” she said.

Brockman said her group does have contacts who they can refer healthcare providers to for consultation or workshops around gender and sexual diversity (GSD) supportive care and diversity in families.

—

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

P.A. woman shares her surrogacy journey

What's Trending