Pregnant By Proxy: Woman Whose Belly Keeps Growing Is Blinded By Ultrasound Results |

A Discovery

At just 21 years old, Shaniece Sturdy was a young surrogate whose pregnancy was slightly unusual.

Pregnant By Proxy Woman Whose Belly Keeps Growing Is Blinded By Ultrasound Results

Shaniece became concerned with several aspects of her pregnancy and decided an ultrasound was crucial, as she was concerned about the size of her stomach at this stage of her second trimester. Her baby bump was huge compared to other moms at the same stage. She was feeling the strain on her back, she was overeating and did not feel entirely well physically.

Was Something Wrong?

During the Doctor's appointment, the nurse examining her ultrasound was explaining to her that the symptoms Shanice was describing were entirely typical for a first pregnancy.

Was Something Wrong?

As Shaniece watched the ultrasound screen focus, she waited with bated breath, then asked the nurse, "Is everything okay?" The nurse's response was to call for the Doctor.

The First Bloom Of Womanhood

For as long as Shaniece could remember, she had longed for her own family. Her parents had been her role models and had been happily married since they were sixteen years old. Her older sister had married her high school sweetheart as soon as they had completed their schooling.

The First Bloom Of Womanhood

But her sister and brother-in-law had struggled with marital problems from early on in their marriage.

Leaving The Nest

When her sister left home to get married, Shaniece was thrilled. At only fourteen, she and her sister had clashed at home, and Shaniece was looking forward to the cessation of her sisters' demands and ongoing attempts to pick fights with her.

Leaving The Nest

She believed that the extra space was just what she needed.

Distance

As it turned out, she found the silence and absence of her sister unnerving. She actually wished they were back together at home, bickering. She made sure to see her sister over the weekends, but the time apart during the week was resulting in them losing their close-knit bond.

Distance

She decided one day to catch the bus and pay her sister a surprise visit. What she found shocked her.

A Surprise Visit

As Shaniece got off the bus and started up her sister’s road, her brother-in-law, in his big red truck, came flying down the road towards her. She waved but got no response.

A Surprise Visit

The expression on his face worried her immediately.

Ignored

Her brother-in-law, Josh, had not even acknowledged her presence. Oh well, she thought, perhaps he has other things on his mind or was rushing to work.

Ignored

She arrived at her sister’s house and knocked on the door. When the door opened, she was shocked by her sister’s appearance.

A Revelation

Linda, her sister, had mascara streaks down her face, her eyes were puffy from crying, and she looked very haggard.

A Revelation

Shaniece hurried to the bathroom to get a wet cloth, but on her return, Linda said she was okay, that she had asked Josh to leave.

Dismay

As Shaniece searched Linda's face, she could tell she was telling the truth. Perhaps all the objections from their parents that she and Josh were too young to marry had been correct.

Dismay

She asked Linda why she had wanted Josh out of the house but could never have imagined the reason Linda gave her.

Veracity

Between sobs, Linda told her that she and Josh had been trying to get pregnant for over a year, even having IVF treatments, but they were unsuccessful.

Veracity

Josh wanted to borrow even more money on yet another round, but she knew they could not afford to do this again.

Sibling Bond

Shaniece felt so sad for Linda and knew that without a child, Linda would not feel complete. She decided there and then to stay with her for the weekend. She settled them both in with blankets and cups of tea while giving Linda a pep talk and encouraging her to try again.

Sibling Bond

Eventually, Linda did decide to try again, and her and Josh's bond was strong enough to keep them together through such ordeals.

Another Attempt

In all, it took Linda and Josh another two years of treatment, before she finally became pregnant. She did not tell anyone, afraid of jinxing her pregnancy. Even so, just after her second trimester began, she lost her baby.

Another Attempt

After this failed attempt, she was determined not to put herself or Josh through that again, until inexplicably, she changed her mind.

Despondency

Linda had become housebound in her depression over the miscarriage. Nothing Shaniece could do, could get her out of the house. This carried on for a month.

Despondency

Josh then thought of one last way, they could achieve their dreams of parenthood.

The Solution

Josh had come up with an unorthodox plan that he hoped would grant them the last chance at happiness and parenthood.

The Solution

With the pain of the miscarriage still fresh, Linda was not so sure, but she was still able and willing to have hope.

A Huge Request

The desperate couple was about to ask Josh’s sister a life-changing question. He knew his sister would do anything to help them, but what they were about to ask her would require massive sacrifice.

A Huge Request

Josh asked her to come over and prepared to ask her the big question.

The Plea

Linda and Josh sat across the table from his sister, both nervous and terrified of her response. Regardless of their understandable concerns, they knew they had no other option; they could only hope for the best.

The Plea

They felt as though their very happiness depended on her answer to their question.

Faith

The couple knew that what they were about to ask would have a huge impact on his sister’s own life, and they were prepared to understand if she said she could not help them.

Faith

To their joy, she looked up from contemplating their request and said the words they couldn't have prepared themselves to hear.

The Response

As his sister said: 'I'll do it," Linda felt so many emotions rush through her.

The Response

It felt unreal to hope that finally, she and Josh could have the child they so badly wanted. She struggled to find the words to thank her sister-in-law.

Determined

The couple had asked Josh's sister to be a surrogate for their child. They wanted her to 'host' the baby in her womb.

Determined

Neither of them could have known how much this selfless act, would uplift and change both their own lives as well as Shaniece's.

Possibilities

They hoped that Linda’s sister-in-law had thought the request through on every level. This was a big decision to make.

Possibilities

Little did they or Shaniece know the extent of her gift to them or the impact she would have on their lives in years to come.

Hopeful

Linda’s sister-in-law had agreed to carry their child. Linda was ambivalent at first, as she was still fearful of getting their hopes up.

Credible

On the other hand, there was no harm in trying just once more.

Choices

Another possibility they could consider, should this last try fail, was fostering. There were so many children in need of good homes and loving parents. Still, Linda prayed fervently that the pregnancy would happen.

Choices

Then, the most amazing thing happened.

Surprise!

When her niece was born, Shaniece was moved to tears that she could not hold back for a long time. She knew if anyone deserved to be a Mom, it was Linda.

Surprise!

She also made a vow to herself.

A Vow

The promise Shaniece made to herself, was that she too, would one day make someone else’s dream a reality, just as Linda’s sister-in-law had.

A Vow

When that day actually came, little did she know how rare her gift would be...

Introspective

When Shaniece was 21, she met Joanna and Steve. Once she told her family she had decided to help her new friends by giving birth to their baby, her sense of joy and pride was reflected by her family’s reaction to the news.

Introspective

She had to have the procedure done in Los Angeles and then flew home. Things were about to get a bit difficult.

A Sense of Disquiet

At 21, many young adults are partying and drinking. Not Shaniece though. She was only focused on her dream of surrogacy and making sure another family’s future happiness included a baby.

A Sense Of Disquiet

The baby’s parents were so excited, but after her first trimester, Shaniece had the unsettling feeling that all was not well with the pregnancy.

On Tenterhooks

The only other surrogate she knew, was Josh’s sister and who had battled nausea and sleep difficulties for the duration of her pregnancy.

On Tenterhooks

None of these symptoms had beset Shanice, but still, she felt something was not quite right.

Expanding Waistline

Although she had no adverse pregnancy symptoms that disrupted her day to day activities, her tummy was growing at a seemingly rapid rate, far more than usual for the second trimester. She would be huge by the end of her pregnancy!

Expanding Waistline

She made the decision to see her Doctor immediately.

The Examination

As her 10 week scan we also due, the Doctor's visit would be an excellent time to check if anything was wrong with her pregnancy. Shaniece lay on the examination table, waiting impatiently.

The Examination

The Doctor returned with his report in hand. He did not immediately speak.

The Findings

What was it? She could not let her friends down. Was the baby healthy? She was really concerned at this stage.

The Findings

Her Doctor looked up from the report he had been reading and said what would freeze Shaniece in her tracks.

An Image

I see three babies on the scan, said the Doctor. Shaniece felt her face getting hot.

An Image

Steve and Joanna were expecting one baby, not three! She was not sure how they would take this news.

Big News

As it turned out, Joanna and Steve were overjoyed with the news. As time went on, Shaniece’s stomach grew to a massive size.

Big News

She was now feeling some aches and pains and had not really expected to feel quite as sore. Still, the final outcome would be more than enough for her to forget her discomfort now.

Welcoming the Babies

Shaniece gave birth to three healthy babies, two girls, and a boy. The couple named them Willow, Daisy, and Harrison.

Welcoming the Babies

Still only 21, Shaniece had a huge responsibility towards these babies for the duration of her pregnancy. She found the experience better than she had ever imagined and was proud of her achievement.

Effortless

During the pregnancy, Shaniece was lucky because she had no morning sickness or cravings. Time went by so quickly, and she had the dedicated support of Joanna and Steve throughout. She later stated that she would recommend surrogacy to anyone considering it.

Effortless

She was not bidding the new family farewell just yet, though.

Unthinking

This being multiple births, the babies did spend a precautionary two weeks in intensive care before heading home with their parents.

Unthinking

Shaniece visits them on their birthdays and is happy to explain her reasons why to anyone who asks.

Reasoning

"I had Joanna and Steve's embryo inserted in Los Angeles, so it's biologically their child, not mine, I was just the host womb."

Reasoning

Many people believe that a surrogate has to use her own eggs, but this is not the case. Shaniece had Steve and Joanna's embryo implanted in her womb in Los Angeles. This means that the babies are their biological children and not Shaniece's. She was merely a human incubator.

The Physical After Effects

A strong psychological mindset is required to carry someone else’s child for nine months, but apart from that, there are physical implications for the surrogate post-pregnancy. Especially carrying triplets and being so young.

The Physical After Effects

Shaniece found this out soon after the birth.

The Costs

As she has also had a miscarriage, Shaneice cannot help but wonder if carrying the triplets had an adverse effect on her body. She is in a committed relationship now and of course, wants her own children one day.

The Costs

She also has some wise words to share with anyone considering surrogacy.

Her recommendations

She points out that a decision like this cannot be taken lightly, and if anyone is considering it, they should do their research well beforehand. It is also essential to have a sound family support system in place.

Her Recommendations

There is also one important thing not to forget…

Not a Paid Job

You will not be rewarded for being a surrogate. So if this is what you are expecting, it is probably not for you. You will get reimbursed for expenses such as travel, but that is all.

Not A Paid Job

Disputing the UK Laws

Having had the experience of being a surrogate, Shaniece feels that current laws regarding this should be revised and updated.

Disputing The UK Laws

In her opinion, parents should be afforded more control over the process.

Queries

During her pregnancy, she found that her medical professionals always asked her the salient questions regarding scans, birth plans, vaccinations, and so on.

Queries

She would always defer to Joanna and Steve in these situations.

Plans For The Future

After all, Shaniece says, the babies were not hers. The law should allow for the actual biological parents to make all decisions regarding their children.

Plans For The Future

Seeing as most surrogates feel the same, this would improve the process for both parties.