Technologies of the Family

In this article from ABC Nightline, we are introduced into a growing trend of gay Hollywood couples using surrogacy to become parents. Openly gay and now legally married celebrities such as actor Neil Patrick Harris and director Todd Holland have both opted to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to have the perfect surrogacy experience. A popular Los Angeles based surrogacy agency “Growing Generations” says that about 75 percent of their clientele are gay couples. The cost of surrogacy at this agency runs from $125,000 to $200,000. Gay couples can often feel as if they are ‘online shopping’ for egg donors, who must create a profile to include education, ethnicity and occupation as well as a video clip of themselves for potential couples to ‘buy’ their eggs. This agency differs from most in the fact that the egg donor and the surrogate mother must be different women in a hope that the surrogate mother will not become attached to the baby since there is no biological connection. Surrogates must go through psychological screening and preparation to prove she is fit for the job and understands the consequences.  However, such a complex process is never easy, especially when insurance and two women with different roles are involved. In the case of director Todd Holland, his surrogate was carrying three viable embryos, and insurance only covered two babies. The insurance company suggested they abort one of the embryos simply to save money. However, the surrogate mother used her own insurance, which was able to pick up the remaining bill and the couple now has three healthy children. This article is interesting in showing how even something such as surrogacy has a ‘top of the line’ agency which advocates for rich and celebrity clients. I feel this article was realistic in that it showed that problems do arise and politics such as insurance coverage often try to undermine the process as a whole. It overall shows surrogacy in a positive light since gay couples are not only able to have the gift of children, but they are able to choose the egg donor and surrogate that best fits their needs.

The question of surrogacy is definitely a controversial subject. From reading this article: The Curious Lives of Surrogates from Newsweek (from the year 2008) you really get a different take on the act of women carrying babies for other people who couldn’t or wouldn’t have their own children. What I mean by a different take is that it is very different from the article and movie about surrogacy that we saw in class on the Baby M case. According to the Newsweek article, the whole process between the surrogate mother and the married couple who want a baby goes smoothly and as planned.

From reading this article, you get the notion that surrogacy is an everyday transaction and is very common in our society. The article states that in the past five years, Texas, Illinois, Utah and Florida have passed laws legalizing surrogacy. It also says that more than a dozen states, which include Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and most notably, California, not only legalize surrogacy but regulate the practice.

What I found interesting is that this has all come out because of the Baby M case. Almost all surrogacy agreements now state that the woman who carries the baby cannot also donate the egg. This seems a logical outcome to the Baby M case as there was so much turmoil and extreme emotion over that situation, because the surrogate mother wanted to keep the baby.

In looking at the positive side to surrogacy one surrogate mother from this article said, “Some people can be successful in a major career, but I thought I did not want to go through this life meaning nothing, and I want to do something substantial for someone else”. The conditions of surrogacy, seems to have changed for the better.

According to diary of Florence Hobson, it showed that how both surrogate mother and couples cope with the situation during the surrogacy period.  The reason I chose that story because, while I was reading this story I found the contrast between Florence and Mary Beth Whitehead surrogacy behavior. As a Surrogate mother, Florence was well prepared and she knew what she is going to do? She was always ready for next step. Unlike Mary Beth Whitehead, Florence main intension was to help those couple who are unable to carry baby, due to have whether their medical, social, or genetic reason. She didn’t desire to keep any of children after their birth. In advance she was always ready to cope with the situation and emotion. When it comes about risking of surrogacy, based on Florence story we can see that surrogate mother always go through with all kinds of health complication, however it also showed that couple who are desiring for baby, they also go through with many more stresses.  For example: During surrogacy pregnancy, couple also keep themselves involve with every step of surrogate mother, such as doctor visit, labor time and so on. Florence stated in her story, “I was admitted for a cesarean section. The mom was by side crying and dad was in the scrub room videotaping”. So it gives an example that those couples with desiring baby also share their both sorrow and joyful moment with surrogate mother.

In conclusion, it showed clear that as a mother, Florence Hobson can be describe as a successful fit mother. She is a mother who is able to create a strong bond in the relationship.  She is aware of every of her decision and psychologically she is able to cope with her emotion and morality. Now Florence feel fortunate about herself of being a surrogate mother.