Surrogacy in Canada: Giving Back the Baby

By Amanda Nelson

Many have worried about my emotional health after “giving” away the baby. I have always said I’m not giving her away, I’m giving her to her parents. That’s exactly what this journey was all about.

I’m done having my own babies but I still loved being pregnant. I am so over the moon in love with the little family I helped create and the only emotion I have in my heart is love. I am proud of what I was able to do for this family and I am now ready to get back to normal life with a full heart.

This journey wasn’t just about me though, I had the love and support of my family (my mom was my biggest fan). My husband and kids have been involved from the very start. They knew the purpose was to grow and give the baby to her Dads. Of course, my husband worried for me and I love him for that, but they all got to witness the end result of the sacrifice we all made.

My husband was amazing through it all and he showed an incredible love for me during labour and delivery, as well as post-delivery. The kids showed so much love and understanding and are happy to see the baby with her dads.

We all took part in creating a family. I used to only imagine what I would feel when it unfolded, but my goodness, the emotions are raw and the love is incredible. This little girl has been brought into the world of two men who dreamed of becoming parents and watching them take on that role has been beautiful. Not only did they become parents, their families at home became grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. They have now become an extension to our family, and us an extension of theirs.

Giving the baby back to their parents is the pinnacle moment in the journey. It’s the point where all the medication, all the uncertainties, fears and hopes, belly kicks, long distance phone calls and everything else that comes with a surrogacy pregnancy, all wraps up into a moment of clarity of why you went on this journey to begin with.