Ariel Taylor loved being pregnant, but knew that after having her daughter, she was done having children for herself.
Wanting to help others, the Ontario, Canada-native decided to become a surrogate, carrying not one other baby, but five.
Surrogacy is a process in which a woman carries and gives birth to a baby on behalf of another woman, often because she cannot get pregnant or carry a fetus herself. It is often the way LGBTQ couples are able to expand their families.
The practice is highly controversial, with some conservative groups like the Heritage Foundation calling it ‘exploitation’ that ‘turns the female body into a commodity for hire,’ and reduces women ‘to “rent-a-womb” service providers.’
Ms Taylor, 33, is used to hearing these criticisms and questions about her motives. Many people, she said, fear she is being exploited for her womb.
She said: ‘The truth is, we are just regular women who want to help someone else by carrying their baby.’
After giving birth…
