The hilarious Tina Fey's Baby Mama hits theaters soon. And, while the flick offers a comedic take on the womb-for-rent relationship, surrogacy is a timely issue with more and more women waiting until later in life to have children. And a number of hopeful moms-to-be having fertility issues.
Actress Deirdre Hall and journalist, Joan Lunden are two well known women who were very public about their use of surrogates. Though twelve states including New York don't consider the surrogate contracts between biological and adoptive mothers valid, California and a few others regulate the legalized practice. To finish this piece, read more.
A recent piece in Newsweek that focused on the women bearing the babies was particularly poignant saying that while the practice is a labor of love, it also involves a financial transaction. It said:
But what kind of woman would carry a child to term, only to hand him over moments after birth? Surrogates challenge our most basic ideas about motherhood, and call into question what we've always thought of as an unbreakable bond between mother and child.
Would you carry a child for a family member, friend or stranger?
Killah
Rizzo
DKNY
I'd consider doing this for my sister, but I'd be less likely to do so until after I've had my own first child. That is the only person for whom I'd do it. I would definitely not do it for a stranger for money, but then again I'm lucky enough to be very financially stable. I certainly do not judge women who do this for strangers for money. It's probably easier to give the baby to the parents than it is for women to give up their own child for adoption.
1I have no idea if I could do this.
2If I did I'd have to be like SussLW and do it only after I've already had one and only for my sister (or perhaps sister-in-law - we're pretty close). I can't wait to be a mother and feel my child grow inside of me, to take care of him/her, to watch my body change and grow in response to cultivating a life. That's why I would already have to have had one of my own. ... I don't know if I could give up the baby after 9 months of that. I know that I would know the child is not mine from the beginning. I just don't think I could still give her/him up after spending 9 months bonding on a level like no other.
Just my opinion
Oh and I haven't heard of this movie until now... looks good... I'll definitely watch it
... although it might have to be one of those 'go on your own' like DearSugar talked about. I am not so sure my guy would want to go with me lol 
3I would do it. If I wasn't like so involved in my own life and had the time I totally would. Technically its not my baby. Its just my womb and I would love to help out people in that sense. There are some people who make great parents but just can't do it. So I would love to help them.
Also I am sooo excited to this movie. It look hilarious.
4for a good frienf i would. not for money, just for the love of my friend and getting her to be a mommy
5I don't think you are even considered for being a surrogate unless you have already had at least 1 successful pregnancy....this shows you are able to carry a baby to term sucessfully.
Assuming I would be an acceptable surrogate, I would definitely do this for another couple/person who is unable to carry a baby themselves (for medical reasons or others). It is such an amazing gift to be able to give another person!
6I would definitely do it.
7No opinion but I have to say that picture made me laugh out loud.
8I would deffinately do it for my sister and a good friend. I don't think I would do it for a stranger because you don't know how they will be as a parent. I would hate to give someone a child and something (god forbid) horrible happen. I would feel totally at fault and hate myself for letting something like that happen.
9i would never be able to do it...
10caring for something in my womb for 9 months..imagine the attachment to it? when i finally gave birth, after all those months of suffering from swollen ankles and morning sickness.. and the hours of labour..it would be impossible for me to give my baby up to anyone!! i would want to see her/him grow up and pick out my features that she/he possesses.. anyway, i'm just imagining. God. I'm 16!
No. Having been pregnant before I know I would have a very difficult time not getting attached to the baby growing inside me. But I think it's wonderful that there are women out there that would do this.
11no question I would do it. I do not want children of my own so I think the greatest thing I could do for someone I loved is to make this dream come true.
12I would definitely be the oven! There are so many women who can conceive children but can't carry them to term (myself included), so I think it would be an amazing thing to do for people who really and truly wanted to be parents. It would be a lot easier to be a surrogate than a birth mother like Juno!
13I don't know... if it was someone I knew well, maybe.
14I would do it for my sisters but that's it and i agree after i have already had one of my own. I don't think i could do it for a stranger, i know that sounds bad. But if i carried the baby for nine months and it was my sisters than the baby would always be in my life and i could watch them grow.
15If I'm healthy and can make a couple happy, I would.
16I would not. I might do it for someone I know and am close to but only after I have had my own child.
17i would do it for a good friend or a family member.. i think everyone should be a parent if they want to be...
18I would not do it. I agree with the article. It would be very difficult for me not to think the child is mine after i nourished it in my womb for 9 months...
Also, it's totally unnecessary because there are already thousands of children born every year in need of parents. Why not just adopt and save yourself the stress of having to "suck up" and bribe another woman for 9 months?!?!
19I absolutely would for someone close to me. I loved being pregnant, and while a bond would certainly be formed while carrying the child, knowing that a) I would be able to help someone have a child they otherwise wouldn't be able to carry themselves, and b) I would be able to continue to be in the child's life, it would be well worth the sacrifice.
20i would only do it for my family. Not for strangers i think..
21i would only do it for my family. Not for strangers i think..
22I wanted to do this for a family member... but was ruled out because I have not yet had children.
23i would do it, even for a stranger.
24Because my aunt and uncle wanted a child so badly and my aunt has Chrones disease, I offered up my womb to help them, but they were able to conceive naturally.
I would only do that for my sisters and her, nobody else.
25That picture made me laugh out loud! My husband actually did something similar when we had our first.
I would definitely do that for family or a close friend. What an amazing gift to give someone.
26I considered it when I was a single mom struggling just to put food on the table for myself and my Son. I couldn't ever do it though. The idea of carrying a child, and then not having ANY contact with that child whatsoever, well, there was no way I could do it.
27I like to think that I would do it, but I know how hard it would be to form that attachment and then not have the baby after it is born. It would be pretty traumatizing. I have a friend who considered it, she has some chronic pain that went away while preg, but ultimately couldn't imagine not keeping the baby. I also have a friend's mom who did this a couple of times, seeing it as a Christian choice of helping someone else be able to have a baby. I think there are those out there choosing to help, but I also think there are a lot of desperate women selling eggs and doing this to pay bills...
28no. I'm very pro-adoption not so much pro-surrogates
29I'd only do it for my sister or my best friend. I hated being pregnant, but I'd do it again for those two. Plus, I was one of those women whose maternal instincts didn't kick in until a few hours after birth, instead of during pregnancy, so I think it would be fairly easy for me to hand over a baby I'd grown to a woman I loved.
30I watched a documentary about surrogates, and one lady was very clear in stating at the beginning of the process of her being a surrogate, that she would not bond with the baby while pregnant with it. I thought that was so very interesting. The baby's parents would talk to the baby, sing to it, read to it, but the surrogate didn't do that.
If I ever have children and am able to give the gift of motherhood to someone, I would offer myself up. No sweat.
31I couldnt do it personally. I am too emotional
32We are trying to adopt another child (as I can't have children due to ovarian cancer 7 yrs ago) and explored surrogacy - It's amazing to me the generosity that other woman are willing to bestow on those trying to have a family...But its so much harder than it appears and so much more expensive - egg donor fees, in-vitro attempts ($15K a try), medical bills, surrogacy payment to the agency and woman - all in all it was going to be about $100K-$120,000 - that is of course if you don't know the woman. If you are lucky enough to have a friend or family member who will do it for you and use her own eggs then it becomes more possible (financially at least). Anyway, I think its great so many of you said you would at least consider it for a friend or family member in need!
33I would never do it.
34I would only do it if I already had at least one baby and I would only be a surrogate for my sisters or perhaps one of my close friends but I'm not sure....
35For a close friend or family member only
36i would do it absolutely. the thing is that there is a law in many states that the baby that you carry must not be yours biologically. so what happens is they takes the couples egg and sperm and combine them and then they implant them in you, so you really are just the "oven"
37My sister and I have discussed this. I would be willing not only to be a surrogate, but provide eggs for her if need be.
38I wouldn't do it because I couldn't do it. I can't have a baby grow inside me for 9 months and then give it away like a pair of shoes to a thrift store. It you can't have a baby naturally, then maybe it's not meant to be. Maybe fate has something else in store for you. I don't think surrogacy is the answer. I think it's down right awkward and odd. Nobody thinks of the kids anyway. How do you think they will feel having 2 mothers? It's something they will spend the rest of their life trying to adjust to. Plus, to some of the posters here, being a surrogate and using your own eggs are 2 different things. If you use your own eggs, then the baby really is yours. It's your flesh and blood and your genes & DNA. Gotta be careful with that. Don't want any inbreeding now do we?
39I would, definitely, for my sister - or donate eggs. Not sure if I would do it for a friend necessarily.
40I have been a surrogate twice and gave birth to two sets of twins in 2000 and 2005. The feeling of accomplishment far outweighs the risks and frustrations. Surrogacy changed my life and the lives of those that I had the privilege to help. I not only helped couples become parents I added to their family tree and perhaps, one day, they themselves will be grandparents and great grandparents through these very special children!
Sharon LaMothe
41Infertility Answers
www.InfertilityAnswers.org
http://infertilityanswers.typepad.com/surrogacy_101/
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