Surrogacy360

The Stranded Babies of Kyiv and the Women who Give Birth for Money

By Oksana Grytsenko | The Guardian | June 15, 2020

This article exposes the scale and problematic nature of the surrogacy industry in Ukraine, with the COVID crisis exacerbating conditions even more. The ombudsman for children is now calling for a ban on commercial surrogacy in Ukraine for foreign couples. Without sufficient regulation and protections in place, surrogates in Ukraine are beginning to self-organize on social media, where they share advice and warnings about agencies, and expose increased mistreatment during the pandemic.

Read the full article >

Irish Man ‘Stranded’ in Russia with Baby Appeals for Help to Bring Her Home

By Conor Pope | The Irish Times | June 12, 2020

Oliver James, an Irish citizen living in London, traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia, in April to meet his newborn baby born to a surrogate. He has spent 8 weeks trying to get travel documents to return home, but it seems the no one has yet reviewed his paperwork. Without Irish recognition of James as father of the child (established through a paternity test), his funds running low, and risk of becoming homeless, he is desperate for the Irish embassy to help them get home soon.

Read the full article >

The Surrogate Movie Review

By Nell Minow | Roger Ebert | June 12, 2020

“The Surrogate” is new movie from the US about Jess, a woman who agrees to be a surrogate for her best friends, Josh and Aaron. The film delves into the relationship between Jess and her friends after the fetus tests positive for Down syndrome, and the unique position Jess is put in. This review praises the film for centering real and difficult conversations related to surrogacy, abortion, and the lives of people with disabilities, and illuminating dynamics around race, gender, and sexual orientation. The trailer for the film is available here.

Read the full article >

Spanish Parents Finally Reach Surrogate Baby in Ukraine

By Nick Connolly and Enrique Anarte | DW News | June 11, 2020

This video features the journey of a Spanish couple to meet their baby born to a surrogate one month prior in Ukraine, during the COVID-19 lockdown. The interviewer explains how they traveled over 10,000 kilometers from Madrid to Ukraine and back again after being turned away at the border due to insufficient documents. In order for their daughter to be recognized as a citizen in Spain, where surrogacy is illegal, the couple will likely have to go to court.

View the full video >

Argentine Couple Finally Meet Son Born to Surrogate Mother

By Abdujalil Abdurasulov and Hanna Chornous | BBC | June 11, 2020

In this video, BBC follows Jose and Flavia as they arrive in Ukraine from Argentina during the COVID-19 pandemic to finally meet their son, born to a surrogate 10 weeks before. The video also highlights the problematic nature of the surrogacy industry by featuring the story of Bridget, conceived 4 years prior at the same clinic, but whose US parents abandoned her when she was born with serious health problems.

View the full video >

Results Are In, Your Surrogacy Is NOT Covered By Insurance

By Ellen Trachman | Above The Law | June 3, 2020

This article details a recent court case trial in Colorado that denied Wendy Moon insurance coverage for her second pregnancy as a surrogate. Her first surrogacy pregnancy was covered, but medical coding changed to indicate the pregnancy as a gestational surrogate, which was explicitly not covered in the insurance plan. As of now, Nevada and Wisconsin are the only two states in the country where insurers are not permitted to exclude coverage for the medical expenses of a gestational carrier.

Read the full article >