Super surrogate gives birth to 15th baby

[hisno1girl]

todayhealth.cdn.today.com/_news/2012/04/10/11107513-super-surrogate-gives-birth-to-15th-baby?lite&lite=obnetwork


Over the years Meredith Olafson has given birth to 15 babies – but only four of them are hers. She’s carried two sets of triplets, one set of twins and three singles for people who can’t have their own. She’s what you might call the mother of all gestational surrogates.

Olafson, who lives in Fargo, N.D., was so happy with her own kids, she says she couldn’t bear to watch others be deprived of the experience. So, over the years, when couples have approached her with a request to carry their babies, Olafson just couldn’t find it in her heart to say no.

“When you see those parents’ faces when they see that ultrasound for the first time and they see that heart beat beating – or they get to hear that heartbeat – that’s priceless right there,” Olafson, 47, told TODAY.
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And those happy faces constitute most of Olafson’s payment for lending her womb for nine months. Though some gestational surrogates make as much as $250,000 for one pregnancy, Olafson says she earns just a tiny fraction of that.

What makes it all possible is the ease of Olafson’s pregnancies. She’s never had morning sickness. She hardly gains any extra weight. And she’s usually able to work right up till the day she delivers.

And then there are those enviably short deliveries.

“My longest was my oldest daughter,” Olafson said. “She took me an hour and 15 minutes to deliver. My second daughter took me 30 minutes and the last two took me 20 minutes.”

Olafson contributes only her womb to the pregnancies, not any DNA. The future parents supply the embryo, or embryos.

“Those parents are the actual mother and father and so the mindset for you at that time is you know you’re handing them their child,” Olafson said. “It has nothing to do with you whatsoever. It does make it a lot easier.”

One of the couples to benefit from Olafson's talent for growing babies is the Wegges.

Dan and Jody wanted a second child, but had been told that it would be dangerous for Jody to try to carry another baby after the harrowing birth of their first. They heard about Olafson by word of mouth in 1998, and once again she signed on to help a family in need.

Olafson agreed to have their embryos implanted in her uterus – and delivered in a big way. The Wegges have triplets that are now 12 years old.

“I love her,” Jody Wegge said. “I just … there’s not words to express how I feel about her.”

Olafson was working on her 6th pregnancy for another family when TODAY caught up with her. She said this baby for a couple from South Dakota would be her last. “I am officially retiring the uterus,” she said.

Her last, as it turns out, is a healthy baby girl born on March 29.

[mudslide]

That is incredibly nice and selfless of her. I would worry about the toll it took on her body though.

[alzi]

i think it is an amazing gift, but could not IMAGINE going through this without getting to keep the baby at the end. just not something i could do.

[mudslide]

Dec 24, 2012 18:02:34 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

Hold the phone..

I could make $250,000 for popping out a baby that I wouldn't have to change diapers for?!

From my understanding, the surrogate has to have had a child previously.

[Deleted]

Dec 24, 2012 18:02:34 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

Hold the phone..

I could make $250,000 for popping out a baby that I wouldn't have to change diapers for?!

Right??

I love being pregnant. I could totally do this.

[hopecounts]

That's amazing of her.
The fee paid to surrogate varies and is typically affected by number of successful full term surrogate pregnancies the woman has.
A first timer would usually get less than a surrogate with multiple pregnancies.
It also involves huge needles stuck in the ass daily for ~12 weeks and invasive procedures.

[pinkeggs]

My friend was gestational carrier last year. I believe she received around $30K because it was the first time; you get more the more you have. She did it for a gay couple from France where surrogacy is illegal. It was amazing to watch her go through it.

This woman has a heart of gold.

[pinkeggs]

Dec 24, 2012 18:10:42 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

Dec 24, 2012 18:06:01 GMT -5 mudslide said:

From my understanding, the surrogate has to have had a child previously.

Well, that's just not fair.

I believe you also have to be "done" having your own children.

[leeluu]

Wait why is surrogacy illegal in France?!?!

[Deleted]

This is incredible.

[mudslide]

Dec 24, 2012 18:12:44 GMT -5 pinkeggs said:

Dec 24, 2012 18:10:42 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

Well, that's just not fair.

I believe you also have to be "done" having your own children.

I'm not sure this is the case across the board. I have an acquaintance who did surrogacy between her first and second child. I'm not sure if she was an exception to the rule or not.

[mudslide]

Dec 24, 2012 18:16:14 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

Dec 24, 2012 18:12:44 GMT -5 pinkeggs said:

I believe you also have to be "done" having your own children.

Damn the bureaucracy trying to keep my uterus from making me money.

You could sell your eggs!

[hopecounts]

Dec 24, 2012 18:14:07 GMT -5 leeluu said:

Wait why is surrogacy illegal in France?!?!

It's not recognized across the board in the US either, some states recognize surrogacy contracts others don't. In states that don't it's not illegal but the intended parents, the surrogate, or the baby can get screwed since the courts won't uphold the contract.
In the US it has to do with not selling children/contract issues/dislike of advanced ART, I assume France has similar reasons.

[limey]

Dec 24, 2012 18:22:12 GMT -5 mudslide said:

Dec 24, 2012 18:16:14 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

Damn the bureaucracy trying to keep my uterus from making me money.

You could sell your eggs!

I would totally have done this in college, if it had been available at the time.

No way would I do surrogacy, though. I'm just not that generous.

[sake]

I could never ever do this. I hate being pregnant with the fire of a thousand suns. It's awesome that she does though! She is a very kind and selfless person!!

[vanillacourage]

20 minute deliveries?! Would they have you just move into the L&D floor at 36w just in case?