Dan and Sam Surrogacy

After they had given birth to two children, TikTok celebrity husband and wife, Dan and Sam Mathews, decided that they did not want to have any more kids. However, Sam loved being pregnant and giving birth, so she decided to explore that love and then carry a child for a couple that had requested it via DMs on Instagram. Then she decided to do it again. She revealed that she chose to do the surrogacy via the independent route, matching with a couple on Facebook. However, although they went through contracts, medication, the start of the medication cycle as well and other procedures, the intended couple got pregnant naturally. This led to a cancellation of the contracts, and the embryos were never transferred. 

The second process was her first full journey in the surrogacy process, and this time, she met the couple through Instagram. Revealing that they simply slid into her DMs, telling her a story that touched her heart. She also stated that she is planning another surrogacy journey and that she was planning on using an agency because she needed help with re-matching and the added support that they provide. She said that at first, her husband did not fully understand what surrogacy was and the processes that it entailed. But after he had done some research and prayers, he was excited about it and was fully on board with her decision. She revealed that there are crucial questions that women who want to become surrogates need to ask themselves. They are:

• Am I done having my kids?
• Do I have my partner’s support?
• Are there friends and family that will support me?

She emphasized that even though not everyone would agree, having a few people around who can lend encouragement when times are hard and also their support during the difficult journey are a must-have requirement for a surrogate. She also added that a surrogate must ensure that they are mentally and physically ready. This is because surrogacy is a physically and mentally challenging process, and preparation for it was necessary. She revealed that one of her best memories from the process was the moment that the intended parents held their baby in their arms for the first time. She also added that the second best was the first ultrasound scan.

Did Sam face challenges during her surrogacy?

She talked about the challenges that she faced during the surrogacy, revealing that she had a hematoma at six weeks, morning sickness that she never faced during her pregnancy, as well as normal pregnancy emotional fluctuations. Sam revealed that her husband was the best person to have during those low periods and that she relied on the lord, trusting him every step of the way. She also stated that sharing on social media helped the time to pass quicker. Asked about the tips she would give to surrogacy candidates, she said that they should ensure that they feel at peace about the intended parents that they are choosing. If they are faced with any doubts, they should keep waiting, as the right match will arrive in the end.

What are Dan and Sam’s views on creating awareness for surrogacy?

She said that sharing the process from the start to the finish so that people could see what surrogacy was and what it involved was a great experience for her. Sam claimed that she just wanted to normalize and remove the stigma that accompanied the subject, making it less weird and more common. She said that it was very rewarding to share about surrogacy online. The ability to encourage, pray for and inspire others through a photo or video never got old with her. She revealed that she had been able to encourage hundreds of women to become surrogates, pray for even hundreds more on their journeys and show her thousands of followers exactly what the surrogacy experience and journey is.

What is surrogacy?

Surrogacy is the medical procedure where a woman who is known as the surrogate agrees to carry and deliver a baby for another individual or couple that is referred to as the intended couple or intended parent. It is a complicated process that requires contracts, legal advice, and emotional, financial as well as heavy psychological involvement by both the surrogate and the intended parents. 

Surrogacy is a controversial practice that has different regulations in different regions and countries. It is so controversial that different states in the same country may have different regulations guiding the procedure. For intended parents who stay in regions that do not offer surrogacy, the rise of medical health travel agencies that offer surrogacy as an overseas medical treatment to these intended parents can help facilitate them seeking surrogacy in favourable regions or countries. These favourable countries welcome these intended parents as the service is seen as a form of health tourism or medical tourism which brings a needed investment into those countries.

What are the types of surrogacy?

Two types of surrogacy are generally recognized, they are:

Traditional or altruistic surrogacy – In this type of surrogacy, the surrogate gets pregnant by being artificially inseminated with sperm from the intended father. This type of surrogacy creates a genetic link between the surrogate and the baby. This gives the surrogate a claim of parenthood on the baby. In the instance that the surrogate changes her mind about giving up the baby after delivery, this claim can cause legal complications for the intended parents. For this reason, this type of surrogacy is not popular with meditour agencies. However, in some countries like Canada and Australia, this is the only type of surrogacy that is legal.

Gestational or commercial surrogacy – In this type of surrogacy, the embryo is created in the lab, with the donated eggs and sperm from the intended parents. After the creation, the embryo is grown in the lab for a few days. Then, it is transferred to the uterus of the surrogate, who then carries the pregnancy to term and delivers it. Due to this, there is no genetic link between the surrogate and the baby, and hence no legal complication arising from a claim to parenthood by the surrogate. This type of surrogacy is more expensive than the traditional form of surrogacy as it involves a lot more medical procedures, as well as the fact there is usually financial compensation to be paid to the surrogate at the end of the surrogacy.