For 11 years, mom Laura McCarthy, 33, has been working as a surrogate for other parents who struggle with pregnancy issues. She has no plans of quitting anytime soon as she feels this is the "best job in the world" since she admits she is quite addicted to pregnancy.
McCarthy, a single mother from Huddersfield in the U.K., said that she loves being the surrogate since she is helping other people live "their dream to become a parent." To date, she has been a surrogate in five pregnancies and is preparing for the sixth child.
McCarthy has four kids herself and relishes the feeling of being pregnant. She said that being addicted to pregnancy is "just so worth it," as this is the purest love in the world.
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Deciding on Her Job after Baby #2
The young mom, a former nurse, said that she decided to become a surrogate after giving birth to her first two kids -- April, 13, and Rowan, 11. She said she felt lucky to experience such unconditional love, so she thought she could help other people.
Her latest surrogacy is for a single man using a donated egg. McCarthy will undergo an in vitro fertilization (IVF), where the fertilized egg will be implanted in her womb. So far, however, the IVF hasn't had much success, but she is confident that her body will do its job.
The mom shared that she speaks to her clients beforehand to get to know and prepare them for the whole process. She said she doesn't carry babies for "strangers," and she has no issues if the parents want their baby to stay in touch with her so they could know their surrogate mom when they are old enough.
McCarthy makes it clear, however, that she doesn't have any emotional attachment to the babies she has carried inside her womb. She said that her focus on the job is to keep the baby safe.
In the U.K., the intending parents cover reasonable surrogacy expenses, such as travel, medical visits, and maternity clothes. Surrogates are not allowed by law to advertise their services.
As a surrogate, McCarthy sees to it that she doesn't gain too much weight to reduce the risks associated with obesity. She acknowledges, however, that her body will struggle with getting pregnant in due time because of her age. Despite her addiction to pregnancy, she said she would only quit her job if she experiences health problems or a complicated pregnancy.
"That is where a line will need to be drawn because my children need a mother."
Support From Her Family
McCarthy said that her kids and her parents have been very supportive of her job. Initially, her grandparents were unsure of her decision, but they have seen how much she has committed to surrogacy and now respect her work.
It comes as "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot said in an interview with InStyle that she loves being pregnant and would "do it once a week" if it was possible. Gadot, a mom to three girls, said that she loves the incredible idea of "creating a life" during pregnancy, but the actual birth can be painful without an epidural.
