Surrogacy Resource thread : please post your links here

A bit more about the plans to introduce commercial surrogacy to New York.

thefederalist.com/2020/02/18/new-york-to-consider-allowing-men-to-commission-babies-from-rented-wombs/

I don't quite understand the background of this "Amicus Brief to Scotus" - was a court case brought?
What was the outcome?

Anyway it's very interesting, and wide ranging, including discussion of the reasons why military wives are targeted as ideal surrogate mothers, and details of the risks and harms.

marylousingleton.wordpress.com/2017/08/26/amicus-brief-to-scotus-opposing-the-exploitation-of-women-by-the-commercial-surrogacy-industry/

Some background to the New York proposals - I've copied an email I received.

Attention: International Community
We need your help to stop the legalization of commercial surrogacy in New York State.

Current New York law prohibits commercial surrogacy but allows altruistic surrogacy.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is working overtime to change this, having recently launched the "Love Makes a Family" campaign which includes a proposal for dangerous commercial surrogacy legislation. As you can imagine, it is important to keep #BigFertility out of New York State.

A new website has been launched at www.legalizesurrogacywhynot.com/. It's primarily focused on New York, but it contains many resources that are valuable to all of us around the world.

Please help us create awareness and a groundswell of opposition to these regressive efforts. Help us by sharing this link and starting important conversations in your spheres of influence about the harms of surrogacy. Encourage many more to sign and share our petition at www.StopSurrogacyNow.com

Here is a link to a podcast with Jennifer Lahl, talking to Taina Bien-Aimé who helped beat off the last attempt to bring commercial surrogacy to New York.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/venus-rising/id1481872967?i=1000451783360

There are many parallels with the commercial interests pushing to bring surrogacy to New York and the proposals for new surrogacy laws here, we need to support the fight over there and learn from it to prevent similar proposals being enacted in the UK.

Remember, the so called altruistic model that is being proposed is smoke and mirrors, and very deceptive.

The introduction of advertising, and fee charging "non profit" agencies, surrogate mothers being paid substantial "expenses" whilst maintaining the fiction of altruism.

They don't want it there. We don't want it here.

It's a fascinating podcast ClaraLane
I've learnt so much, it covers so many aspects.

I've just been reading some more of MaryLou Singleton's writings, and will post some links.

First a link to a new website set up by the group Stop Surrogacy Now to support their campaign to prevent the legalisation of commercial surrogacy in New York.
I'm sickened by the proposals.

Also furious that a concerted effort by feminists and others to stop a bill for legalisation of commercial surrogacy in New York just a year or so ago has resulted in the proponents regrouping and trying again so soon.

https://www.legalizesurrogacywhynot.com/?mccid=69f0a0ac25&mcc_eid=a68e2e69c9

Just bumping as I have been listening again to the podcast below whilst driving to work.
It spells out so many hard facts, about the social inequalities, targeting military wives (USA) , the international baby buying business that is surrogacy. How there is a social prestige in being a surrogate, the generosity, the esteem afforded a woman giving such a generous "gift" - especially to gay men. Looking at birth workers (USA again but it applies here) who are cool with surrogacy and don't understand how it is a deeply patriarchal system that is very harmful to women and babies.
It's fairly long, just over an hour, but really wide ranging discussion and really worth listening to.

Podcast with MaryLou Singleton.

"To buy a baby, you must first rent a woman"

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/free-birth-society/id1231912533?i=1000465605381

HFEA document on OHSS

www.hfea.gov.uk/media/2463/january-2018-ovarian-hyperstimulation-syndrome.pdf

Thanks for that @OhHolyJesus
Very interesting. They mention that more eggs = lower quality, and she had 23 eggs but only six were viable. I do wonder how all this works out with egg donors, when you hear of 40+ eggs being collected...they can't all be viable surely? And aren't there limits on the number of babies that could be produced from one donor? (I'm probably demonstrating a lack of understanding of rules and regimes in USA v the more regulated systems in the UK here, but still..)

Here are The RCOG guidelines for management, which describes the symptoms. Pretty horrendous, my sympathies for those that get it.

https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/green-top-guidelines/gtg55_ohss.pdf

Just booked my ticket for this day which I'm sure will be very intense and informative.

Well done organisers choosing Mothers' Day.

Hope I meet some Mumsnetters there.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/surrogacy-women-and-children-last-tickets-91773345547?ref=eios

Just noticed this from the EU

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-8-2016-005909_EN.pdf

"Question for written answer P-005909/2016/rev.1 to the Commission
Rule 130
Beatrix von Storch (EFDD)
Subject: Surrogacy
Parliament condemned the practice of surrogacy in paragraph 115 of its resolution of 17 December 2015 on the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2014 and the European Union’s policy on the matter: ‘[Parliament] condemns the practice of surrogacy, which undermines the human dignity of the woman since her body and its reproductive functions are used as a commodity; considers that the practice of gestational surrogacy which involves reproductive exploitation and use of the human body for financial or other gain, in particular in the case of vulnerable women in developing countries, shall be prohibited and treated as a matter of urgency in human rights instruments’.
Why, up to now, has the Commission not condemned the practice of gestational surrogacy, which involves reproductive exploitation and use of the human body for financial or other gain?
Can the Commission confirm that it will not take any initiative aimed at harmonising surrogacy between the Member States, and between the Member States and third countries?"

So the EU condemns surrogacy and much of Europe bans it, but inexplicably the UK seeks to enable it.
(ok, no longer part of EU but these proposals predate Brexit obv)

*think

Reposting the link to the FOI as I don't thing the first one works.

'Public Consultation on proposed changes to the Surrogacy laws in the UK.' https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/publicconsultationnonproposed via @whatdotheyknow

"They'd had twins...but wanted another one"

The unthinking, ignorant consumerism behind the decision to have twins, like choosing to buy two puppies from the same litter is sickening. The HFEA has campaigned to reduce multiple births because of the risks and yet when it comes to surrogacy it is treated as just another fun option. It's truly disgraceful.

A shout out to the regular poster who sent an FOI to the Law Commissioners to find out which groups were involved in the initial consultation. This was picked up by researchers for the Victoria Derbyshire show and used effectively to point out how they had no meetings with women's groups. Also conspicuous by their absence were professional bodies like the RCOG and the RCM.
Lots of meetings with those with vested interests though, (law firms and surrogacy agencies).

WELL DONE LEXI.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/publicconsultationnonproposed

BTW it is very easy to make and FOI via the WhatDoTheyKnow website.

Background to the Victoria Derbyshire show this morning. It's currently on iplayer,a really good, critical discussion.

Victoria Derbyshire, 29/01/2020: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000dtl1 via @bbciplayer

It's available for 29 days.

Surrogacy: Social media advertising plans prompt regulator warning www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51148421