Surrogacy Resource thread : please post your links here

[FannyCann]

A Happy New Year to all.

I have been thinking about how I should concentrate my energies in the New Year - women are fighting many battles on so many fronts - against porn, prostitution, domestic abuse, the wonderful We Can’t Consent to this campaign, abortion rights, to maintain our spaces, our language, our sports and so much more that I haven’t mentioned.
For myself, I have been asked to join a particular campaign against surrogacy and I have decided that is where I will be devoting most of my time whilst still supporting all the other important causes in spirit at least.

The surrogacy market is a global business currently thought to be worth about $21billion with growth expected to reach about $41billion by 2026 according to India based market research firm Data Bridge. Women’s reproductive “services” are big business globally.

The Law Commission Consultation on new surrogacy law in the UK closed on 11 October 2019.
Many posters on FWR did great work researching, discussing and exploring the implications, educating and raising awareness, encouraging people to respond to the consultation so that responses weren’t simply confined to cheers of approval from “stakeholders” but real concerns and educated critique were raised.

Many of us may be wondering what happens next?

According to the Consultation paper what happens next is this: “After reviewing all responses, we will decide on our final recommendations for law reform, which we will publish in a report, accompanied by a draft bill (legislation) in 2021.”

The consultation, raising awareness and sharing the knowledge was very much the first battle. There is much to be done to follow up to prevent these harmful recommendations becoming law in the UK and to keep that global market out of the UK.

I am not able to give details but I wanted to let people know that there is work ongoing behind the scenes and small positive signs that the Law Commission are belatedly reaching out to some women’s groups who raised concerns.

Meanwhile I believe now is the time to prepare: we have a new parliament with many new MP’s who are no doubt completely unaware, now is the time to start lobbying MP’s and the government in advance if that draft legislation. I plan to hold my nose and meet with my MP, who is a staunch Catholic and who, for all his faults, I expect to take a dim view of the proposals. I will also be sending letters to key people in the government and department of health.

Since I first heard about the Consultation and proposed changes to the law just over a year ago, I have spent many hours reading, articles, legal cases, research papers, listening to podcasts, watching documentaries, reading and contributing to threads here, where so many other contributors share their knowledge and post informative links.

So I thought it might be helpful to have a resource thread, that we can refer to from time to time when looking for articles, research papers and other sources of information, links to FOIs, trying to find that thread where we saw interesting posts and so on.

I will kick off with some links to the consultation and related threads.

Please join in and add anything of interest you come across.

*The Consultation
*
Short summary

https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/lawcom-prod-storage-11jsxou24uy7q/uploads/2019/06/Surrogacy-summary.pdf

The Full Consultation Document

https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/lawcom-prod-storage-11jsxou24uy7q/uploads/2019/06/Surrogacy-consultation-paper.pdf

Obviously it is too late to respond now as the Consultation is closed, but for reference here is the recommended response to the summary from Nordic Model Now, which many of us used as a template or a guide to help us formulate our own responses.

https://nordicmodelnow.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/surrogacy-consultation-responses-pdf-2.pdff_

Several women’s organisations responded to the consultation with public letters:

Nordic Model Now Open letter:

https://nordicmodelnow.org/2019/10/11/open-letter-to-the-uk-and-scottish-law-commissioners-about-the-surrogacy-consultation/

WPUK submission to Law Commission consultation on surrogacy reform – Woman's Place UK

https://womansplaceuk.org/2019/10/08/wpuk-submission-to-law-commission-consultation-on-surrogacy-reform/

EVAW (End Violence Against Women) response:

https://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/FINAL-Letter-on-Surrogacy-.pdf

NIA response:

http://www.niaendingviolence.org.uk/perch/resources/surrogacy-consultation-response-october-2019.pdf

*Links to some of the related threads on FWR:
*
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womensrights/3606313-The-Rumplestiltskin-Laww__
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http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womenss_rights/3613356-All-male-Law-Commission-discussing-surrogacy

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womensrights/3651968-The-illegitimacy-of-the-Rumplestiltskin-Surrogacy-consultationn__

_
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womenss_rights/3706683-SURROGACY-CONSULTATION-ENDS-ON-FRIDAY-11-OCTOBER-PLEASE-SUBMIT-A-RESPONSE-Edited-by-MNHQ-at-OPs-request

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womensrights/3649812-building-families-through-surrogacy-a-new-law-consultationn__

_
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womenss_rights/3698520-Did-everyone-know-that-MN-now-has-a-surrogacy-board

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/3169070-To-think-theres-a-valid-discussion-to-be-had-about-the-ethics-of-surrogacyy_

_
http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womenss_rights/3708724-Famous-men-and-surrogacy

Thanks @OhHolyJesus
How devastating for her family.

More details here from CBC (Centre for Bioethics and Culture) with comment from Jennifer Lahl

www.cbc-network.org/2020/01/breaking-another-us-surrogate-mother-has-died/

It seems she died from an amniotic fluid embolus, a rare but highly dangerous complication.

I understand the risk for this increases with certain labour induction methods and with raised blood pressure. We know that surrogate pregnancies carry a higher risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. I wouldn't want to speculate as details are scant but already people are saying she died of pregnancy/birth complications not surrogacy. Well there is a certain obvious connection....

A bit more risky than renting out your oven. Perhaps you should post this to that Facebook group @MrsSnippyPants

Also, coincidentally, the guardian and other newspapers are currently covering the inquest into a maternal death in the UK.
I won't link as obviously she wasn't a surrogate mother but the fact is childbirth is not without risk and I don't believe women should be exposed to that risk to satisfy another person's desire for a baby.

Some background information regarding amniotic fluid embolus for general understanding.

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/amniotic-fluid-embolism/symptoms-causes/syc-20369324

The grim truth of Ukraine's baby factories. And the UK Law Commissioners want to make it easier for commissioning parents to return from abroad with a bay, smoothing the paperwork process of obtaining passports etc. How shameful.

Ukraine's 'baby factories': The human cost of surrogacy | Maternal health | Al Jazeera

https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/ukraine-baby-factories-human-cost-surrogacy-180912201251153.html

Testimony from the surrogate mother who spoke on the Victoria Derbyshire show this morning

nordicmodelnow.org/2020/01/29/i-was-an-altruistic-surrogate-and-am-now-against-all-surrogacy/

I have seen other accounts from surrogate mothers who have talked about the jealousy that the commissioning mother develops towards them , which inevitably sours relationships.
I suspect it is quite a common theme.

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

Wow. Powerful stuff.

I am reading a book called "Why Mothering Matters." It's for the most part a lovely book about the devaluation of mothering, the biological processes of birthing and nursing, the recognition of a mother as a safe space and touchstone for a baby. However there's a chapter about surrogacy which totally undermines (in my view) the rest of the book. Yes, mothering really matters, unless it's cooler or more convenient or woker to pretend it doesn't in a given circumstance.

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.

Thank you for this thread, Fanny.

That's an interesting response from the Law Commission - just today they replied on that FOI saying that it's rare for a surrogate mother to refuse to sign over parental rights - so what's driving the changes in law then?

I agreed with that Dr on the programme, the law works just fine now, for me, if we are changing the laws let's scrap the whole thing!

Here's more on the anonymous surrogate Anna, not edited this time

nordicmodelnow.org/2020/01/29/i-was-an-altruistic-surrogate-and-am-now-against-all-surrogacy/

This man seems lovely.

www.britishsurrogacycentre.com/2019/01/surrogacy-on-the-nhs-debate-on-gmb-with-barrie-drewitt-barlow/

He is leaving his partner, who he had 5 surrogate children with and who is suffering with terminal cancer, for his daughters ex boyfriend and he wants to 'extend' his family with his new partner.

As he profits from surrogacy (he is a millionaire) he can afford the associated bills, unless he gets a company discount that is, being that he owns the business.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5397253/One-UKs-gay-fathers-given-18-months-live.html

How charming.

Louisa Ghevaert on Radio 5 today, on the proposals to lift advertising restrictions on UK surrogacy

The kindness of strangers: should surrogates get paid? - Guardian 2015
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/nov/21/surrogacy-in-the-uk

DHSC Government Guidance - Having a child through surrogacy
www.gov.uk/government/publications/having-a-child-through-surrogacy

Why I've agreed to be a surrogate for the fifth time - after being sterilised - Independent, 2018
inews.co.uk/opinion/comment/why-im-about-to-be-a-surrogate-for-the-fifth-time-despite-being-sterilised-508696

The Radio 5 interview starts 21 minutes into the show.

"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.

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

*think

Something from the archives to reflect upon how the friendship with the surrogate mother broke down very soon after the birth, and also to compare to where this family are now

www.britishsurrogacycentre.com/2017/09/gay-dads-documentary-early-2000s/

And now

metro.co.uk/2019/11/18/britains-first-gay-dads-barrie-tony-drewitt-barlow-split-one-falls-love-scott-hutchison-11173321/

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)

Who is John Brown? Someone has been very busy today and yesterday submitting FOI requests re surrogacy...

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/list/successful?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=Female+sperm&requestdateeafter=&requestdateebefore=&commit=Search

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

Something on OHHS which rarely appears on any news site...

www.msn.com/en-gb/health/familyhealth/ohss-the-ivf-side-effect-making-womens-fertility-journeys-agony/ar-BBZMqQk?ocid=spartandhp

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

HFEA document on OHSS

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

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

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.

I’m now listening to the one with Mary Lou Singleton and it’s fascinating. The part about how it was decided a man’s ejaculation was equal to a woman carrying and birthing a baby has made me so mad!