Being a surrogate is a huge sacrifice and indeed can change the lives of the parents to be. The surrogate will have to go through battle not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Thus, the 21-year-old Shaniece Sturdy decided to be one. It was her first time. Therefore, she did not know what to expect.
During her second trimester, she noticed something different about her baby bump. Shaniece could not catch a break, and she always tended to be hungry. Her back, just like any other pregnant mom, is always aching, and in general, she did not feel good during this stage.
1.Check-Up
During her check-up, Shaniece waited patiently on the table as the nurse squeezed the cold jelly to proceed with her ultrasound. Through the process, the nurse calmly told Shaniece that what she felt was normal, especially for being pregnant for the first time. Shaniece, however, did not feel sure about what was going on. As she watched the screen of the blurred mix of black and gray, she held her breath in fear and anticipation. Eventually, she managed to ask if everything was ok, but the nurse did not respond and called the doctor instead.
2. Where It All Started
Just like the dream of most little girls, Shaniece had always known that she wanted to have her own family one day and become a mother. It was one of her dreams, and she had always looked forward to it when she grew much older. Shaniece had a fantastic childhood having parents who had met and fallen in love when they were just 16 years old. She also had a sister who happened to marry her childhood sweetheart as soon as they both finished school. However, to Shaniece’s surprise, she saw a lot of pain in the first few years of their marriage.
3. Parted Ways
Just like the typical sister relationship, Shaniece and her sister were several years apart, and their childhood memory is composed of fighting and arguing. But certainly a lot of love for each other. Shaniece was just 14 years old when her sister Linda moved out with her partner. Shaniece was excited as she finally does not have to put up with their constant fight and her unreasonable demands. For the then 14 years old Shaniece, life will be more comfortable for her as she had more space to live her own life.
4. Something Is Missing
When Linda left the house, Shaniece suddenly felt that it was too quiet. In the earlier days, Shaniece enjoyed everything, from the bigger space to the lack of arguing that she regularly witnessed. As days go by, Shaniece starts to miss everything, even their bickering fights. Also though they see each other every weekend, Shaniece could tell that their relationship is no longer the same. She started to feel that they have drifted apart. Shaniece then planned to visit her sister. Hence she bought bus tickets to see Linda. However, Shaniece never expected what she had found when she arrived.
5. The Visit
As follows, Shaniece took off and visited her sister. After she arrived at the bus stop, she started walking towards the direction where her sister lives. While she was walking, she saw her brother-in-law driving in her direction in his red truck. Shaniece waved at him and then stopped. She was expecting that her brother-in-law would stop and talk to her; however, he didn’t even acknowledge Shaniece. Not even a smile or a simple wave, Shaniece just watched him pass by. What she noticed as she looks hard on his face, she never has seen her brother-in-law look so serious.
6. Invisible
Shaniece could not believe that Josh, her brother-in-law, did not notice her. Even if Josh noticed her, he did not acknowledge her presence or gave any attention. Shaniece then asked herself what was going on. She thought that Josh was just having a bad day at work. Thus,
Shaniece kept walking towards Linda’s house. Upon her arrival, she then knocked at the door and was pretty much excited to see her sister. However, when Linda opened the door,
Shaniece is in total shock when she saw her face.
7. An Unexpected Announcement
Shaniece could tell that her sister Linda has been crying upon seeing her sister’s face. Linda’s black mascara was all over her cheeks and is running down, indicating her tears. Linda’s eyes were swelling and were red. Shaniece, still in shock, keeps looking at Lida’s pale face. She then started to worry and asked did he hurt you? As Shaniece waited for her response, she hurried into the kitchen and took a wet towel to wipe Linda’s face. Shaniece could not help but to worry. Linda then explained what happened. She told Shaniece, “Don’t be silly. I asked him to leave.”
8. Was Linda Too Young to Marry?
Shaniece could not believe what Linda told her. She then studied her sister’s face as she could tell if Linda is lying or not. It was clear that Linda is, in fact, not lying at all, and she is giving Shaniece her honest answer. Their parents were not that excited when Josh and Linda got married as they are too young, and they might have problems making important decisions. Thus, Shaniece asked Linda why she asked Josh to leave. The answer of Linda was the thing that she ever expected.
9. The Shocking Truth
While Linda is explaining herself to Shaniece, her eyes once again filled with tears. As she spoke about her situation with Josh, Linda became emotional. She told Shaniece that “You know we’ve been trying for a year now.” as she wipes her nose and sighs, she continued, that Josh wanted to take another loan for IVF. However, the couple could no longer afford it. Linda added that “we can’t keep doing this.”
10. Shaniece Is There For Her Sister
As Linda keeps talking about her struggle of getting pregnant, Shaniece’s heart broke. She was able to witness Linda being upset before, but she had never seen being upset as they were talking. Shaniece immediately remembers how much Linda wanted to be a mom and how unhappy her sister will be if she will not have any children.
Shaniece then decided to stay with her sister for the weekend, at least to comfort her. Shaniece made them both some tea and prepared blankets for a long and emotional weekend. Few days had passed, Shaniece convinced Linda to give it another try. Shaniece did not expect that the weekend could make a massive impact on their lives.
11. The Pregnancy Struggle
Shaniece was able to convince Linda to continue and try to get pregnant. Finally, after two years, Linda discovered that she is finally pregnant. She planned to keep her pregnancy secret until she can reach the second trimester. However, the unfortunate event once again happened to Linda. She was not able to reach the second-trimester mark. Linda was devastated by the miscarriage. She then never wanted to try again, but once again changed her mind.
12. Linda’s Trauma
After her miscarriage, Linda struggled to cope up with her loss and fell into depression. She then started to isolate herself from everybody. She didn’t want any contact with her loved ones, and even though Shaniece tried to reach out to her, she did not want to step outside the house for an entire month. Linda’s loved ones seemed to be on the dead-end to lift her spirit up. Just as they are about to run out of ways, Josh has a brilliant plan. He planned to give what Linda really wanted, a child.
13. Josh’s Took The Chance
It seems that getting pregnant is not the fate of Linda, which is really devastating for her. Thankfully Josh was able to come up with a brilliant solution that no one on their side really thought about. Not all people will agree with the plan that Josh has, but it might be the last option for Linda and her happiness. Linda, on the other hand, is still devastated with her miscarriage, and getting pregnant again might not be a good option for her as the pain is still fresh. But the tables were about to get turned when Josh told Linda his plan. She once again feels that there is hope.
14. The Greatest Gift of All
Linda settled with Josh’s plan, but there is still one problem to tackle, and that would be the consent of Josh’s sister. There is no doubt that Linda and Josh are on board with the idea, but the approval of Josh’s sister plays a major role. It will be a huge sacrifice for her and it will be something people would turn down. Questions have filled Josh and Linda’s mind. What would she say? Or how would she feel? The only way for them to get the answer is to ask her. Thus, Josh invited her sister to meet with him and Linda as there was something vital they wanted to ask her.
15. The Discussion
The day arrived that Josh and Linda sat down with his sister and talked to her. The couple was very nervous as the thing that they were about to ask could change everybody’s lives. They are hoping that she would participate as it is that last chance of Linda to become a mother. Their request is the last hope for Linda to reach her dream and become a mom.
16. Last Hope
Linda prepared herself for the worst as the sister of Josh is thinking about what they were asking. After all, there is a high chance that she would say no or refuse their plea. Most people will say no to what they are asking, as it is a huge request. The couple anxiously waited for her response. The time came that Josh’s sister answered, and it blew their minds.
17. The Long-Awaited Answer
Josh and Linda were in a state of shock after Josh’s sister told them three words. It was the answer that they were hoping but did not really expect that she would agree. “I’ll do it.” Those three words gave hope to the couple and a huge amount of excitement and relief. Josh’s sister finally agrees to their request, and Linda has the change to reach her dream of having a child. She no longer felt hopeless as it is one step closer to her happiness. With Josh’s sister saying yes, the couple will finally be parents.
18. The Surrogacy
Josh and Linda asked Josh’s sister if she would consider to be the surrogate for them and carry their first child. What will happen is, the sister of Josh will carry the couple’s biological child in her own womb as Linda was not able to carry it for full-term. Everybody was very happy and excited about what was about to come to Josh and Linda’s lives, especially Shaniece.
It is her sister’s dream, and there is a clear hope to reach it. However, the decision of Josh’s sister did not only give light to the couple but also for Shaniece. When Shaniece hears the decision of Josh’s sister, she too is inspired by her sacrifice.
19. An Important Decision
When all of the news sank in, there were plenty of questions. Does the sister of Josh really think it through? Is she really sure about what she agreed on? She would carry another woman’s child for nine whole months, is she sure with that? Also, will she have to undergo all the pain and hardships during pregnancy? It will be a huge sacrifice and no doubt it will be hard. As a matter of fact it will be difficult. Thankfully, the sister of Josh is willing to give the couple’s dream to become parents. With her decision, Shaniece was greatly touched with the sacrifice that Josh’s sister gave. But Shaniece did not really anticipate how much it would inspire her in the future.
20. Linda Became Hesitant
Linda greatly appreciates the amount of sacrifice that the sister of Josh gave. However, she became slightly hesitant. Linda had her heartbroken before with her miscarriage and, of course, the years of trying and failing in getting pregnant. The biggest question in her head right now is, what if it would fail? Linda did not want to be super excited about the fear that her hopes will again be crushed. But, maybe this time, what if it would work? There is nothing wrong with trying one more time. Linda’s thoughts are filled with dozens of questions. So they settled with a different plan, and it is something they had never tried before.
21. Alternatives
If the worst comes to worst, and the surrogacy attempt will fail, Josh and Linda will still have other options. This does not mean that Linda will never be a mom. The couple can opt for foster care and has the possibility to adopt. But Linda is still hoping to have her own biological child. Shaniece also wanted the same for her sister, and she spent every night asking God through prayers. Thankfully, it finally happened.
22. The Blessing
The whole process of surrogacy was a success! Josh’s sister was able to get pregnant and carry the baby in her womb to full term. The most exciting day has finally arrived, and the baby was born. When Shaniece heard the wonderful news, she co
uld not stop crying. It was the happiest day she had ever been. Shaniece was very happy for her sister. However, not only did Lina and Josh become parents that day, but Shaniece also made a promise to herself something that she knew she would have to do.
23. Shaniece’s Pack To Herself
Witnessing the surrogacy, Shaniece was inspired by how it changed the lives of Linda and Josh. She then realized that surrogacy is something that she wanted to do. She promised that if the day came and she would have the chance to be a surrogate herself, she would also make a someone’s dream come true. However, what she did not realize was that her journey through surrogacy is a different one.
24. The Couple
Immediately after Shaniece turned 21 years old, she was able to meet Steve and Joanna. They are a couple who is trying to conceive. Just like Linda and Josh, the couple is also looking for a surrogate to help them grow their family. Shaniece then realized it was her chance to fulfill her promise. Shaniece’s parents saw the happiness that Linda and Josh have through surrogacy, and they were proud when their daughter Shaniece decided to give another couple the same gift.
25. Something Was Not Right
At a very young age, Shaniece agreed to become a surrogate for Steve and Joana. She shared that “I was only 21 at the time, but I wasn’t interested in partying and drinking. I wanted to help another couple fulfill their family dream.” Thus, Steve and Joana are pleased when they heard that Shaniece agreed to be their surrogate. The happiness that Linda and Josh have, and the new life they live, Shaniece could also give a chance to Steve and Joana. Eventually, Shaniece did get pregnant. However, when the first trimester ended, she knew that something was different.
26. The Waiting Game
So far, Shaniece has only known one surrogate, and it is Josh’s sister. She was able to observe his sister through the pregnancy. Just like any pregnant mom, Josh’s sister, too, had experienced different types of struggle. Some of which are constant exhaustion, nausea and morning sickness. Josh’s sister was able to manage all of the pregnancy challenges until their baby was born.
On the other hand, Shaniece was somehow lucky as her pregnancy is going well. However, she could not shake off the feeling that something is not right. Shaniece could not help but worry.
27. Not The Usual Growth
The pregnancy of Shaniece did not impact the daily life that much, and she is considered to be lucky. She was able to tackle her daily activities, usually. However, there is this one thing strange that she felt through the time being. Her tummy turned out to be so big during the second trimester. Shaniece could not help but to worry about her stomach getting bigger than average. Shaniece needed to figure out what was going considering she is carrying an unborn baby with her. Thus, she called her doctor.
.28. Trying To Figure Out What Was Wrong
Shaniece was near the end of her first trimester and was about to enter her second when she went to see her doctor. She underwent her 10-week scan to see how things are going. As Shaniece lay on the table, her thoughts kept on running about her worries. Shaniece wondered what will the doctor say as she had no clue what was going on. As she patiently waits, Shaniece twiddles her thumb and keeps looking at her baby bump. After a few minutes, her doctor returned and brought some paperwork. But when the doctor entered the room, he was totally silent.
29. The Surprising News
Shaniece felt anxious, especially when her doctor was in total silence. All of the questions popped into her head, such as, was there something wrong? Or is the baby ok? Shaniece worries about this since she doesn’t have any clue on what to do if something terrible will happen. Ultimately, she knew that Steve and Joana were desperate to have their baby. Shaniece will not be able to forgive herself in case there is a huge problem. Finally, her doctor looked up his notes and looked at her. The doctor then spoke, and the three words that she heard utterly shocked her.
30. The Results
The face of Dr. Ryan broke into a huge grin when he looked at Shaniece and said the words, “You’re having triplets.” When the news broke, Shaniece’s heart stopped. She could not believe that she was carrying triplets. But her concern is how about the soon to be parents? If they wanted a baby, how would they feel if they have three? Would Steve and Joana be happy, Excited? Or what if they will get mad? Or, for the worst case, what if they don’t want all three?
31. Joana And Steve’s Decision
Steve and Joana were very happy and excited when they heard that Shaniece is carrying not just one baby inside her but three. It was a huge relief for Shaniece when she learned that the couple was excited about the triplets. They never expected to have triplets, but they were overjoyed. On the other hand, carrying triplets is quite challenging Shaniece’s body. Her body seemed to be aching as her stomach continued to grow bigger. But for Shaniece, she always knew that it would be worth it.
32. The Birth
Nine-month passed quickly, and it was time for Shaniece to give birth to the triplets. The labor went well, and she gave birth to three healthy and normal babies. The triplets were one boy and two girls. Steve and Joana named the triplets, Daisy, Willow, and Harrison. Shaniece was glad that she was able to give what Steve and Joana the children that they have always wanted. After Shaniece gave birth, she shared that “Even though I was only 21 and it was a huge responsibility carrying their babies, it was one of the best experiences of my life.”
33. The Easy Pregnancy Journey
According to Shaniece, her pregnancy is quite easy, considering she was carrying with her three babies. When she was asked what her pregnancy journey was, Shaniece shared that “I had no morning sickness or cravings, the whole pregnancy flew by, and with the support of Joanna and Steve, it was amazing, and I would recommend it to anyone.” Shaniece’s pregnancy was easier compared to some pregnant moms out there. But the good news is that, after she gave birth, it does not mean she could no longer see the kids.
34. The Open-ended Relationship
Harrison, Willow, and Daisy spent two weeks in the intensive care unit at the hospital. Afterwhich, their doctor cleared that the triplets are now allowed to go home with Steve and Joana. Thankfully, the couple decided to keep Shaniece as a part of their babies’ lives. Shaniece would visit them every year on their birthday. Not all surrogates have the chance to see the babies that they carry after they were born. Thus, Shaniece was one of the few who is very lucky to have the opportunity.
35. Knowing The Damage
Of course, Shaniece could not help but to worry about the impact that would happen to her after giving birth to the triplets. She is concerned about her pregnancy. In an interview, Shaniece mentioned that “I’m in a relationship now and would like to have more children. I’ve had a miscarriage, so I do wonder if carrying the triplets has had an effect on my body.” However, it is not yet clear if the miscarriage is due to her triplets pregnancy. What matters is Shaniece did not ever regret being a surrogate. In fact, she even shared some advice.
36. The Advice
Shaniece shared that she would encourage anyone who is considering being a surrogate. One of her tips is to conduct thorough research. She shared that “My advice for anyone thinking about surrogacy is to make sure you’ve done your research and that you have support around you.” Also, she noted that people must be aware that in surrogacy, it can make or break the person’s decision to be a surrogate.
37. Revising The Law
Shaniece did not ever regret being a surrogate even if she experiences a miscarriage. As a matter of fact, she became an advocate for surrogacy. She had been working on the law with regard to surrogacy in Great Britain. Due to her experience, Shaniece believes that the parents who sought for surrogacy should have more control compared to the law that is currently being provided.
38. Going For Change
Shaniece also shared that “It was my body, but they weren’t my babies. If the law could change so the parents could make the decisions, it would make things easier on both parts.” Shaniece added that she is not alone in how she felt towards this. A lot of surrogate mothers feel the same way. They think that biological parents should be given more consultation since they are the parents of the children. The surrogate, on the other hand, just carried their babies.
39. As For Payments?
Some pregnancies are so difficult that the woman is put on bed rest or required to leave work early, and that can cause a loss of income that may create a stressful financial burden. Usually, surrogates do not get any profit for carrying other people’s babies. Basically, the labor is for free. Shaniece mentioned that “You don’t get paid to be a surrogate – you only get expenses for your travel and so on…so if you’re looking to make money, this isn’t for you.” In addition, surrogacy can be expensive for the parents who opted for surrogacy. However, it can also be costly to the surrogate themselves. Some pregnancies are difficult. Women might be required on bed rest and some to leave work early. If that happens, it will be a loss of income and create a financial burden.
As for Shaniece, she did not regret being a surrogate as she is happy to serve and help other people. Having witnessed the pain that Linda went through, Shaniece’s eyes opened to give hope to other people and make their dreams come true. Fortunately, there are people like Shaniece who go the extra mile to spread hope and happiness to other people.