Surrogate Won't Get Paid for Premature Birth | Chicago Med | MD TV

A surrogate mother suffering from life threatening pregnancy complications refuses to give birth early because she won't get paid if the baby is premature.
From Chicago Med Season 1 Episode 15 'Inheritance' - A patient refuses medication for her pain; Dr. Halstead treats a former high school classmate; a pregnant woman has a big reason not to deliver her child.
Chicago Med (2015) The doctors and nurses who work at the emergency ward of the Gaffney Chicago Medical Center strive to save the lives of their patients while dealing with personal and interpersonal issues.
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[@lizziecross8149]

She “willingly agreed” to that disgusting contract in a situation where she was desperate. They took advantage of a desperate woman who probably did not have a lawyer look through the paper work.

[@katymvt]

As to not having the lawyer, she did clearly understand what was going on, so I don't think that would have made a difference. I can't help but wonder if there was no reason the "mother" couldn't carry but she just didn't want the inconvenience. Judging by everything else that is going on, she seems the type.

[@RayneZaleska]

@@katymvt she obviously signed under duress for the fear of her own children well being even if she knew what it all meant.

[@alessandrajackson3768]

It often is the case in surrogacy

[@fleurpouvior2967]

I'm confused though. Wasn't there another episode where they say the state doesn't recognize surrogate agreements, making the contract invalid? So, legally, wouldn't this contract also be dismissed by the court, allowing the mother to claim child support? Because the state doesn't recognize contracts pertaining to surrogacy?

[@k.c.8662]

@@katymvt I don't really agree that she fully understood. There's a reason both parties are supposed to have lawyers. It has nothing to do with intelligence, it's just that lawyers understand legal speak better than the layman. So even if you think you understand, there's someone who could understand better and catch things you missed. Also, as others pointed out, she was under distress so her judgment was clouded.

[@mk_wizard]

The parents didn't want a baby. They wanted an ornament. When you want a child, you are grateful to have one even if they're not perfect.

[@irantcusiloveyou4453]

its times like this I remember a classic joke An elderly patient needs a heart transplant and discusses his options with his doctor. The doctor says, ‘We have three possible donors. One is a young, healthy athlete. The second is a middleaged businessman who never drank or smoked, and the third is an attorney who just died after practising law for 30 years.’ ‘I’ll take the lawyer’s heart,’ says the patient. ‘Why?’ asks the doctor. The patient replies, ‘It’s never been used. Kill all the lawyers- William Shakespeare (Henry VI, Part 2, Act IV, Scene 2)

[@nursemendoza4413]

Nope

[@joelstiffler5137]

It's a show!

[@gabrielanderson9090]

F free red t

[@LunaHeartnet]

@@joelstiffler5137 It's a show, but that doesn't mean that something like this hasn't happened in real life.

[@SignedWithBlood]

Those clients should be held accountable for child abandonment.

[@takumi2023]

I'm split on this, the client stipulated on the contract no premature baby. Also, I don't know any consequences for the birth mother for putting babies up for adoption. On the other hand, morally we should protect and cherish the little one.

[@zoeknap9777]

@@takumi2023 Yeah but nobody can choose how to have a baby, all these people with their ideal birth plans etc and most times it ends up very different. how the heck can you state on a contract that the baby wont be prem?!?!

[@Aloukina]

Why would she sign a contract that stated she couldn’t have a premature baby? I’m 34 weeks right now and my contract states I get paid my pay in 10 monthly installments from when the first heartbeat is detected. If the baby is born before 34 weeks I get what I have been paid until that point. If after 34 weeks, I get the whole 10 months worth of pay, regardless of what happens.

[@thesunrisechick]

@@takumi2023 having “no premature baby” in a contract is ridiculous. She can’t just decide to not have a premature baby.

[@jenniferschultz7178]

@@Aloukina I am so sorry that you're body is being seen as nothing more than a hire purchase being paid off monthly. You're body is the only way those adults are ever going to have the parenting experience they saw fit to buy. I sincerely wish you'd had better legal advice that leveraged the absolute emotional power you have over the other party.

[@thatonedog819]

They paid for this kid to be created. Then abandon him. Disgusting.

[@srso4660]

good thing it's just a tv show

[@mmbb0j30]

@@srso4660 ..bad thing when it can happen in real life if bio parents decide to do the same in some places...

[@katymvt]

@@mmbb0j30 Actually I read a similar story. The baby wasn't premature, but maybe had Down syndrome or something else the bio parents found undesirable. The surrogate found a couple to adopt the child.

[@mmbb0j30]

@@katymvt ☹️ how some people can abandon their own baby.. their blood… Happy the baby is adopted!

[@XOXO-mb2vh]

The facilitator lady said they only pay if they decide they want it.

[@NicolesMinnesotaOrganics]

Contracts like this should be illegal. What a horrible thing

[@michellegatz1687]

In the United States they are.

[@idek7438]

@@michellegatz1687 Not everywhere

[@michellegatz1687]

@@idek7438Contracts like this are unenforceable basically everywhere, but I was wrong some states now allow paid surrogacy.

[@RavenPendragon14]

@@michellegatz1687 Surrogacy is certainly legal in the U.S. its only illegal in a few states. People can put whatever clauses they want into the contract because you always ha e the choice of declining the offer.

[@TheHcjfctc]

@@RavenPendragon14 Yes and no. I know a contract like this would not be legal in NV or UT. Surrogacy contracts there must have certain clauses that would prevent situations like this from happening. No way could those parents back out of payment even for a premie.

[@MSR_Ma]

Someone would actually abandon their own child that they wanted to conceive because it’s premature?! Terrible.

[@venusretrograde6177]

And it’s not even THAT premature. Yes, 32 weeks is still premature but survival rate is very high and at that point and there’s a high likelihood that they will not experience any complications throughout the rest of their life. I have a friend whom was born at 28 weeks and she has not experienced any ongoing health complications because of it.

[@MSR_Ma]

@@venusretrograde6177 exactly and not only that, you stick with and help your children throughout complications or life long disabilities, whether they’re biologically yours or adopted. It’s disgusting how adults can even do this to a child/baby that didn’t ask to be put into this world and on top of it, they planned to have this child 🤦🏼‍♀️. People like that don’t deserve a child at all.

[@nikkimiddlekillsday5161]

You'd be surprised how much evil embodies the human mind

[@mandie1456]

People kill their own children in the womb all the time. Awful, but true. Especially when they think their child might have an issue.

[@Princess_Cheese]

People have rejected their own children simply for being the wrong gender. Unfortunately this is nothing new

[@Eckertainment]

"No obligation to adopt a premature baby" ಠ_ಠ IT'S THEIR CHILD!? how is that under adoption!?

[@venicewright7126]

Because she's is birthing the child according to the law she is seen as the birth mother whether biological or not. The laws about surrogacy are really messed up especially when birthing person is in distress and just doing it for money.

[@DirtyPrancing]

It's just literally not possible. At the bare minimum, the father would be responsible for child support just like any other. This feels sensationalized for outrage

[@krisaaron5771]

@@venicewright7126 "...she's is birthing the child according to the law she is seen as the birth mother whether biological or not." Depends on the state. With surrogacy becoming more common, states are gradually recognizing the bio-parents' financial responsibilities. The days of parents being able to abandon a disabled child and not being obligated to support it are almost over!

[@venicewright7126]

@@krisaaron5771 oh yes I know! I was meaning this particular situation. Besides this show aired a few years ago too so it probably was more of a big deal then. Believe me I'm excited! I've always wanted to be a surrogate

[@OnlyMe-uk6nh]

@@DirtyPrancing Unfortunately it’s not sensationalised at all. The situation is similar to if a woman had donor sperm from a clinic. She can not then go after the father for child support. I know this because I had fertility issues and looked at surrogacy. Granted it was 25 years ago, but I don’t think the laws have changed that much. At the time I decided against it when I found out I had no rights. The surrogate being the birth mother could keep my child if she wanted and I would have to fight it in court and might well lose. Even if she didn’t willing give me my child, I would have had to adopt him/her to make them legally mine.

[@OneGaurdian]

So the biological parents bring this kid into the world, but leave her out in the cold because she's not of perfect health. They're clearly a pair of rich elitist pricks who want a flawless child who they don't have to struggle taking care of. If I was that kid, one day I would take my folks for everything they're worth.

[@MDAdams72668]

I would too. elitist pks that can't even be bothered to spend 9mo carrying the child AND despite no long term health issues just turn their backs like THEIR baby was a piece of lint.

[@thesunrisechick]

They want a designer baby.

[@jen6893]

add to that they exploited a desperate woman. Evil bastards.

[@Sara-xk1ns]

The baby was healthy tho, just needed time to grow. I almost lost my sister to this exact cause preeclampsia and hellp syndrome, she was literally on the brink of death, nephew was born at 27 weeks weighing 1 lb, he’s now 10 yrs old and didn’t have any complications, sometimes had asthma issues during winters but any kid can have asthma . This disgusted me. The parents literally threw aside a health thriving baby and exploited a vulnerable woman. So many moral issues here. And preemie babies are some of the toughest kids around, they r true fighters, and are usually great sleepers when they come home bc they’re so used to the noise of the nicu haha some parents would love to have a baby who sleeps like that

[@nahi.03]

The kids lucky for not having to grow up with them

[@Nedread]

"Your boys would rather spend 100 Chicago winters in a shelter than a lifetime without their mother. Don't orphan them for this money." Ooof. Right in the heartstrings.

[@Sarahhhhhhsto]

Genuinely made me cry

[@blahblah8795]

But money is everything

[@Chocolate_dolliez]

@@blahblah8795💀

[@favouriteK]

I wonder how baby girl will feel in 20 years when she does an Ancestry kit and finds out her bio parents paid for her yet changed their minds because she was premature.

[@canadamonroe6229]

It’s a tv show

[@ivoryinkwell7864]

@@canadamonroe6229 But this shit happens in real life. That is what the question is stipulating. This hypothetical instance in this show, is sickeningly real.

[@nyxnightmare3542]

But yet you don't wonder what adopted children think when they do the same? You're admitting that you thinking adopting children is wrong, because it's abusive. You're saying that the children in foster care should just be killed off so we no longer have adoption.

[@favouriteK]

@@nyxnightmare3542 Wow what a gross and entirely incorrect assumption! There's no denying there's a lot of trauma and emotional issues surrounding adoption, no matter the situation. But in this case, the baby was wanted, and because of a force they could not control (early birth), they were left behind. I would equate this closer to China's previous one-child policy. Girls were abandoned at intensely higher rates, and girl fetuses were aborted. Imagine growing up knowing that your parents WANTED a child, but not you, cause you have the wrong reproductive bits. Not that you were unwanted, you were just wrong. That has got to sting on a whole new plane. And this (fictional, but based on true events) kid is going to know that their biological parents went through all that hassle only to say no because they were a few weeks early. THAT is what I mean. Nothing about abortion or ending adoption or being against adoption... geeze. What a terrible jump and lack of logic there.

[@recoveringsoul755]

Pregnant lady should keep child, get child support from the wealthy father and no visitation to them, 18 years of child support and health coverage, should keep her off the streets

[@alize0623]

So they found a homeless woman, took advantage of her, and when she wasn’t being useful enough they ditch her and their biological child?! Maybe there’s a reason they couldn’t adopt…

[@NGMonocrom]

Couples *THAT* selfish don't even consider adoption as an option. They want their own genetic baby to raise.

[@bobastu]

Adoption in the USA is a rigged system. I know from first-hand experience. I had to prove financial suitability, that I already had a room, clothes, toys, a healthy well-adjusted family, and then complete adoption training. I was adopted. The adoption training consists of multiple videos where the adoptive parents are made out to be stealing someone else's child, and that the child will resent the adoptive piaget for doing so. In addition, they teach the adoptive parents to expect the child to have reactive attachment issues, as well as feelings of abandonment their whole lives. I NEVER felt those things. My adoptive parents are my real parents. More children are killed, abandoned, and abused by biological parents, than adoptive parents. The courts required the birth father to present no suitability, no employment, no stable home. Children are not property due to their genetic soup. The judge asked the birth father what would be the ideal situation. He told the judge that if we could take care of the baby for the next few years while he got off the drugs and got his life in order, then he could slowly start becoming a part of his son's life, visiting one every few months at first. This is after his grandmother told the judge her grandson is a good boy, but just can't make it through rehab. He was 19 at the time. We have not heard from him since the closed adoption was finalized. It's been 10 years. His entire family viewed this little boy with special needs as a piece of property. It was their legal right. Our system needs to change.

[@kafkaskitchen]

So they found a random person. Yeah, they deserve the unfortunateness

[@kafkaskitchen]

​@@bobastu a bunch of adopted kids are abused and/or returned. The difficulty to get a child is because of the past. Russia doesn't even let us adopt anymore

[@kafkaskitchen]

​@@bobastu a bunch of us do have attachment issues. It's only fair to give potential parents a heads up. Most of us don't get fairytale endings, but I guess you don't wanna hear about that.

[@minisnakali]

I feel so bad for the surrogate, honestly she and the baby deserved better.

[@kasualbeauty309]

Thank god it’s a show right.

[@ughicanteven5896]

I don't feel bad for the surrogate, she knew what the contract was and still signed it.

[@heathercontois4501]

@@ughicanteven5896 Not necessarily. Just because she read and signed it, doesn't mean that she understood the loophole they left about her and the babies care if there were unforeseen complications.

[@ughicanteven5896]

@@heathercontois4501 she mentioned it to the doctors though.

[@heathercontois4501]

@@ughicanteven5896 What she knew was that the co tract said she doesn't get paid if she doesn't carry to term. I take this to be a means to keep a surrogate from changing their minds. But, she also strikes me as the type to not know to get protection for herself in case of complications. She has two boys, so if all she had was 2 successful pregnancies it might not have even occurred to her that something could go wrong.

[@sapphiresquire]

This makes me so angry! My sister and I were born two months early and our first month was spent in the hospital and it was rough, but 28 years later we are both alive and well!

[@flynneves3152]

Yeah, I was born almost three months early due to complications that my Mum was having. I spent the first three months in ICU, on a lot of steroids, etc. I had mild athsma, and needed to wear hearing aids until I was four. But now I am healthy and about to graduate university. I don't think it's ethical to be allowed to drop out of a surrogacy contract like this. And, it seems so strange to me that that she was so worried about needing to use a shelter. I would have thought she would be paid much more to be able to cover her living costs seeing as she's carrying someone else's child. If they were so concerned about adopting *their* child that was born prematurely, they should either have adopted a baby that wasn't through a surrogate, or done a better job at taking care of their unborn child

[@polarbearhero9803]

@@flynneves3152 In real life the surrogate would hire a lawyer funded by whichever side she embraced and go after them with a vengeance and an empty pocketbook. Such a woman would be a ten million dollar goldmine or fine. Lawyers would be lined up to take her case. She wouldn’t be worried about her kids. They’d have college funds and a big house no matter what the mother chose. Goes to show how fake and forced these storylines are.

[@MELOBSSESED]

I was born 3 months early i was 1pound 8ounces. I needed a tube to help me brrath now here i am 21 years later healthy as can be and loved.

[@DragonEmpress08]

My friend had twins born premature about three weeks shy of when she had the scheduled the c section. They spent two weeks in the nicu and then two more weeks in the hospital for observation to see if they would be okay to go home. They spent a total of 5 weeks in the hospital. I got to drive them home from the hospital. They are both really smart and doing fine. I love those boys and miss them. I moved out of state but I still call to talk to them

[@Sofiathefirst223]

Same

[@Sickandtired24]

There should be laws against arrangements like this. The biological parents should be made to take responsibility regardless of the condition of the child because they chose to bring it into the world. People like this do not deserve children. People should be charged for abandoning babies in this way.

[@DirtyPrancing]

Technically the law in most places is that you can abandon your child with no consequence and this is a good thing - it protects unwanted babies from homicide and abuse. The surrogacy ironically does not complicate the issue - once the baby is born, you can draw a line where the surrogacy contract ends and surrogate has no legal obligations to the child, then you can start from that line the short window the parents "own" the child, and quickly another line where they give the child up. The surrogate at that point is an irrelevant person, with no liability for the child, though they may have some cause for petitioning to adopt if they wanted. My point is, being able to abandon your child is a right that protects babies. Which is more important than sticking it to deadbeat parents. This is a healthy baby anyway, 32 weeks is well developed and it's a newborn. In real life, the baby would be adopted by even better parents within the day and the surrogate's only worry would be how she could sign such a ridiculous contract and the possible legality of the payment. The baby's fate is quite rosy, the surrogate will be unaffected by it's existence, and the only concern now is whether she's entitled to that extra bonus despite not meeting the terms of the dumb contract she signed (likely not?

[@anabotero9427]

Surrogacy is forbidden in my places, but there are some countries where it is legal like Ukraine.

[@neflufv6392]

@@anabotero9427 they are not saying surrogacy should be illegal at all.., just that the parents should not be able to abandon it

[@anabotero9427]

@@neflufv6392 It should be illegal. A poor woman shouldn't have to sell her body in order to live. Pregnancies can kill.

[@neflufv6392]

@@anabotero9427 true, but it’s not always taking advantage of people either. Lots of women can be fine financially and do it for a woman is simply unable to carry a baby. They still get paid for their time and labour, but it’s not always the horrid situation shown here

[@codybaggett5329]

What kind of monster (who can't even carry the child themselves) would draw up a contract like that? It's shameful to say the least.

[@ericaboisvert]

They probably could carry, but they are rich and don't want to.

[@MoosicBear]

Some people can't carry because of medical problems, but would genuinely love their child, so they get a surrogate

[@DogNamedWatson]

Okay, so, obviously these fictional parents are awful, but it's terrible to say "who can't even carry the child themselves" like it proves they're awful. There are thousands of legitimate and valid reasons why a couple would choose to use a surrogate, including the mother being physically unable to support a pregnancy (she may not even *have* a uterus, it's possible a woman needing a surrogate had a hysterectomy for any number of reasons, but froze her eggs to be used when the time comes).

[@codybaggett5329]

@@DogNamedWatson I'm saying that they should be grateful instead of hateful and that surrogates deserve better. Sorry if that came off sounding like I was saying they were inferior for using a surrogate.

[@froggybug]

That’s why she barren. She doesn’t deserve children. She’s a monsta!!!!

[@rebecaa7482]

That's so screwed up. Who gives up their baby just because she's premature? If that's how people are willing to be with their own biological child than they don't deserve to be parents at all.

[@chrispile3878]

They wouldn't have been good parents. Thankfully, this is just a TV show, but these contracts from hell exist.

[@zoereyes8623]

I dont understand how you can abandon a baby for such a reason, there are a lot of people how wish they could be parents, yet they aren't because they can't for multiple reasons. She wasn't even far off her delivery date! I was born premature at 5 months (almost 6, my mom barely survived and I did because they started nurturing me before she had a C-section). I can't imagine having the ability to have a kid, having them, and then abandon my kid because they arent good enough.

[@NDNauthorgirlie]

@@chrispile3878 Yep this is a reason that they stopped paid surrogacy in the states

[@nyxnightmare3542]

@@zoereyes8623 It's not abandoning, because surrogates like this do not exist. It is illegal. A surrogate must prove they have money. If they don't, they cannot sign any legal contracts for this. So if you're a surrogate who's literally homeless, you are a criminal, as are your clients for hiring a worthless criminal. A real surrogate has funds to provide for the fetus after birth, and can then choose to either keep it or get rid of it. Typically they have other options on the side, as is legal, similar to how the contract holder here said. She was going to look for other people to take the fetus and pay the birther. Most surrogates have options like this already planned, as a "just in case."

[@lowkeyemo6340]

@@nyxnightmare3542*California cackling in the background*

[@Kay_The_Coffee_Weirdo]

Unfortunately this type of scenario is legal in certain places. There was an Australian woman who was a surrogate to a Chinese couple. She was pregnant with fraternal twins. They took the boy baby back to China, while abandoning the girl. Surrogates have also been known to abandon any babies with medical problems.

[@life.with.too.many.animals9411]

Yeah...as long as the baby doesn't die sadly it's legal in some places.

[@afunkylittleguy]

Well considering they lived in China, they probably had the one child law, maybe two. And most don't want girls because in Chinese culture, from what I know, the girl is basically given to the husband's family and doesn't really come back. I'm not surprised.

[@eternallylearning2811]

Well with how China can be to maybe it was for the best hope her and the child ended up ok actually maybe she should have fought to keep the boy as well

[@GH-Rav]

Wait, do you mean surrogates or bio-parents have been known the abandon?

[@DirtyPrancing]

I don't see this as any different than a parent giving their child up for adoption, so long as the surrogate is not liable. Theyre paid to carry the baby to term, it doesn't mean the surrogate is liable to care for the child even if the bio parents abandon it thereafter.

[@rachaelcameron1542]

As if a placental abruption gives you time to have a meeting with a lawyer and some calm discussions 🙄 wooow

[@bonD6002]

Maybe they're slowing it down with medications or smth

[@MM-gd1dw]

Lol

[@OopsOlliePopp]

Genuine question, not trying to be smart i just genuinely dont know. Is it possible they can delay with medication?

[@mla.2k956]

@@OopsOlliePopp they actually can but it’s not really the most common. There are mainly just attempts at that. There was a woman with twins who had this happen, and she delivered one twin, they delayed the second twins birth with meds and the second twin was delivered on regular time.

[@RaventheBeautiful]

Preach! Not realistic at all.

[@mizhobo1808]

My son was born 3 months early, and I saw how some babies didn’t get a single visit from any family for three months during his NICU stay. It boggles the mind how someone would do that to an innocent babe battling to survive.

[@iheartdelrey]

Why would anyone wanna visit a baby in the first place?

[@emrod9577]

@@iheartdelrey calm down edge lord

[@ineedhoez]

@@iheartdelrey lololol

[@strawberrycherrybaby]

@@iheartdelrey There are hundreds if not thousands of studies on the positive effects of socialization on newborns. A baby will literally die without physical contact. Without it, their body doesn’t create growth hormone and they just wither away. That’s why hospitals have nurses and volunteers (or the parents/guardians if possible) hold the baby as much as possible.

[@waves2378]

If I had a baby in the NICU, I wouldn't want to leave the hospital at all without them.

[@AspieGirlArianaHale]

Imagine the baby wasn’t premature & they accepted him/her, then a few years later the child got cancer … would they then ditch that poor child for developing cancer?? Disgraceful. People who act in such a manner don’t deserve to be parents! 😤

[@alyzu4755]

The "parents" should be forced to pay for everything for the baby, the young woman, and her 2 sons for the rest of their lives.

[@umani9983]

If that's how the law works, no one would offer this woman the deal, and she and her kids would still be in shelters. Although would be fair for the "parents" to cover the surrogates' medical expenses in case of complications like this.

[@pronounhoarder_8632]

Premature doesn’t mean unhealthy. I was premature by 2 months and I weighed 13 ounces (not even a pound) and I’m fully healthy and always have been.

[@BrittKGM]

My ex-bf’s youngest niece was born 2-3 months premature and spent all that time in the NICU. She is now a happy and healthy teenager

[@yecly]

That alone should cancel their rights to be a parent. Killing or abandoning a child is just asinine and inhumane. I hope this scene is not a reality.

[@artistic_ideas35]

Sadly, these things do happen. If they sign the contract it's legal, unless the contract itself breaks the law. Which in this case it doesn't. It's a very sad thing that people can be so cruel, but it's happening more and more these days.

[@bevstrong3651]

This story hits close to home but in a positive way. I was born at 33 weeks and my twin and I were born prematurely. I was in a tube for about a month and then I turned out just fine but instead my parents abandoning me and my sister like that, they were patient and were there for us in every way and we are still healthy today at 21 years old. I think stories like this make me more grateful for the parents that I have. This is so inhumane.

[@LucyBex27]

Unfortunately I heard a case like this in England. Basically there were twins a baby boy and girl and the baby girl called Amy was rejected by the parents because she had a disability. When they babies were born the baby boy had no complications so went home with the parents while the baby girl stayed in hospital. Once the surrogate found out the baby had a disability she called the parents to tell them to news and thinking that they would still take the baby in as it was biologically theirs. But no. The most disgusting thing that I heard was that the mother of the baby said that “she’d be a ****ing dribbling cabbage! Who would want to adopt her? No one would want to adopt a disabled child”.’ Those were her comments to surrogate mother about her own baby! The surrogate was obviously disgusted and shocked by this when she heard this comment on the phone. In the end there was a court ruling and the parents took the baby boy in and kept him, while the baby girl was adopted by the surrogate mother who is now raising she as her own with her partner and her children. That baby boy deserves better I think. Some people don’t deserve to be parents I believe.

[@wondergirl1586]

I really hope their baby boy can meet his sister one day and get to see each other as siblings

[@ReignsProphecy]

Just wait until that boy grows up and discovers he has a sister that he didn't know about. There's going to be a whole lot of questions and arguments

[@kiksocks12]

32 weeks isn’t even that early that baby is likely gonna be totally fine

[@snoopygonewilder]

That's what I thought when they said 32 weeks. I was like "oh, I thought it was going to be like in the 20s or something, but 32 is perfectly fine."

[@Hannah-um2uz]

Exactly mine was born at 33 weeks

[@ruebunbun]

My nephew was born at 32 weeks. He spent 5 weeks in the hospital but he’s 2 now and perfectly healthy

[@Wolfbo1144]

I was born at 34 weeks, and the only problem I have is I'm short.

[@bevstrong3651]

Yeah exactly I was born at 33 weeks, spent about a month in the hospital after I was born and been perfectly healthy ever since.

[@fleurpouvior2967]

Technically, couldn't she just do a dna test and sue for child support from the father? Seems like problem solved

[@maheenm.k1015]

However, getting a lawyer to sue for her would cost thousands. Not having money in the first place is the reason she got in this situation.

[@sexyangel072]

They would counter with the same thing. Unless she’s an egg donor on top of being a surrogate, she has no claim. And I’m sure the contract probably thought of this and put a clause to prevent this

[@Shawnkaysal]

@@maheenm.k1015 depending on the state she is in she could get a gov assistance program to force child support but who's to say their stupid contract protects them from that too. Seems like the clients are just horrible people....

[@seaofroses8888]

She doesn’t have custody of the baby. Also, she agreed to be a surrogate, even if she used her own eggs, she didn’t sign up to raise the child.

[@Norinia]

@@sexyangel072 certain clauses can be can be rendered null and void if considered unreasonable. For instance, say someone has you sign a contract saying you’ll give them, erm, say, an incredible architectural blueprint that is 1000% perfect for them, within a month. But in that contract, they have it written that if they don’t like the design, you now owe them 50 years of your labor, whatever they’d want, if they’d want to tie you down in the basement and harvest your organs, whatever they want. This ‘term’ comes up because they just claim they don’t like your work to get you, you bring it before a judge. A judge will then render it null and void, for human slavery is 1000000% illegal, and beyond that, the terms unreasonable. They may then force the party to pay restitutions over it. While there are still a couple f*cked up places in the world that don’t, where this show takes place, America right? That would absolutely be possible. Furthermore, just because she doesn’t currently have the money, doesn’t mean she can’t get a lawyer. Given her destitute circumstances, there are dozens of lawyers who would take her case free of charge (there’s a term I can’t remember for it, it’s where they simply write their pay into the judgement, instead of directly charging the client.) And if she couldn’t find those lawyers herself, bringing her case to the great wide web, there would be thousands of people running to get her every single resource they could get her. Finally, there are women shelters who’d help hook her up to resources too. The case isn’t just open and shut because some jackass wrote words on a paper. The situation and the reasonability/legality also come into play. To quote an easily understandable reason life situation, and NDA doesn’t mean you have to stay silent about violent abuse/hazards in the workplace.

[@KristiContemplates]

There was a disturbing case in Australia where a couple used IVF to conceive. A set of twins were gestating beautifully, until the parents found out they were both boys at about 24 weeks. The couple sought termination because they wanted a girl and refused to delay trying again for a girl so their sons could reach full term. Much division over the whole thing at the time and plenty of opinions saying that their choice went against the spirit of IVF and reproductive freedom from unwanted pregnancies. Australian law allowed pre-implantation screening after that, including sex chromosome combination evaluation

[@ComeliaO7]

That’s fucked up

[@courteneysmith2467]

They shouldn't be parents than

[@1yugioh11]

You say they sought termination. Did they get it or did they have the boys?

[@marysuethebusdriver7726]

That happened in 2012 or something didnt it? I cant remember what came afterwards, think ill google it. Aussie couple who also had twins and left the boy behind as he had down syndrome. Turns out the biological dad was a sex affender.. Look up baby Gammy.

[@felicitymorris5548]

There was also that case from 2014, where the Farnells wouldn't take the boy because he had Down Syndrome, but still took his twin sister home

[@KristiContemplates]

My mum had an abruption when pregnant with my younger sister. Wow, people are disgusting to exploit a desperate mother like this. And to abandon their deliberately created daughter because her care requirements are inconvenient for them, these people don't want a child, they're after an accessory for showing off to others

[@AmethystEyes]

Exploitation for gestational surrogates is not uncommon. People go overseas to spend as little money as possible renting the womb of a poor woman in a poor country. (Ex. India)

[@rihannahaiti5570]

It had nothing to do with the care, they wanted a healthy child. Most people don't adopt sick dogs, they want the healthiest dog. Yes it's a human life, but they want the best for what they are paying, she isn't doing it out of the kindness of her heart either, she's doing it for cash

[@hadilayyad6147]

@@rihannahaiti5570 Stupid argument, how can you compare a dog to someone of your own race, especially that someone being your biological child? You don’t throw a child away bc they weren’t born the way you wanted them to be, in this case it’s stupid bc the baby was just premature, not even sick or disabled. The callousness. Want the best for what they’re paying, that’s disgusting, sounds like human trafficking. How do you even make that argument?

[@sym867]

@@rihannahaiti5570 and that child was healthy? It was perfectly healthy just underdeveloped, which is why it needed more attention ae: spending some time in the NICU. I’ve had two baby brothers who had to spend some time in the nicu, and they’re perfectly fucking healthy as well, smarter than most babies too💀. Yes she did it for the money, you would too if you wanted your kids to grow up in a actual home instead of a shelter. The clients aren’t fit to be a parent if they can’t even undergo simple complications, cmon now the woman was gonna kill herself just to have that baby delivery delayed. If they can abandon a baby that quick then imagine what happens if the kid isn’t the smartest?, maybe if they turn out gay, what if they have ANYTHING that the parent doesn’t like??? Like I said they aren’t fit to be parents

[@amylynnsgraphics]

@@rihannahaiti5570 A child is not a business transaction, it's a human being we're talking about, a child these people created didn't just adopt. Of course in a perfect world you want to get your moneys worth, but when you're dealing with pregnancy and child birth even if you do everything right, there's always a risk of complications and if these two people had any decency or humanity they would have understood and made adjustments to the clause, but not these two people suck and have no empathy and therefor don't even deserve to be parents. They didn't really want a child they wanted a perfect baby doll, a living accessory to show off to their other privileged rich friends.

[@dragonman910]

The parents are DISGUSTING for this! Exploiting a desperate mom, make her go through excruciating pain, just to pull out of their contract. Unless you medically can't have children, don't scam a person this way! FFS the woman nearly died! Unbelievable.

[@MB-ue2ww]

Its ridiculous. As a woman that can't even carry a baby, do you really get to stipulate you won't be having one that isn't 100% perfect from someone else. No. It was theirs from the start and should be paying for everything their surrogate needs including the extra medical bills from complications.

[@TheHcjfctc]

It really depends on the state. So far the states I’ve seen require stipulations where this kind of situation cannot occur in that the contract must state that the intended parents always are required to keep the baby or put it up for adoption and the surrogate would still definitely be paid. I haven’t looked at Illinois law though. It’s definitely important to have a contract that protects all the parties involved.

[@ineedhoez]

Right? But women are terrible negotiators soooooo

[@ceciliapistorius8321]

This is nuts! The biological parents should automatically be responsible for the child! It's their DNA, their baby, not the surrogate's. It shouldn't even be a matter of "adoption" because, again, it's their baby!

[@Liyahtheleo__]

Naw , sucks , but if she was a surrogate then that’s what she only wanted to be . It’s unfortunate that the other parents are like that but I still don’t believe it should be thrown back at the bio parent . They still didn’t wanna be a parent .

[@esteicy98]

@@Liyahtheleo__ I don't think you know how surrogates work.

[@nyxnightmare3542]

@@Liyahtheleo__ Honey. Surrogacy is when you want to be a parent, but cannot give birth. It is mostly used by us, gay males, because we do not have wombs. It is also used by barren females who cannot birth, but who wish for their male partners to pass on genes. Adopting a child is a nightmare. Most adoption agencies lie for quick cash. They claim the kids are "perfectly healthy," but when you buy one all of a sudden the kid has had years of major medical issues, retardation, ect ect. Surrogacy is much better for non-birthers because there's far less lying that can take place. You get to know what a fetus has before birth, and any complications after too. If adoption agencies weren't so corrupt and focused on pedophilia, surrogacy wouldn't be as needed as it is today

[@ineedhoez]

The law needs to catch up to technology. Hate to say it, but pretend the surrogate is a pod you rent. Nothing more. If you put your egg and sperm into the pod, it is your baby end of story.

[@queenjanee6290]

@@Liyahtheleo__ it’s literally their baby that they paid ten of thousands of dollars for 😂😂 they not even equipped to carry their own child but are picky? And y’all agree with this 😂😂

[@heiditate6989]

My oldest daughter was born at 30 weeks. She spent 6 weeks in the NICU to gain weight and get rid of jaundice. She was healthy. She is 38 years old and no complications. My granddaughter was born at 35 weeks and 3 grandsons at 36 weeks. All perfectly heakthy.

[@thezek6322]

Your family might wanna get an evaluation or something cause all those early births don’t seem right

[@Blackbrabx]

​@@thezek6322yea it's probably genetic

[@foolslayer9416]

That is weird. A premature baby is still a bloody baby, they can still care for it even if it came to the world early. Why do rules and pieces of paper have more value than people?

[@roromerigulgapa1246]

Premature or not this is not a vending machine, and again premature or not theses horrible people were not equipped to love any human being or little angel on earth.

[@Notmyname423]

Because it’s a tv drama.

[@babymochi9529]

I was born 9 weeks early and there's no problems with me at all the bio parents are awful human beings imagine there kid being told when he is older that his bio parents did not want him because he was born early

[@Alayne89]

Because this is what surrogacy involves. Every surrogate pregnancy is automatically high risk, compared to a pregnancy where the mother is biologically related to the child. Paid surrogacy is run off the backs of desperate impoverished women. That's why so many Asian and European countries like Ukraine have large surrogacy networks. In America, the industry is marketing have two women involved; a separate egg donor, and the surrogate woman, to reduce the legal rights of the surrogate. They typically target young college women as egg donors and military wives as surrogates. We do not know the long term effects on fertility or health, as both women need to undergo a barrage of medications to physically either donate eggs or carry the pregnancy. Even unpaid surrogacy is fraught with risk, with high risk of women being bullied or pressured into providing the "service" for friends or family. Surrogate women have higher rates of ptsd. It's a capitalist industry, where women and children are products.

[@ComeliaO7]

My nephew was a premie. He just turned 10. For any rich asshole that abandoned a child. I wish the sparse for them.

[@BrittKGM]

That damn lawyer needs to stop using the word ‘adopt’. The child has the DNA of both her clients which means it’s is THEIR CHILD; therefore it’s their responsibility

[@modernskyn]

I know of a surrogate who carried twice. Her first experience was for a married couple. That experience traumatized her. The wife must have been jealous for not being able to carry the child or something. The wife was always upset, cold and seemed bothered. As soon as that baby was born, the wife told the doctor not to allow “her” baby near the surrogate (which, she had no intention of doing). The second time was for a gay couple (two men). She was actually treated with so much love and respect (I guess because the men are not jealous over a pregnancy), they just wanted to be involved in every milestone. The surrogate enjoyed the pregnancy and involved these men in EVERYTHING. She recorded belly movements, went baby shopping with them and was even ask to attend the baby shower. They later sent her pictures of the baby and invited her and her husband to see the baby and call her the “mother”. I’m not knocking traditional families (my husband and I are your traditional nuclear family). However, some of these couples don’t understand that you can’t just hand over money and get a healthy baby or the human emotions involved in carrying a child, even if it’s not your own. I’m sure there’s a sense of feeling “less than” for women who can’t carry, but that doesn’t give a person a right to use others (even if you’re paying them). Babies should be brought into an environment of love and nothing less of the absolute best. Just recently, the traditional couple contacted her asking if she can carry once more. It was a hard no!

[@kaytlinjustis5643]

I'm just glad the second went better. I can't imagine going through that! I pray she is doing well and am happy that she and the couple who cared to go through everything with her have happy, healthy lives with their child! It never is about being 'traditional', but about the relationships people form with each other. ^^

[@Beast_1996]

Those parents NEVER wanted that baby, they wanted something to brag about Makes me wonder how they would’ve treated it as it got older

[@RobinPM86]

Right? If the child ever got sick or badly injured, would they abandon him/her?

[@sacred_g]

2:25 Anyone else's eyes nearly pop out of their skull when they heard the lawyer say that?

[@MayTheOddsBeInYourFavor]

Parents with children shouldn’t be sent to just any shelter…they should be somewhere safe, no? They shouldn’t be this terrified of somewhere they’re supposed to go in bad times.

[@Mamaaudri]

I have a condition where all of my babies were born between 31 weeks and 34 weeks. All 3 of mine were healthy at birth despite my first son having a few cuts on his head and some jaundice. He even had only a bit of time in the NICU, and my middle child became how he was because of a medical accident when he was 3. This makes my blood boil because things like this are happening in the world as we speak. Disgusting.

[@TheVampireRose]

A placenta abruption and HELLP syndrome??? ONE OF THOSE IS DEADLY LET ALONE BOTH. Honey we'd have you in the back for a C-section YESTERDAY. That is not something you can medicine away, that is a medical emergency. There is no time to debate carrying it to term, the placenta is detaching and you're bleeding out. The baby isn't getting jack from the detached placenta. Both mom and baby don't have time to deliberate let alone carry to term. I love this show because god they get everything wrong and it's hilarious.

[@partywerewolf1874]

its still the patient's choice whether to have a c section or not if she refuse there is nothing that they can do except to try to change her mind, I don't see what they got wrong here.

[@geman741]

I think you're the one wrong here. The patient is welcome to refuse treatment

[@michellem3654]

As a premature baby I know the feeling when you realize that your parents didn’t want you because of some complications but at the same time good things always come up at the end of the dark tunnel

[@Brianna-eo8nu]

Tbh if those parents pulled out over something as trivial as the baby being premature, then I’d say that baby dodged a bullet by not having them as their parents.

[@marielaausher]

Those clients didn’t want to be parents, they wanted to play parents If they really wanted to be parents that badly, they wouldn’t care if the baby was premature That’s their baby, their flesh and blood See that poor surrogate willing to go through intense pain and almost dying for her kids? That’s what a parent does, not abandon the poor baby because they have to care a little more for her

[@LoveAlways525]

Some day when I’m in a better financial situation my hope is to adopt a premature baby like this. Even though this is just a show I know this type of situation happens in real life and to think of all of the struggles a premature baby has to go through and imagining them going through all of it alone is absolutely heartbreaking

[@Unapologetically_american]

I hope you get to do that. That is truly a beautiful thing❤️

[@JP2GiannaT]

Thank GOD discussion of surrogacy stuff is hitting the cultural mainstream. Nobody wants to talk about how vulnerable these women are and how exploited they can be.

[@diamondgiddens1193]

I have a baby, and the scene where the female doctor came in to talk to the mother made me cryyy.

[@dannie4528]

My daughter was born at 34 weeks. She was in nicu for about 4 weeks and that's it. No health issues from it. She's a perfectly healthy and happy 7yr old.

[@DirtyPrancing]

I love how they skipped from "you might have placental abruption, we need to scan to confirm" to "ok, you definitely have it. We need to remove the baby NOW"

[@inesdesplanque4816]

If you want a child so bad you ask a surrogate, you should not abandon that child when they need you the most. What the hell is wrong with some people?

[@maryclaremayo6157]

This is A tv show, but you know this is happening. How do you conceive a child and then just toss it away because it's born premature? I pity any child born to parents like this. The baby is just a commodity, a manufactured product.

[@MDAdams72668]

actually, this would be for the best. At least the suragut will CARE

[@hadilayyad6147]

Someone here actually argued that the parents shouldn’t be blamed for wanting the best for what they are paying 🤡 doesn’t that sound like child trafficking?

[@hadilayyad6147]

@@MDAdams72668 The surrogate can barely afford to raise her own children, she shouldn’t have to take another child in because she gave birth prematurely, it wasn’t her fault in the slightest.

[@cubbi2789]

We have a house in my city where babies who were born with birth defects are cared for. The parents just walk away from their babies because of it. My sister and I were both premature babies and our parents fought to make sure we were healthy despite health concerns

[@lightstep1433]

Situations like this really mess with me. My oldest brother was premature by about a month. He is currently 20 and perfectly healthy. The only thing that was ever "wrong" was that his skull wasn't growing with his brain so they had to remove a piece. Most babies that are born premature are perfectly healthy, after a little extra childhood monitoring

[@nightmaregirl5589]

I was pregnant in December 2021 and miscarried. I was absolutely devastated and every once in awhile I still cry over that baby and think about the what ifs. I'm now 35 weeks with my second pregnancy and on track to deliver anytime between now and next month whenever my bundle of joy decides she's ready. I'm thankful everyday that this baby is surviving and I didn't lose her at 6-7 weeks like I did with her angel sibling. I'm so ready to be a mother that episodes like this disgust me because the parents can't get over themselves and see a premature baby as "imperfect".

[@luci4087]

such a crap situation for the surrogate. i know it’s something she agreed too, but people don’t always expect the unexpected to happen. having another baby you can’t afford… if the biological parents don’t think they can take care of a premature child, then it’s probably better they didn’t “claim” the child. the child deserves better.

[@mcnoneya]

I was born in 91’ so my alcoholic fathers mom told him to not worry about walking away because I was probably gonna die anyway. My grandparents on my moms side were alot well meaning but actually felt it was best to give me up for adoption because I was born with sooo many problems, and she already had 2 young kids and was in an abusive relationship and was a single mom 2 yrs later. I’m thankful she didn’t. I have a good quality of life and pretty much always have, it’s not perfect but overall I live okay. I’m not in a shelter I had food and medical bills were mostly covered, which was good cuz I’ve had like 21 surgeries in 24 yrs, 18 by the time I was 19 I think

[@KristiContemplates]

Attitude of gratitude. I'm loving it 🤗

[@mcnoneya]

@@KristiContemplates I try. I’m a natural pessimist so I have to speak truth to myself but at the same time i KNOW how lucky I am. I see the circumstances of others with similar issues and the struggles they go through and I’m like “wow I’m so blessed that I have …”this” “this” and this”. My mom sacrificed sooo much for us just to pay the bills. I was an ungrateful child but as an adult your brain sorta develops and something clicks and you just understand a little better. I’m still learning.

[@Mica0842]

I think that lady and her company should have vanished .

[@lillianpilto2377]

32 week is still far along, isn’t it? That’s 8 months! Normal gestation is between 9-10. I was a few weeks early and was still full-term by standards of development.

[@hannahmcgrory7636]

I was born a month early and for the most part in good health, but that was only because of doctors about two months before I was born realizing a lot of problems and helping to solve them before I was born, and despite the fact that my liver was kind of weird, my parents still loved me so so so much. Can you imagine if they had decided that because I wasn’t in absolutely perfect health or born a month later that they were going to abandon me? Disgusting.

[@euniceopul6504]

That iss truly harsh for the mum and unborn child. How does she even go through with the emotional trauma at hand? The worry about her two sons and money to come from the unborn child...

[@sishanavarro2813]

We used a surrogate to carry our son. This is such a sad situation. But thankfully not the norm. Or at least in our case. We had an incredible bond thru the whole pregnancy and now she is practically an aunt to my son. All parties were represented by attorneys so we all felt our interests were protected. This is exactly why we didn’t choose to use an agency. We went the private route. I didn’t want it to be a cold transaction. My heart breaks for any surrogate who would feel even remotely what this show depicted.

[@rosesweetcharlotte]

Such a thing could happen even in a private agreement. That's just sort of the dangers of surrogacy. I'm happy you guys had a good outcome and the truth is, most people do. And most people have a plan

[@waves2378]

If I ever found myself needing a surrogate, my contract would only have two conditions: 1. Do not drink, smoke, or indulge in any behaviors that would be harmful to the baby. If any evidence of such behaviors are found, all payments to the surrogate would stop, and she would need to surrender any money that she had previously received. 2. The surrogate hands over all power of attorney to me during the course of her pregnancy. Should she refuse any sort of medical treatment, or refuse to undergo a c-section if necessary, without a medically valid reason, payments to the surrogate will cease and she must surrender any money that she previously received. Edit: I have a third condition 3. If an abortion is recieved as a result of breaking one of the above conditions, legal action will be pursued.

[@tala954]

Please don't have fucking kids. Reading this makes me nauseous

[@zoeknap9777]

Unless the baby is born with defects, being prem is nothing! i was born at under 4 pounds and nothing wrong with me.

[@francesscabirch6064]

My hubby was born at 24 weeks and 1lb4oz. Apart from taking everything way too literally he is the smartest person I know and sporty. This baby could easily grow up to be perfectly healthy. This storyline got me so angry!!!

[@02loud]

This episode was so crazy. The baby wasn't even in that bad a condition or anything! I would have been thanking my lucky stars, paying the surrogate and making sure her and her boys were okay too if I was that well off.

[@smmilam1991]

There are people like this who just because a child is premature they don’t want it. That isn’t love at all and whoever the couple is should be ashamed because this happens a lot in the real world.

[@mikeyisbombable]

I'm binging this show and watched this episode last night. Truly heartbreaking for the surrogate!

[@obliviouz]

Why? She's risking her health and that of the baby *_FOR MONEY_*.

[@StonerAnggOtaku]

And the lives of her children, if she dies who will take care of them?

[@Kaylee-Renee]

She's desperate and trying to make a better life for her children. Pulling yourself up by the bootstraps is a myth that many can't do.

[@obliviouz]

@@Kaylee-Renee She's risking the life of one of these children.

[@jessicay8033]

As a 2x gestational surrogate I have to say that this scenario is impossible. A surrogate has to PROVE that she is financially stable before any contracts. The parents and the surrogate BOTH have to complete a psych eval to ensure that they’re doing it for genuine reasons and are capable of making a sound decision. Lastly, NO Reproductive Endocrinologist would work with Intended parents who would abandon their newborn simply based on prematurity. Shows like this are why there’s such a negative view of surrogacy. 🤬

[@bungawowzers]

Bring this to the topppp

[@kidsofyesterday17]

Who else but vulnerable women would put themselves at risk for money in this way?

[@tonof.c.1397]

That would be the best scenario but in reality, maaaany women are being taking in advantage by rich people bc they are in bad circunstances.

[@miss1of2]

I'm happy you had good experiences.... But there a shady agencies and shady people in this world! This is exactly why I'm against for profit surrogacy! It's to easy for vulnerable and desperate women to be exploited!

[@rosygirl28]

There are plenty of things that slip through the crack.

[@ohexenwahno5652]

Get a paternity test and sue for child support. Or was that covered by that disgusting contract as well?

[@SimpleandSound]

Yes it would be covered in the contract as well. Surrogacy contracts are very predatory for women because if anything goes wrong, the people paying for that baby will dip. This happens too common now that business is selling newborns

[@chinacetacean]

The parents let their surrogate stay in a shelter with her children but expect nothing but a healthy, full term baby?

[@katymvt]

I don't think she was living in the shelter while pregnant. She said they had recently (I'm assuming at the beginning of the pregnancy) left the shelter and the lawyer said she was getting a weekly living stipend while pregnant. I'm assuming enough to at least get a scummy place of their own.

[@hannahmoody7256]

So she's pretty much put herself through hell for 9 months straight, only to be out thousands of dollars because the baby came early, and she's still homeless Sad situation for both mother and baby

[@andreasanchez1453]

My sister has the same condition and my baby nephew ( now age 3 ) was born premature. I had to wait almost 2 months to hold him and the wait was worth it. I love that little guy with all my heart I wouldn’t trade him for the world .

[@mysterylovescompany2657]

I remember the first time I saw this episode. It left me so angry that my stomach was unsettled. Turns out it still pisses me off. How could anyone ever willingly create an agreement that so predatory towards its second party? It's sickening.

[@marishahodge6824]

Ugh! This pisses me off so much,I was born premature, my mom said I was 3 months early and I had all kinds of complications but my parents never left my side, they were with me every day until I was well enough to go home and I thank God everyday that I'm still here ❤️....I would gladly take that baby in a heartbeat

[@kaytlinjustis5643]

Same here!

[@sandrakelly720]

The sad part is this really happens

[@amyrodman3752]

Actually, if she is having an abruption, the baby would be losing blood flow. It would be suffocating

[@NyakeMini]

So since she's not the biological parent, can she sue them for child support? It's so disgusting that they abandoned her and their baby in time of need. I hope they will never be have a baby (through surrogate or adoption)...well if this was in real life

[@esteicy98]

That's why "surrogate mothers" are a concept I can really accept, not in these conditions, not when the person carrying the baby is in a desperate situation and when the people paying don't see the baby and the person carrying as human beings.

[@BRUNETTECANARY]

Ridiculous. Adoptive parents who don't want to adopt anymore. Absolutely ridiculous.

[@kellyannr4171]

Not everyone are meant to be parents. And this is also clear proof that just because you’re biologically capable, first mean you should be having parents. And just because you’re financially capable of taking care of a child doesn’t mean you should be a parent either.

[@whospilledmybeans]

Oh no, I’d make sure to get paid at least half first before we started

[@rihannahaiti5570]

She was getting paid and if you say no, plenty will say yes.

[@vgreen1106]

"Dont orphan them for this money." My heart broke!

[@fireheartandsapphire]

I could never give birth because of my autism. So, if I were to decide to have a surrogate, I would NEVER make them go unpaid or abandon my baby because he's/she's premature.

[@princessebiere4883]

I literally cried watching the scene where doctor Manning was talking.

[@silverfeigner]

By the adoptive parents pulling out of the agreement with the surrogate, they have breached the contract. The need to compensate this poor woman for the time she carried the child.

[@mariitania9278]

My baby was premature, only 2 weeks in nicu shorter if doctors didn’t give her a fortifier but she’s 3 and ahead in every growth or developmental curve she was suppose to be behind in and has been since she was brought home. This is so sick.

[@mattgerrish908]

Later, when that lawyer approached Mrs. Goodwin again and asks her how Neela is doing, Mrs Goodwin threatens her to stay as far away from her as possible. She says that what she's doing may be legal, but it isn't right and that no reputable surrogacy agency would have ever given anyone a contract like that. She then tells the lawyer to call what she's doing human trafficking because that's essentially what it is.

[@Camilla550]

There was a case I remember hearing/reading about where the bio ‘parents’ gave up a baby girl because she was premature or ill at birth (I can’t remember exactly). The surrogate mother decided to keep her since she had bonded with the child but then 1-2 years later when the girl was a healthy, happy child the bio ‘parents’ decided they wanted her back and tried to take the surrogate mother to court for custody. I think they even had the audacity to try and sue her for ‘emotional distress’ because she didn’t just immediately hand the girl over! It was like they let the surrogate mother do the hard job of caring for the girl when she was ill and then just wanted her when she healthy. Luckily they lost the case and the surrogate mother got to keep her daughter. I think they tried appealing the decision but it again got rejected. Thank goodness!

[@maryambilal7884]

They chose to bring their child into this world. How can they be allowed, by law, to just abandon the baby? God forbid, what if they were the ones who delivered a premature child? Would they abandon the child the same way?

[@lizg5692]

In my opinion, the surrogate can win this case easily

[@finchbird2419]

Man. To think that this shit happens more often than people think. I would adopt that little girl in a heart beat

[@leeluvsreadin999]

Stuff like this is why I believe less and less in surrogacy and donors. There's no real protection for the innocent baby. Just freaking adopt. Blood doesn't make you a parent, it's stepping up and loving and protecting the child. Being there for the good and bad that's a parent. Being called mom or dad is earned and a privilege.

[@ssissigui8846]

Now I understand why the law in France is so strict concerning these matters. The law forbid to make business with human body. Sometimes too much freedom is chaos!

[@chantalkellyman4591]

My son was born 35 weeks, he could have had all manner of health complications and he would still be my beautiful boy. A parent who loves their child loves them whether they came out perfectly healthy or not.

[@STAYATINYARMYSIN]

uuuummm where’s Olivia Benson and ADA Barbra when you need ‘em 🤣 they’d have the baby’s biological parents taking their daughter home by the end of the night and the surrogate mother paid in full 🤣

[@reganwolf4405]

😂😅

[@Sweetlifeof4]

If you’re not ready to take care of a baby during the hardest times, you are not ready period.

[@sidoniemany2339]

I don't have time to watch any TV, please somebody tell me how this end for this poor woman.😬😬😬 I am horrified.

[@JackFoxtrotEDM]

So it's either deliver the baby and not get paid, or die and still not get paid because the baby is dead too.

[@maryjaneg3918]

So if the biological parents don't t want the baby. Can the surrogate mom get child support? I try to find a loophole like rich people do😆

[@rosesweetcharlotte]

That still requires time, but it is one option.

[@mattiec3320]

Yes because the father is still the father so yes and any judge who saw this case would probably max out the payments.

[@seaofroses8888]

I doubt it. Since the father is not the father until he adopts the child. The surrogate also isn’t the mother legally unless she adopts.

[@mattiec3320]

@@seaofroses8888 that's not true the mother has to adopt if it's a surrogate baby the father's and mothers DNA was still used. Father's can be established in court through paternity.

[@rickraber1249]

"Willingly agreed." Right. In order to keep her 2 little boys out of a shelter. People with this kind of money and morals are only thinking of this child as a commodity - we only want it if it's full-term and healthy. But isn't the baby genetically theirs? And the mother is what, an incubator? Legal or not, they should be ashamed of themselves. This is just ugly.

[@cmq23]

If a patient is having a placental abruption, there wouldn't even be time to have a formal discussion with a lawyer. Most of the time, patients with abruption are rushed to the operating room as fast as possible for a Cesarean section. The baby has to get out ASAP. It's a situation where there's a big risk of the baby dying, as well as the mother possibly dying from hemorrhage.

[@NDNauthorgirlie]

I just sat there rolled my eyes lycos I guess she wants to leave her boys orphans

[@dragonman910]

Willingly my a*. She was taken advantage of in a desperate situation.

[@maureenogorman8740]

That is insane. I can't imagine a contract like that.