Courtesy of Emily Westerfield
- Emily Westerfield is 22 weeks pregnant with her ninth baby, which she's carrying for intended parents.The 39-year-old surrogate has three biological children of her own.She runs an agency that recruits other surrogates, but her current pregnancy will likely be her last.
This story is based on a conversation with surrogate mom Emily Westerfield, who lives in Celina, Ohio. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I've carried 12 babies — some singletons, some twins. That number includes the 22-week-old baby I'm expecting, who'll be my ninth non-biological child and my own three kids
The baby I'm carrying is female, which means I will have given birth to an equal number of six boys and six girls by February 2026.
As a gestational carrier, I've delivered eight surrogate babies, including two sets of twins, while the other three, McKenna, 14, Jack, 12, and Charlie, 11, were conceived by my husband and me.
The figures are hard to wrap my head around.
I've always had vaginal deliveries
People often ask whether it's safe to have been pregnant so many times. I reassure them because it's relatively easy for me — my symptoms have always been mild. For example, instead of morning sickness, I experience a food aversion.
I haven't experienced complications, but the multiples were considered high-risk because of an increased chance of premature labor and birth and hypertension experienced by the mother. I had much more monitoring at the clinic in Ohio. I made sure to see a maternal-fetal medicine specialist who takes care of patients with high-risk pregnancies.
I've always had vaginal deliveries, even with the twins.
Still, the more babies you have, the higher the risks. It could lead to a number of issues — from gestational diabetes to placenta issues, such as abruption. It's always at the back of my mind.
I usually follow the doctor's advice to observe a six-month wait time between giving birth and undergoing another embryo transfer. However, in one case in 2018, I was cleared by my OB/GYN to do so just three months after giving birth.
However, I obsessively pay attention to my health during every pregnancy, eating healthily and doing gentle exercise every day.
I put my family first and do household chores, no matter how pregnant I am
Luckily, my husband, Max, 43, a propane service technician, is supportive. He knows that I always put my family first.
As hard as it is not to sit down and relax, I suck it up and tackle chores like vacuuming and doing the dishes.
Courtesy of Emily Westerfield
Another question people ask is whether I'm more motivated by altruism than money. The answer is yes. There are so many people who need the help of a surrogate, and so few women are willing to make the sacrifice.
If I'm able to help because pregnancy is so natural for me, I think I should.
It's unusual to carry the babies of complete strangers, but they end up being like family. Giving others the longed-for child they needed help to bring into the world is a feeling like no other.
I founded my own surrogacy agency in 2022
On delivery day, I am giddy with anticipation. When the intended parents hold the baby for the first time, it's like a hundred Christmases at once.
Meanwhile, I set up Carrying Dreams, an agency, in 2022. It allowed me to be in charge of the whole process, such as having enough time to like and trust the intended parents, doing things at my own pace, and running my business in an ethical and morally correct way.
I provide education and resources and am transparent about the likely earnings of the surrogates we recruit.
Courtesy of Emily Westerfield
Each surrogate sets their own rate, which can range from $30,000 for new surrogates to $65,000 for proven surrogates.
The latter is often able to charge more because they know what to expect with the process's timeline and because their bodies have responded well to IVF medications in the past.
Over the years, as a surrogate, I have gotten more tired. Now, at 39, I have big bursts of energy, yet some days, I could lie on the couch and sleep all day.
I'd say that this 12th baby will be my last.
