It’s truly great to see so many celebrities being open about their own fertility issues. We have heard about Nicole Kidman’s, Gabrielle Union’s, Tyra Banks, and Kim & Khloe Kardashian’s struggle with fertility.
Israel Houghton and Adrienne Bailon
Adrienne Bailon
This past week Adrienne Bailon, the former 3LW singer, announced the arrival of her first child, a boy, born via a gestational surrogate. Bailon has been open about the challenges she has faced trying to conceive. Following her long struggle with fertility issues, the former 3LW singer and her husband, Israel Houghton decided to add a little one to their family via a surrogate.
Ellen Pompeo
Ellen Pompeo
Shortly after Adrian Bailon welcomed her baby boy via surrogacy, Ellen Pompeo opened up about her own journey with surrogacy. Ellen Pompeo’s second daughter, Sienna May Pompeo Ivery was born via a surrogate. The “Grey’s Anatomy” alum Ellen Pompeo and her partner, former record producer and writer, Chris Ivery decided to keep her arrival a secret for two months before announcing her birth.
What is a Gestational Surrogate?
A gestational surrogate is a woman who carries and delivers a baby that is not genetically related to them in any way, on behalf of their intended parents. The intended parents usually provide the sperm or the egg, or both which is then fertilized before implanting the embryo into the gestational surrogate. This means that the gestational surrogate has no genetic ties to the baby.
How Celebrities Are Helping
Let’s face it, we all look to celebrities for their opinions and views on life. We may not take it all to heart, but they certainly influence our views. This is why it is so great to see them sharing about the not-so-great parts of life, such as fertility struggles and surrogacy.
Having so many couples – gay and straight – talk about how their fertility struggles affected them helps to destigmatize these issues. Which is key in having a wider acceptance and understanding of what surrogacy truly is.
A Brighter Future
With the massive amount of celebrities acknowledging surrogacy as an option for starting their family the world is beginning to talk more about this path. The conversation is letting others know that they are not alone and that there is a way for them to have the family they have always dreamed of.
