Lily Collins, An Actress Has Welcomed Her First Child Through Surrogacy

Lily Collins, an actress, has welcomed her first child through surrogacy.Emily in Paris star and husband express 'endless appreciation' to their surrogate and those 'who assisted us along the journey.

What is Surrogacy?

Surrogacy is a form of assisted reproductive treatment (ART) in which a woman carries a child within her uterus on behalf of another person or couple.

Who Could Consider Surrogacy?
Surrogacy may be acceptable for women whose medical conditions make pregnancy and childbirth difficult or unsafe. This includes:

Possible causes of infertility include womb absence or abnormality, recurrent pregnancy loss, and failed IVF implantation.
It is also a common choice for male same-sex couples looking to start a family, as well as single persons.

How Can U Find A Surrogate?

Some people ask a family member or friend to be a surrogate. This can be a good solution as there should already be a lot of trust between you.

If using a friend or family member isn’t an option, or you’d prefer to use someone you don’t know, you’ll need to do your research. Fertility clinics aren’t allowed to find a surrogate for you, however there may be other organisations who can help

How successful is surrogacy?

Success rates for surrogacy depend on many factors, including:

• the surrogate’s ability to get pregnant

• the age of the woman whose eggs are being used

• the success of the treatment you’re having (ie, IUI, IVF or ICSI)

• the quality of the father’s or donor’s sperm.

The age of the woman who provides the egg is the most important factor that affects chances of pregnancy.

Are there any legal issues to consider?

Yes. Surrogacy involves a lot of complicated legal issues which is why you should seek independent legal advice, especially if you’re having treatment overseas.

The most important thing to know is that, in the US, the surrogate is the legal mother of the child unless you get a parental order from the court; even if the eggs and sperm used are yours or donated (ie, she’s not genetically related to the child). Once you have a parental order for the baby, the surrogate will have no further rights or obligations to the child.

Who the second legal parent is at birth will depend on your circumstances. If the surrogate is married or in a civil partnership, her partner will automatically be the second legal parent (until a parental order is granted), unless it can be shown that her partner did not consent to her treatment. If the surrogate is single, then the man providing the sperm (if he wants to be the father) will automatically be the second legal parent at birth. However, it is possible for the surrogate to nominate a second legal parent such as the intended mother or non-biological father if you’d all prefer. To do this, both the intended second parent and the surrogate will need to give their consent before the sperm, egg or embryo are transferred:

• The surrogate must complete:
  SWP - Your consent (as a surrogate) nominating an intended parent to be the legal parent form

• The intended second parent must complete:
  SPP - Your consent to being the legal parent in surrogacy form

The law previously only allowed two people to apply for a parental order, however, it has recently been changed and it is now possible for one person to apply for a parental order if you are a biological parent of the child (ie, your eggs or sperm were used to create the baby).

This is a complicated area so you should talk to your clinic early on about nominating a second legal parent so they can support you through the process.

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