Blaine Hurtado, Author at Newborn Advantage

Surrogacy has become an increasingly popular option for celebrities who are looking to expand their families. Over the past few years, stars like Kim Kardashian, Gabrielle Union, and Andy Cohen have used surrogates to give birth to their children. The trend is not limited to female celebrities, as male celebrities like Anderson Cooper, Ricky Martin, and Neil Patrick Harris have also used surrogates to start families.

While surrogacy has long been available to those who are unable to conceive naturally, the public embrace of the practice by celebrities has brought it into the mainstream. In this blog post, we’ll explore the reasons behind this trend and explain how Newborn Advantage can help everyday people have the same high-quality surrogacy experience as celebrities.

The Celebrity Surrogacy Trend: Explained

The trend of celebrities using surrogates to have children is not new. However, it has gained momentum in recent years as more and more stars have opened up about their surrogacy journeys. There are several reasons why celebrities are turning to surrogacy to expand their families.

First, many celebrities are waiting longer to have children, which can increase the likelihood of fertility issues. According to the CDC, the average age of a first-time mother in the US is 26.9 years old. However, many female celebrities are waiting until their 30s or 40s to have children. This delay can increase the risk of fertility issues, making surrogacy a more viable option.

Second, pregnancy in the public eye can be challenging. Celebrities are constantly in the public eye, and pregnancy can be difficult to navigate. The media can scrutinize the physical changes that come with pregnancy, and the pressure to maintain a certain image can be overwhelming. Surrogacy allows celebrities to have biological children without the scrutiny that comes with a public pregnancy.

Finally, surrogacy can provide a biological connection to the child. For celebrities who have struggled with infertility or are unable to carry a child themselves, surrogacy can provide a way to have a biological child. This can be especially important for those who want to pass their genes to their children.

Examples of Celebrity Surrogacy Journeys

Several high-profile celebrities have used surrogacy to expand their families. Here are a few examples:

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West – Kim Kardashian has been open about her struggles with pregnancy complications. One of them is placenta accreta, a condition that causes the placenta to grow too deeply into the uterine wall. After two difficult pregnancies, Kim and Kanye turned to surrogacy to have their third and fourth children, Chicago and Psalm.

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade – Gabrielle Union has also been open about her struggles with infertility. She suffered several miscarriages before turning to surrogacy to have her daughter Kaavia James.

Andy Cohen – TV personality and producer Andy Cohen welcomed his first child, Benjamin Allen, via surrogate in 2019. He has been vocal about the joy that surrogacy has brought him, and has even thanked his surrogate on his talk show, Watch What Happens Live.

Anderson Cooper – CNN anchor Anderson Cooper welcomed his son Wyatt Morgan in 2020 via surrogate. Cooper has been open about his fatherhood journey and credited his surrogate with making his dream of having a child a reality.

How Newborn Advantage Can Help

Newborn Advantage is a surrogacy agency that believes everyone deserves the opportunity to have a child. We provide a high-quality surrogacy experience that is stress-free and smooth, including:

Faster matching: We match intended parents with the perfect surrogate candidate within just two weeks, compared to other agencies, which can take up to 8+ months.
Quality surrogates: Our surrogates are carefully screened to ensure they meet strict requirements for gestational surrogacy, including psychological and medical evaluations.
Our guarantee: If the intended parents’ chosen surrogate does not pass medical clearance, we provide a guarantee to rematch them with another qualified candidate at no additional cost.

Our experienced professionals work closely with intended parents to ensure their surrogacy journey is successful and stress-free. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you start your journey to parenthood.

There are many reasons why people choose gestational surrogacy. Health issues may prevent a woman from getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term, or infertility issues may prevent couples from conceiving. Same-sex couples who would like to have children may choose surrogacy. Single people who want to have biological children may also consider surrogacy. However, no matter the reason, people who choose gestational surrogacy share one thing in common: they all want to welcome a child into the world, and have the chance to grow their families. Here are five key reasons why gestational surrogacy is growing in popularity around the world.

1. Infertility issues are on the rise.

Infertility is common—and it’s increasing. In 1950, there was a global average of five children per woman, according to the United Nations. In 2020, there was an average of two children per woman. While these statistics indicate a global decrease in fertility, the biggest decreases are in developed countries. The United Nations Population Fund reports that Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, and Eastern Asia have the lowest fertility rates in the world, with an average of 1.5 children per woman.

One of the reasons for this decrease is because many men and women in advanced countries are waiting longer to have children, often choosing to complete their education or begin careers first. While this is a positive development, advanced age does impact fertility, for both men and women. In the United States today, 10 to 15% of couples are infertile, according to the Mayo Clinic. The World Health Organization estimates that between 48 million couples and 186 million individuals live with infertility globally. While infertility is not the only reason to choose surrogacy, it is one of the biggest reasons.

2. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is growing.

The International Journal of Women’s Health and Wellness recently reported that more than 8 million babies were born with the aid of IVF since it was first introduced—and estimates suggest that by 2100, 3% of the world’s population will be born using IVF and other fertility treatments. As IVF is becoming more common, gestational surrogacy is, too.

3. Advances in technology are making IVF more successful.

Since IVF was introduced more than 40 years ago, many advances have been made. Some of the most important ones include cryopreservation of surplus embryos, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for male factor infertility, chromosomal screening by preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), mitochondrial donation or three-parent IVF, cryopreservation of ovarian tissue, and uterine transplantation. As IVF methods continue to improve, success rates will rise. This will likely lead to more individuals and couples seeking gestational surrogacy.

4. Gestational surrogacy is becoming more widely accepted and available.

Between 1999 and 2013, gestational surrogates gave birth to 18,400 babies, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A CDC report from 2016 noted that the number of embryo transfers performed on gestational surrogates nearly tripled over a relatively short time period—from 1,957 in 2007 to 5,521 in 2015. Biospacerecently projected 24.8% growth in the gestational surrogacy segment over the period from 2019 to 2025. Unlike traditional surrogacy, which is banned in many locales, gestational surrogacy is legal in many U.S. states and countries, and laws are becoming more accommodating. Gestational surrogacy comes with fewer emotional and legal complexities than traditional surrogacy. It also gives intended parents the opportunity to have a child with whom they share a genetic connection.

5. Awareness of infertility and surrogacy is increasing.

As more people become aware of infertility treatments and gestational surrogacy, their popularity will continue to grow. Today, many organizations advocate for infertility awareness. For example, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association hosts National Infertility Awareness Week each year, promoting advocacy and access to care, support and education. Organizations like the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Hadassah, PCOS Challenge and others are also advocating to raise awareness of infertility issues, decrease stigma, and advocate for policy change. For many people struggling with infertility, gestational surrogacy is an attractive family building option—and as more people learn about this choice, its popularity will likely continue to grow.

If you’re considering gestational surrogacy, Newborn Advantage can help.
Contact us today to learn more.