Surrogate Thought She Was Carrying Twins, Doctor Sees Ultrasound And Instantly Pulls Out Phone

 Always Hungry

Since she was 21 years old, Shaniece knew she wanted to help someone out by being a surrogate. She thought about it often but she never expected anything like this to happen.

Shaniece’s eyes trailed from the monitor and to her large belly. Within the second trimester, her stomach had grown a huge amount, and she could tell that something was wrong. She couldn’t stop eating, and her back ached horribly.

Something just didn’t feel right.

Everything Okay?

The nurse squeezed jelly onto her skin and held a small instrument to her stomach.

“These symptoms are absolutely normal for a first pregnancy,” she explained.

The screen blurred between grey and black. She held her breath. “Is everything okay?” Then, the nurse called for a doctor.

Youth

Shaniece always wanted her own family.

Her parents had been devoted to one another since they were sixteen, and her older sister married her childhood sweetheart the moment they finished school.

But she never expected to witness so much pain so early into their marriage.

Moving Out

Shaniece was fourteen when Linda moved out from home to live with her partner.

She no longer had to put up with her unbelievable demands or listen to her constant bickering.

She thought her life would be easier now that she had more space to herself.

Lonely

But her home became too quiet. Then, she began to miss the fights.

They met on the weekends, but she could feel them slowly drifting apart. So, she decided to get the bus to visit her big sister.

But she never expected to find her like this.

Visit

As Shaniece walked up the road, she noticed her brother-in-law’s red truck driving toward her.

She stopped and waved, thinking he would slow down or wave back, but he kept on driving.

She had never seen him with such a stern look on his face.

Unnoticed

Josh didn’t even notice her. Maybe he had a tough day at work.

But when she walked up the hill and knocked on the door to her sister’s home, she was taken aback by the way her sister looked.

Discovery

Mascara ran down Linda’s cheeks. Her eyes were red, and her face was pale. “Did he hurt you?”

Shaniece ran to the kitchen and returned with a damp cloth to wipe her sister’s face. “No, don’t be silly. I asked him to leave.”

Upset

Shaniece sat back and studied Linda’s face. She always knew when she was lying.

This time, she was telling the truth. Maybe their parents were right. Maybe they were too young to marry. “Why did you ask him to leave, Linda?”

But she never expected this answer.

Truth

“You know we’ve been trying for a year now, Shaniece.” A stream of tears ran from Linda’s eyes.

“He wants to take out another loan for IVF, but we can’t afford it. We couldn’t afford the first treatment.”

She wiped her nose and sighed. “We can’t keep doing this.”

Support

Shaniece’s heart ached. She had never seen her sister so upset before. And she knew she would never be happy if she didn’t have a child. So, she put on the kettle, grabbed a blanket, and stayed with her for the weekend.

And during that time, she convinced her to try again.

But she never expected her encouragement to have such an impact.

Struggles

It took nearly two years of treatment, but Linda eventually got pregnant.

She wanted to keep it a secret until she reached her second trimester, but unfortunately, she never made it.

After her miscarriage, she didn’t want to try again. But then, she changed her mind.

Depression

She became reclusive. And despite Shaniece’s best attempts, Linda didn’t leave the house for a month.

But her husband had one last idea to give her what she had always dreamed of.

Josh’s Plan

Josh’s idea was an unorthodox one, but it was Linda’s last chance at happiness.

The blow of the miscarriage was still fresh in her mind, and she wasn’t sure of anything anymore.

But Josh’s idea gave her hope.

A Sacrifice

Linda and Josh were about to try to convince Josh’s sister to make an enormous sacrifice.

But would she agree? Only time will tell.

So Josh invited her around to ask the big question.

The Big Question

They sat across the table from Josh’s sister… fidgeting nervously.

Would she agree?

All of Linda’s hopes hung on the words Josh’s sister said next.

Hope

But Linda would understand if she declined — after all, it was a huge thing to ask someone to do.

Then, she looked up and said the three words they never expected.

An Answer

“I’ll do it”. As soon as the words left Josh’s sister’s mouth, Linda felt fear and excitement wash over her.

Finally, she could dream of having a child of her own… she couldn’t thank Josh’s sister enough.

Inspired

Josh had suggested that his own sister act as a surrogate for their child.

She would provide the host womb for their baby.

But Shaniece could never have expected to be so inspired by the young woman’s act of kindness.

Dreams

Had the woman thought this through? It wouldn’t be easy — but she had agreed.

Little did Shaniece know that Josh’s sister would inspire her in the years to come.

Convincing

Josh’s sister offered to carry their child. Understandably, Linda was hesitant.

She didn’t want to get her hopes up again, but what was the harm in trying one last time?

Ethical Concerns

It was an amazing offer, but as Linda thought about it, she came to a startling conclusion.

Was it ethical or even legal to do this when it was his own sister? She had to ask Josh about it.

One evening, she told Josh that something was on her mind, “I’m worried about the pregnancy. She’s your sister…” She began. But Josh was about to educate her.

Safe And Legal

Josh explained to Linda that the baby wouldn’t have shared DNA between the brother and sister. Josh hadn’t told Linda, but he was making a big sacrifice in order for them to have their child.

If his sister gave them their child, she would go through a sperm donor.

This meant that the child wouldn’t share either of their DNA.

More Important Than Blood

The child would technically be his niece, but he told his wife that there were more important things than blood relations.

The child would be theirs and no one else. They would raise them to be their child.

But neither of them knew what kind of journey they would have to go on. It would be a dark road they’d walk together.

Alternate Plans

The couple knew that they were running out of options. This route was not the easiest or the nicest, but Linda didn’t care. She would do anything to get her child. It was her dream to be a mother.

They brainstormed other options, but they always circled back to Josh’s sister. She was their best hope.

They just had no idea what it would mean.

Options

If it didn’t work, they could look into fostering—there were plenty of children in need of a good home.

Shaniece prayed every night for the pregnancy to take.

The couple had to pay for Josh’s sister’s treatment. They only had one shot at this. Then, a miracle happened.

A Long Road

The couple knew that it would be a long road, but then something miraculous happened.

Josh’s sister was pregnant! She found out two weeks after the treatment and seemed determined as ever to give her brother a baby.

Linda cried tears of joy. She couldn’t believe that someone so generous was out there. But she didn’t see the full picture.

Months Pass

All through Josh’s sister’s pregnancy, Linda came to visit as often as she could to help her out at her home.

The sister tried insisting that it was alright, but in Linda’s eyes, it was a way of making sure she had some part to play in the pregnancy.

She reluctantly agreed and let Linda come around to cook her food and tidy up a bit. Until she saw something, she couldn’t believe.

A Day Like Any Other

It was a day like any other during the pregnancy. Josh’s sister was now four months pregnant and showing it.

Linda visited her after work to do some routine cleaning. But that’s when she went where she wasn’t supposed to.

Linda normally cleaned the kitchen, the bathroom, and the living room. But today, she had more time on her hands and decided to delve a little deeper.

Going Deeper

While Josh’s sister lay on the couch for a nap, Linda decided that instead of leaving, she would go ahead and take the initiative. She decided to do a bit more cleaning.

She had never gone up the passage that led to the other side of the house.

As far as Linda knew, there was a bedroom and an office there. But she was unaware of what secrets lay hidden.

Why Not?

Linda stood at the entrance to the passage for a few minutes and wrestled with her conscience. “Why not?” She thought to herself. She didn’t want to snoop, but she wanted to help her more.

He finally came to a decision to ascend the passage to tidy up more and discover more about her child’s surrogate.

But nothing could have prepared her for what she would find.

A Drastic Change

As Linda walked from the well-lit living room to the other side of the house, things took on a darker tone. The walls went from white to a terrible gray. But the real horrors were still to come.

Linda walked slowly through the passage and eventually found herself in front of a door. She slowly pushed it open.

Was this why she never wanted Linda to go this far?

A Familiar Scent

As Linda opened the door, she realized that it was Linda’s bedroom. But that wasn’t the reason why she was suspicious.

The smell immediately wafted into her nostrils. It was a familiar scent.

But as she realized what it was, she clutched her chest. If her hunch was right, then nothing made sense, and all hope was lost.

A Cologne

The smell wasn’t abhorrent to her senses. If anything, it was pleasant and for very good reasons.

It was the same smell that made her feel safe and secure every day when she got home.

But why was the smell of that cologne here? She needed to find out the truth behind everything.

Someone Else Was There

Linda walked into the room and saw that the room was spotless. It didn’t need any cleaning. Someone had already done it. But in Josh’s sister’s state, it wasn’t her. No, someone else had been here.

She walked to the edge of the bed and saw the bottle that made her want to break down.

It was the very same cologne that Josh used, and it was recently used with the smell in the air.

Going Back

Linda decided not to do anything else. She backed up to the door she had gone to and closed it behind her.

Would she be able to keep this secret despite her suspicions? She walked back down to the living room.

Josh’s sister was still fast asleep. Linda wanted nothing more than to leave the place now and call her sister.

Waking Up

But before she could decide what to do next, she saw movement.

The pregnant woman was stirring and eventually opened her eyes and yawned. “I was out for a while, huh?” She said with a grin.

But Linda couldn’t hold it in anymore. “I found Josh’s cologne in your room. I’m sorry, but I snooped.”

Misunderstanding

At hearing those words, Josh’s sister laughed. “I see, and you’re probably getting the wrong idea right now. He comes to visit me every week like you do. I thought he would have told you. He’s allowed in my bedroom because he’s family. It’s nothing weird.”

Linda had to take her word for it. The woman was doing her a huge favor in any case.

She decided going forward to give her the benefit of the doubt. Just five months later, something spectacular happened.

Miracle

When Josh’s sister gave birth, Shaniece cried for hours. She had never been so happy.

If anyone deserved to be a mother, it was Linda.

Then, she made a promise to herself.

A Promise

Shaniece swore then that someday, she, too, would make someone’s dream come true.

But when that day finally came, she never expected her experience to be so unique.

Thoughtful

Shaniece had just turned 21 when she met Joanna and Steve.

And when she informed her family of her decision to give birth to another couple’s baby, they were filled with pride.

She flew to Los Angeles to undergo the procedure and then returned home. But things didn’t go as she hoped.

Something Off

“I was only 21 at the time, but I wasn’t interested in partying and drinking. I wanted to help another couple fulfill their family dream.”

Joanna and Steve were over the moon.

However, after the first trimester, she knew something was off. And she was right.

Waiting Game

The only other surrogate Shaniece had met was Josh’s sister, who worked through sickness, nausea, and sleep deprivation until she was nearly 8 months pregnant.

Shaniece was lucky. But still, she couldn’t help but worry.

Growing

Pregnancy didn’t have any impact on her daily life.

However, when she noticed that her stomach continued to bulge throughout her second trimester, she worried.

Babies grow tremendously during the final months of pregnancy. She picked up her phone and called her doctor.

Check-Up

Shaniece had just finished her second trimester when she visited the doctor for her 10-week scan.

She twiddled her thumbs above her bump as she lay on the table.

When the doctor returned with the paperwork, he was silent.

News

Was something wrong? Was the baby okay?

She would never forgive herself if she let Joanna and Steve down.

Then, the doctor looked up from his notes and said three words that sent a chill down her spine.

Scan

“You’re having triplets,” Dr. Ryan shared with a smile on his face. Shaniece’s temperature increased.

Joanna and Steve wanted one baby, not three.

Would they be happy? Would they be mad?

Huge

Thankfully, the couple was overjoyed. As weeks passed, Shaniece’s stomach swelled to a ginormous size.

Her body ached, but she knew she was doing the right thing.

But she didn’t anticipate this.

Birth

Shaniece eventually gave birth to three healthy babies—two girls and one boy—Willow, Daisy, and Harrison.

“Even though I was only 21 and it was a huge responsibility carrying their babies, it was one of the best experiences of my life,” she happily proclaimed.

Easy

“I had no morning sickness or cravings, the whole pregnancy flew by, and with the support of Joanna and Steve, it was amazing, and I would recommend it to anyone,” she later shared.

But she didn’t say goodbye forever.

Thoughtless

After two weeks of intensive care, Willow, Daisy, and Harrison were strong enough to go home for the first time with their parents.

Shaniece now visits them every birthday.

And for those who have questioned her motives, she’d shed some light on her decision.

Information

“I think a lot of people presume you have to use your own eggs when you’re a surrogate, but that’s not the case at all. ”

“I had Joanna and Steve’s embryo inserted in Los Angeles, so it’s biologically their child, not mine. I was just the host womb.”

A Toll On Her Body

But carrying someone else’s babies can also have more than psychological implications, and carrying triplets can have a negative impact on a woman’s body, especially on a mother so young.

And Shaniece started to experience them.

Damage

“I’m in a relationship now and would like to have more children. I’ve had a miscarriage, so I do wonder if carrying the triplets has had an effect on my body,” she said later in an interview.

But she also shared some other advice.

Some Advice

“My advice for anyone thinking about surrogacy is to make sure you’ve done your research and that you have support around you,” Shaniece shared.

But there are other considerations, too.

No Remuneration

“You don’t get paid to be a surrogate – you only get expenses for your travel and so on…”

“So if you’re looking to make money, this isn’t for you,” Shaniece added.

Contesting UK Laws

Shaniece’s experience of being a surrogate mother has inspired her to try to change current laws regarding surrogacy in the UK.

She feels like parents should have more control.

Questions

She says: “Throughout the pregnancy, I had all the questions about the babies directed at me, for example, birth plans, vaccinations, scan dates.”

“I would just turn to Joanna and Steve and say, ‘What do you want to do?'”

Change Is Needed

“…it was my body, but they weren’t my babies. If the law could change so the parents could make the decisions, it would make things easier on both parts,” she added.

Many surrogate mothers feel the same way, too.

Shaniece wasn’t the only person suffering from a dilemma like this, and she just wished something would change.

Miscommunication

If the parents can’t directly make decisions, then it all goes through a messenger, which can create confusion and miscommunication.

But still, despite the problems on the road, she was still happy to have tried making another couple happy.

Shaniece will never regret her decision to try and bring a bright young child into the world for people who can’t have them on their own.