This is birth: The amazing story of a surrogate and the family she carried *4* children for

This is birth: A surrogacy journey shares the incredible story of how one surrogate came to carry four children for a couple, and how they all became like family to each other in the process.

We had the honor of catching up with surrogate Jessica Pretz to learn more about how this incredible story came to be.

Five years ago, when surrogate Jessica met intended parents Sharon and Lake, she felt an immediate click. “It was like going on a first date and meeting with someone you knew you were supposed to be aligned with. We all just felt that connection.”

Related: My birth story: Surrogacy made me a mother

Jessica had given birth to three of her own children, and had recently finished her first journey as a surrogate, carrying twins for another couple. Jessica agreed to be a gestational carrier for Sharon and Lake.

Throughout that first pregnancy, the intended parents, Jessica and her family all became very close. Jessica, who is currently a Surrogate Coordinator for Circle Surrogacy, clarifies that this is not always the case with surrogacy—this particular connection is unique.

“The relationship I have with Sharon and Lake is quite different than the one I have with my first intended parents. I respect the level of contact and communication that each intended parent desires. Their family was very involved with the pregnancy and wanted to take part in as many appointments as possible, help with fundal height measurements.”

Watch their surrogacy journey, captured by Jennifer Hamilton of Mamarazzi Photography here:

Sharon and Lake were by Jessica’s side throughout the birth of their first child, Campbell, and even “caught” her when she was born. When they asked if she wanted to carry a sibling for her just moments after Campbell was born, Jessica says she didn’t need to hesitate before saying yes.

“There was no doubt in my mind that I would love to carry another for them. They are everything I could ask for in intended parents and they are a joy to go through pregnancy with.”

Less than two years later, Jessica gave birth to Sharon and Lake’s second child, Sailor, in what Jessica describes as an “amazing, fast water birth.”

After carrying two of their children, she initially hesitated to take on another surrogacy journey.

“I knew after the second journey that they had remaining embryos left. I had six pregnancies under my belt at that point, all of which were vaginal and unmedicated births. I had no complications as of yet, and I was fearful of something going wrong. I tossed up the idea of them using another surrogate to carry their remaining two over the course of two more journeys. I only would have done one more pregnancy as I was ready to not be pregnant or pumping breastmilk and spend time focusing on my own family.”

Related: My journey through surrogacy

But after some discussion and consulting with her family, Sharon and Lake, her birth team and reproductive endocrinologist, they all decided to do one more journey together—and transfer the last two remaining embryos. Both took— and they became pregnant with twins. In their birth film, you can see the emotional moment when the twin pregnancy is confirmed, while Jessica is on the phone with Sharon and Lake from the ultrasound room.

Initial fears aside, Jessica explains how the decision itself was, ultimately, second nature: “Deciding to carry all four of their kids really wasn’t a hard decision. I am a big part of their lives and most importantly their kid’s stories. It would have been odd for me to not help them complete their family.”

Watching the birth film, it is truly powerful to witness the love, support and familial connection between Jessica, Sharon and Lake while their twins are born. In one sweet moment, Sharon is embracing Jessica during labor as they both cry.

Even after the birth of their twins, Sharon, Lake, Jessica and her family have all stayed close—even vacationing together. Jessica says she and Sharon are close friends who talk about parenting, marriage and life in general. “It’s really a beautiful connection we share.”

Related: This is birth: A surrogacy journey

On how it feels to be a surrogate, Jessica shares, “The best part of being a surrogate is getting to see a couple become a family and the look on their faces when they first see their baby or babies. It is truly an honor to carry these babies and be entrusted with their care.”

As a mother of four children herself, we wanted to know more about how Jessica’s family has reacted to her surrogacy journeys. “My family is extremely supportive of my surrogate pregnancies and quite proud of the joy I have been able to bring to others through surrogacy. The intended parents I have carried for have become family to us and my own biological family regularly communicates via social media with them.”

She continues, “My kids are little advocates and educators on surrogacy. I feel that my children have learned selflessness and sacrifice through my journeys. I always say that while it is the woman who is pregnant, the journey of surrogacy takes the whole family’s support.”

We’re so thankful to both of these families for allowing us to share their incredible surrogacy story.

This is birth: A Surrogacy Journey was captured by Jennifer Hamilton of Mamarazzi Photography.

We started our This is: Birth videos to give representation to the many varied ways women give birth. Watch more curated birth films here.

This story was published on August 21, 2019. It has been updated.

Related Stories

This Is Birth

This is birth: A hospital birth during a pandemic

Birth Stories

The heartwarming reason why this 8-year-old delivered her baby sister

Black History Month

To the Black birth workers