`I always knew that I wanted to be a surrogate mother - it's the best gift any mother can give away.' EXCLUSIVE: One woman's amazing story of how she gave birth for a couple who had suffered 19 miscarriages...Byline: Laura Nicklin LISA The first personal computer to include integrated software and use a graphical interface. Modeled after the Xerox Star and introduced in 1983 by Apple, it was ahead of its time, but never caught on due to its $10,000 price and slow speed. Woodham knew she would become a surrogate mother surrogate mother, a woman who agrees, usually by contract and for a fee, to bear a child for a couple who are childless because the wife is infertile or physically incapable of carrying a developing fetus. as early as 19. ``I knew it was something I wanted to do. ``I just had this feeling that it was something I would do,'' said Lisa. ``I don't know where the idea came from, I just knew.'' Although Lisa decided early on that she wanted to become a surrogate, it was not until she saw a television programme on surrogacy surrogacy See Gestational surrogacy. in 1999 that she actively pursued the idea. ``I phoned the BBC BBC in full British Broadcasting Corp. Publicly financed broadcasting system in Britain. A private company at its founding in 1922, it was replaced by a public corporation under royal charter in 1927. after the programme to get the number for Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy (Cots) and I gave them a ring and told them I was interested in becoming a surrogate. ``I had had three children of my own and I knew I didn't want any more for myself and my husband.'' Before becoming a surrogate, Lisa had to undergo a series of tests and counselling sessions to establish if she was suitable. Lisa passed all the tests, which included screening for HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. , hepatitis and syphilis syphilis (sĭf`əlĭs), contagious sexually transmitted disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum (described by Fritz Schaudinn and Erich Hoffmann in 1905). among others. ``I had to have counselling to prepare me for the possible results of the tests. ``Luckily all the tests were negative so I was free to go ahead with the next step.'' Once Lisa had been given the all clear, Cots added her to their list of surrogates. They then sent her details of the couples who were currently looking for a surrogate. ``The list contained the first names of the couples and the reason why they had been unable to have a child of their own. ``I sat and looked at the list with my husband Terry. ``The couple we eventually helped were on there. ``Melissa and Tom had been married for years and had suffered 19 miscarriages. ``They had tried everything to have a baby and because they were quite old in terms of fertility treatment, surrogacy was their last hope.'' Once the surrogate has decided which couple she is interested in helping, COTS provides her with contact details. The organisation encourages the two parties to get to know each other via letters and phone calls. ``We contacted Melissa and Tom and I instantly felt I had known them forever,'' said Lisa. ``We got to know each other very well and I would consider Melissa one of my closest friends.'' Lisa was a full surrogate for Tom and Melissa which means that she carries the foetus which is genetically their child. ``I asked Melissa and Tom what they wanted and between us we decided that we would try for two children for them - either twins or two separate births. ``In this country doctors are not allowed to implant more than three embryos at a time. ``For the first attempt we decided to implant two and see what happened.'' Unfortunately neither of the first two embryos implanted but the second time Lisa received treatment, one of the embryos implanted. ``I knew almost immediately that I was pregnant,'' said Lisa. ``I know my body and having got three kids of my own, I knew the feeling.'' Lisa was supposed to wait until 14 days after implantation implantation /im·plan·ta·tion/ (im?plan-ta´shun) 1. attachment of the blastocyst to the epithelial lining of the uterus, its penetration through the epithelium, and, in humans, its embedding in the stratum compactum of the before doing a pregnancy test pregnancy test Any test used to detect or confirm pregnancy; in early pregnancy, all PTs measure hCG, the developing placenta's principal hormone, which is detectable as early as 6 days after fertilization; in clinical laboratories, serum levels of hCG are but she was so sure she only waited 10. ``I phoned Melissa and Tom to tell them. ``They were on holiday at the time. All Melissa could say is that I was supposed to wait 14 days. ``But I said to her - if it is positive now it will be positive in four days.'' Lisa, Melissa and Tom kept close contact throughout the pregnancy. Melissa and Tom were there at all the scans and check-ups. Baby James was born a month early on May 14 weighing 6lbs. Lisa said: ``All my children were born very quickly and I knew James would be the same. ``I had five contractions and I felt the need to push and there he was. ``The doctor didn't even have time to put his gloves on!'' Immediately after James was born he was given to Melissa and Tom. ``When the midwife gave him to Melissa it was the most amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. feeling I have ever had. ``They were crying with joy, happiness and relief that finally, after all the years of heartache, they had a son. ``It was unbelievable.'' Although she carried James, Lisa says she never felt like his mother. ``I must say he was not mine from the start. ``I just looked after him during my pregnancy which was a pleasure from the moment of conception. ``James was always theirs and never mine - I was just what COTS call hisTummy Mummy. ``When he was born and I held him I had the feeling you have when you hold someone else's baby - he just didn't feel like my child.'' Lisa sees James at least once a month and she and Melissa and Tom are already planning the next attempt. The whole cycle is due to start again in September and hopefully James will get a little brother or sister. Lisa says she wants to be a surrogate at least once more. ``I love being pregnant and having babies so maybe I will keep going - the record is 17 - so you never know!'' SURROGACY is legal in the UK. The main proviso A condition, stipulation, or limitation inserted in a document. A condition or a provision in a deed, lease, mortgage, or contract, the performance or non-performance of which affects the validity of the instrument. It generally begins with the word provided. is that no money other than `reasonable expenses' should be paid to the surrogate. While there is no strict definition as what constitutes `reasonable expenses', it is left up to the individuals involved in a surrogate arrangement to come to an agreement regarding these expenses. Any costs incurred by a surrogate that are as a result of the pregnancy would be regarded as expenses. It should also be noted that, at present, the law does not recognise surrogacy as a binding agreement on either parties. There is very little the intended parents can do to secure their position prior to the birth, even in the case of host surrogacy where the baby is genetically related to both intended parents and not the surrogate. Once the child is born, a parent responsibility agreement can be entered into by the intended father with the surrogate mother, which gives them equal rights over the child. After six weeks the `parents' can apply for a parental order that will give them full and permanent parental rights over the child. At this stage the surrogate relinquishes all her rights over the child. It is also illegal to advertise for surrogates. SURROGACY - THE FACTS CAPTION(S): GIFT OF LIFE Lisa Woodham has enabled a couple to have a child through being the baby's surrogate mother. Inset, part of the letter Lisa received from the couple. PICTURE: Paul Rose Paul Rose may refer to the following people:
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