Being a mum is all I’ve ever really wanted. It is hard to believe that by next Mother’s Day, it will become a reality.. and it’s all thanks to my friend
Surrogate birth joy for couple who can’t have kids
It was a dream they feared would never be realised after a series of hear tbreaking setbacks.
But now a couple will finally become parents after a work colleague agreed to be a surrogate mum.
Natasha Hutcheon and chi ldhood sweetheart Peter Walker, both 31, have dreamed of having a baby together since they met as teenagers.
They thought their hopes were dashed when Natasha discovered she was unable to have children.
Now, after 89 hospital visits and two miscarriages in eight years, Natasha’s co- worker Katie Beardall is expecting their baby in September.
Beautician Katie, already a mum, fell pregnant following a complex surrogacy process at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, where she received Natasha’s frozen eggs and Peter’s sperm.
The trio, of the city’s Castlemilk area, are celebrating after being told by doctors that the pregnancy should be a success.
Natasha, who had to wait three years for NHS funding to be approved, met Katie while they worked together at an off-licence.
Now she is looking forward to celebrating the next Mother’s Day as a new mum.
She said: “I’m very grateful to Katie. Without her this would not be possible.
“We both lived in Castlemilk and went to the same school but didn’t get to know each other until we started working together.
“I discovered when I was 19 that I had been born without a womb and couldn’t have children.
“The offer to be a surrogate mother came right out of the blue. Since then Katie has become my best friend.
“The doctors said in 2009 that I’d need to find someone willing to be a surrogate. “But even then I’d still have to go through tests and vetting.
“I was working with Katie in branch of the G101 off-sales where I was the manager.
“I’d told her my story and she agreed to be the surrogate.
“Being a mum is all I’ve ever really wanted – it’s hard to believe that next Mother’s Day it will be a reality and I’ll have a child of my own.”
Natasha, Katie and Peter underwent a series of tests to see if they were all suitable to take part in the surrogacy.
Background and health checks were even made on family members by a team at the hospital’s surrogacy unit.
Natasha, who now works for pharmacist Boots, added; “Doctors had to find out if Katie was fit to be a surrogate and if her body would take it.
“One condition was that she had to have had a child already.”
In April 2016, Natasha had an operation to remove then freeze eggs from her ovaries.
Peter then prov ided a sperm sample which was also frozen.
They were then defrosted and fertilised and an embryo was placed into Katie’s womb – but she miscarried seven weeks later. She went through the same procedure again some months later but again miscarried.
In December last year, she went through the process for the third time and is now 14 weeks pregnant.
Last week, the couple were able to see scans of the baby for the first time, which showed its heart beating.
Natasha said: “Peter and I wanted to have a baby more than
anything in the world but unfortunately I could not carry a baby myself.
“Katie has become the most amazing best friend and her own son now calls us uncle and auntie.
“Now finally after all these years, we are on our way to being a mummy and daddy.”
After keeping it a secret for months, the three decided to share it with their family and friends last week on social media. The first person Natasha told was her mother Catherine, 58, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
Natasha added: “We decided to tel l my mum before she started having chemotherapy as we knew it would make her even more determined to fight – and it certainly has.
”She is thrilled that she is to be a grandmother again and just can’t wait to hold our baby in her arms.” Katie has now moved from a special ist ward at Glasgow Royal Infirmary to the mainstream maternity unit with the other mums.
Natasha added: “I’m excited and still really nervous.
“I feel that I already have a close bond with the baby and just can’t wait.
“It will not feel real until the baby is in my arms.”
Katie, Natasha and Peter will attend ante- natal classes together and have already met their midwife. Katie says the surgical procedure to have the eggs and sperm inserted was painless and did not require an anaesthetic.
She added: “I ’ m looking forward to the birth.
“I wanted to give someone something they can never have themselves.
“When I had the miscarriages, I didn’t want to tell Natasha and Peter. But it made me even more determined to have this child.
“Seeing the excitement on thei r faces is wor th everything. It will be something to tell my own son, to make him proud of his mum.
“He knows that his mum is having a baby for Uncle Peter and Auntie Natasha.”
Painter and decorator Peter said he has been with Natasha since they were both 13.
He added: “I’m on top of the world, buzzing and just can’t wait to be a dad. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to be.
“I come from a big family and I’ve always wanted to have my own child since I was a teenager.
“There was a lot of red tape and paperwork and a lot of hospital visits to go through but it has all been worthwhile.”
Surrogacy is legal in the UK, though it is illegal to advertise for or pay for a surrogate mother.
Couples who enter into a sur rogac y a r rangement must apply to the cour t within six months of the child’s bir th to become parents legally.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “We are delighted for the couple and wish them every success in the future.”
Katie is the most amazing best friend and her son calls us uncle and auntie