TV real life: “I’ve had five surrogate babies but can’t have one with my husband”

As his new TV show Dr Christian: Special Clinics airs, we chat to one of the Closer doctor’s patients, Jennifer Scott Hitchcock, who was left broken after 10 years of having children for other couples

hen Jennifer Scott Hitchcock W walked in to Dr Christian Jessen’s clinic in October last year, she was suffering with depression and felt miserable about her 26st body.

Jennifer, who has acted as a surrogate five times, was unable to conceive naturally with her husband Justin. But the couple – who both have kids from previous relationships – embraced bringing other parents joy instead. However, Jennifer spiralled into depression after two of the surrogate babies tragically died – and put on 7st due to medication and comfort eating.

She says, “Justin and I were disappointed that we couldn’t have kids together, but we wanted to help other couples.

“There’s no better gift than giving someone the chance to be a parent and I loved seeing a little family drive away from the hospital after I’d given birth. But I couldn’t help but blame myself when we lost two babies.

MISERABLE

“I took antidepressants and would comfort-eat to try to make myself feel better, but it made me more miserable. I didn’t know what to do so, when I got an email about Dr Christian’s show, I applied on a whim. Going to his clinic has changed my life.”

Retail manager Jennifer, 35, met husband Justin, 40, a parks manager, in 2005 while she was pregnant with her second child, Kale, now 13. Her daughter, Ellie, is now 16.

She recalls, “My children’s biological father wasn’t in the picture, so Justin brought them up as his own. I’ve always loved babies and being pregnant. But even before I’d had my own kids, I’d made the decision that I wanted to be a surrogate one day. I used to watch a lot of American TV shows and I saw a programme about surrogacy. It seemed like such a brilliant gift to give someone.

“Justin and I both had kids already and he’d had a vasectomy, so we weren’t in a rush to try for our own. After we’d been together a while, I told him about my plans to become a surrogate. He wasn’t sure at first but did a lot of reading up on it and, in 2009, he agreed to support me through it.”

The couple found a surrogacy agency and went through a process of checks before being matched with a childless couple. Paying a surrogate in the UK is illegal, but potential parents can help towards expenses and Jennifer was entitled to maternity leave.

Jennifer explains, “We met the first couple in 2009 and, after six months of getting to know them, we went through IVF. They were ecstatic when I got pregnant. In 2010, I gave birth to a little girl and got to hold her for a few seconds before she was passed to her mum. It was the most magical moment watching the happiness we’d brought them.

“My kids were young when we started surrogacy, so they’ve always been used to me being pregnant. Now they’re older and able to understand it,

they’re proud of what I’ve done as they know I am helping others.”

TRAGEDY

On a high after the first surrogacy, Jennifer and Justin went back to the agency immediately and began meeting the next couple. In 2013, she conceived twins, but one of them tragically died during childbirth.

She says, “I suffered with depression for months afterwards. I felt like I’d failed.”

After taking a few months off, the couple decided to try for their own baby. However, Justin needed to have an operation to reverse his vasectomy.

Jennifer says, “He had two operations that didn’t work and we couldn’t afford IVF, so we accepted it wouldn’t happen for us. Instead of feeling down, we decided I would go through another round of surrogacy – it gave us something to focus on.”

In 2013, Jennifer gave birth to another baby boy, and the next year she began the process once more for another couple.

DEVASTATED

She explains, “The pregnancy was really hard from the start and I bled a lot. Sadly, I went into labour at 25 weeks and the baby girl was born prematurely. I lost a lot of blood and needed a transfusion. I nearly died and my family were worried sick.

“The baby died 19 days later. I was devastated. I was put on antidepressants and, by February 2017, I’d gained 7st through comfort eating. Before I had kids, I weighed 13st and was a size 16, but I was now 25st and a size 24. I found it hard to even walk.”

In October, Jennifer went to Dr Christian’s clinic and was referred for bimonthly counselling sessions.

She says, “Now I focus on the happiness I have brought families. We still keep in touch with them all and I get sent photos all the time – it’s lovely to see the kids growing up.

“Thinking positively has helped me take control of my eating. I see food as fuel now, not a comfort, and have already lost over 2st. I’m really proud of being a surrogate, but I won’t do it again as it’s time to focus on myself.”

❛ I’VE LEARNT TO FOCUS ON THE HAPPINESS I’VE BROUGHT FAMILIES ❜