Australian High Commission knew of disturbing Indian surrogacy case, Chief Justice of Family Court says

It is so sad to see this kind of story in the news.  With so many infertile couples in the world today, what would cause parents to abandon a child...especially a child from a set of twins born through surrogacy??  What is most concerning is they actually sold the second twin!! It boggles my mind!

Foreign Correspondent 

Exclusive by South-East Asia correspondent Samantha Hawley and Suzanne Smith

Updated 9 Oct 2014, 1:35am

The Chief Justice of the Family Court, Diana Bryant, says the case shows why there needs to be a national inquiry into surrogacy.

A joint investigation by ABC News and Foreign Correspondent can reveal the case involves a set of twins born in India via a surrogate to Australians who had gone through a surrogacy agency.

Chief Justice Bryant says consular officials revealed to her there was pressure from Australia to provide a visa to allow them to return one baby to Australia, as the commissioning parents did not want both babies.

It is understood the choice of baby was based on gender.

"These women were extremely concerned about what was happening. They were doing the best they could, they told me, to persuade the parents to take both children, to negotiate with them."

Chief Justice Bryant told the ABC that in the meantime the consular staff delayed giving the Australian parents a visa while they tried to convince them to take both children home.

It was at this time the consular officials told the Chief Justice that pressure was being applied from someone in Australia.

"In the meantime they were getting pressure from Australia to grant the visa," she said.

"They told me in the end they couldn't persuade the couple to take both children and they had to grant the visa to bring the one child back.

"I asked them what happened to the other child. They said someone in the end had come forward - and they said they were known to the family - and took the child, but they expressed to me their great concern that in fact money had changed hands."

Chief Justice Bryant says if it is true that a sum of money changed hands so another family would take the abandoned child, this could be tantamount to human trafficking and a criminal offence.

"I think it is appalling. It's a breach of all sorts of human rights conventions and it's a criminal offence in many places if that is so," she said.

Concern Australian politician advocated on behalf of parents

Read the full story here...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-08/high-commission-knew-of-surrogacy-case-in-india/5799438

West Coast Surrogacy is an all-inclusive surrogate agency located in Southern California. Working with couples and surrogates nationwide, WCS uses a team-oriented approach that encompasses the highest level of integrity, support, and compassion. It is our pledge to guide you through every step of this life-changing process, acting as both a resource for information and an unparalleled support system.  Please visit us on the web at: www.westcoastsurrogacy.com or call us at (toll free) 877.492.7411

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND!

 We celebrate mothers every day but it is lovely to set aside a special day to acknowledge the wonder that is Mother. 

Sharing some sweet images and words of wisdom, direct from Mom.

Happy Mother's Day!

A Bake Sale for Surrogacy

Daniel Dan and William Will Neville-Rehbehn bake a lemon meringue pie at their home in Washington, D.C., on Friday, February 1, 2013. The couple who married in 2011 have been creative about raising money for starting a family by doing what the love to do - baking. (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

 An inspiring story from the Washington Post.  Read, enjoy, be inspired and buy some brownies:

First comes love.
Then comes marriage.
Then comes an online bake sale to pay for an egg donor, a surrogate and in vitro fertilization.
In the kitchen of their snug, rented loft off U Street, Will and Dan Neville-Rehbehn, a married gay couple, are “baking for babies,” as their Web site calls their efforts to raise the money they need to start a family .
Tonight, they’re baking a Margarita Layer Cake that will sell for $70.
“I need 12 cups of powered sugar!” Will, 30, calls out to Dan, 29, who is watching their red Kitchen­Aid mixer whip tequila-lime buttercream frosting on high.
“Got it,” responds Dan, double-checking the recipe on the couple’s iPad.
The multilayered vanilla cake also calls for “margarita liquid cheesecake” — a filling made with agave-based 1800 Tequila Reserva Silver — and “roasted corn tortilla-chip crunch,” which are alternated in an 11-step assembly process.

Their fundraising campaign illustrates the desire of gay couples to start families and underscores the fact that — like straight couples who face fertility challenges — they are willing to do just about anything to make it happen, said Carrie L. Evans, executive director of Equality Maryland, an advocacy group. 

read the full story http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-02-08/lifestyle/36993791_1_bake-sale-web-site-egg-donor

Congratulations to New Mom, Giuliana Rancic

We started this post when Giuliana Rancic, celebrity host, anchor, entertainment reporter and philanthropist, was officially on baby watch and expecting her first child with husband, Bill, via gestational surrogate.  Last night, Bill Rancic tweeted to his followers that son Edward Duke Rancic was born, weighing a hearty 7 pounds and 4 ounces and measuring 20 inches.

Giuliana Rancic's public struggle with infertility, miscarriage and cancer has made her a touch-point for many women facing the same pains, disappointments and fears.  Conversely, her joy at becoming a mother will now be shared by her many fans and followers. 

Giuliana Rancic--photo from ENewsonline.com

On the same day, we at West Coast Surrogacy celebrated our own royal birth, with another baby brought into the world via one of our gestational surrogates. Our Director, Amy Kaplan, or another WCS team member attends every birth and they have been gratefully, blessedly busy these days.  THREE births and two embryo transplants in the last five days.  That's a lot of crying (from babies, parents, surrogates) and a lot of love in one short week. 

Congratulations to The Rancics, to their surrogate, and to all the men and women in the world who are coming together to fulfill a dream, a dream called "family."