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| 'I enjoy being a surrogate mum' | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| By Paul Burnell BBC File On 4 When Carol Horlock first became a surrogate mother she never dreamed that she would have 11 more babies for other women. | By Paul Burnell BBC File On 4 When Carol Horlock first became a surrogate mother she never dreamed that she would have 11 more babies for other women. |
| Carol Horlock has given birth to two of her own children and 12 surrogates | Carol Horlock has given birth to two of her own children and 12 surrogates |
| "I enjoyed it so much, I kept doing it, I didn't see a reason to stop," Carol, 42, told BBC File On 4. | "I enjoyed it so much, I kept doing it, I didn't see a reason to stop," Carol, 42, told BBC File On 4. |
| Carol had always sympathised with childless couples because of the plight of a couple her parents knew. | Carol had always sympathised with childless couples because of the plight of a couple her parents knew. |
| "When I first read about surrogacy I thought what a wonderful idea," she said. | "When I first read about surrogacy I thought what a wonderful idea," she said. |
| "I am pleased to be part of helping somebody have the babies they want so desperately." | "I am pleased to be part of helping somebody have the babies they want so desperately." |
| Carol, now based in France, but originally from Stevenage, admitted when she first began as a surrogate she questioned whether she might experience any emotional hurt at handing over the baby to its new parents. | |
| Baby bonding | Baby bonding |
| But she added: "Then I remembered with my own babies that the bonding came with the nurturing of them after they were born, it didn't come with being pregnant." | But she added: "Then I remembered with my own babies that the bonding came with the nurturing of them after they were born, it didn't come with being pregnant." |
| Part of the agreement she normally makes with the parents is that they will send a yearly newsletter and photographs of the babies. | Part of the agreement she normally makes with the parents is that they will send a yearly newsletter and photographs of the babies. |
| Find Out More Listen to File On 4, Radio 4 Tuesday 27 January 2008 2000 GMT, repeated Sunday 1 February 1700 GMTOr catch up at Radio 4's Listen Again site | Find Out More Listen to File On 4, Radio 4 Tuesday 27 January 2008 2000 GMT, repeated Sunday 1 February 1700 GMTOr catch up at Radio 4's Listen Again site |
| Some of these children also keep in touch with her own daughters, who were born in 1990 and 1993. | Some of these children also keep in touch with her own daughters, who were born in 1990 and 1993. |
| Apart from a three year gap, she has been barely out of the delivery room since the 1990s, with nine surrogate pregnancies including a set of twins and a set of triplets. | Apart from a three year gap, she has been barely out of the delivery room since the 1990s, with nine surrogate pregnancies including a set of twins and a set of triplets. |
| Until she gave birth to the triplets - she had always donated her own eggs. | Until she gave birth to the triplets - she had always donated her own eggs. |
| Yet although she has thoroughly enjoyed the experience there has been a personal cost. | Yet although she has thoroughly enjoyed the experience there has been a personal cost. |
| Although most of the family support Carol, said her father has never been able to accept what his daughter does. | |
| After one pregnancy it was discovered that the child's father was really her partner's. | After one pregnancy it was discovered that the child's father was really her partner's. |
| Carol said she would only have claimed her legal right to the baby if she felt it was not wanted or loved. | Carol said she would only have claimed her legal right to the baby if she felt it was not wanted or loved. |
| 'Ridiculous money' | 'Ridiculous money' |
| The incident also led her to go public about what happened. | The incident also led her to go public about what happened. |
| "I didn't want to keep quiet about it as it needs to be discussed as part of the counselling couples receive before surrogacy," she said. | "I didn't want to keep quiet about it as it needs to be discussed as part of the counselling couples receive before surrogacy," she said. |
| Under UK law Carol is not allowed to receive payment but claims expenses. | |
| "It does annoy me that some surrogates do take advantage of their situation. | "It does annoy me that some surrogates do take advantage of their situation. |
| "I put an advert on the web and heard from a British woman looking for a surrogate with a list of stipulations - she sounded exasperated by her experiences - I had to be under 35, mustn't have had any caesareans, mustn't have had more than five pregnancies and I mustn't be asking more than 50,000 euros - at which point I was thinking 50,000 who is asking this? I do like being pregnant and I do like helping other people, I really enjoy the buzz from being part of this huge event in their life. Carol Horlock | "I put an advert on the web and heard from a British woman looking for a surrogate with a list of stipulations - she sounded exasperated by her experiences - I had to be under 35, mustn't have had any caesareans, mustn't have had more than five pregnancies and I mustn't be asking more than 50,000 euros - at which point I was thinking 50,000 who is asking this? I do like being pregnant and I do like helping other people, I really enjoy the buzz from being part of this huge event in their life. Carol Horlock |
| "Obviously some surrogates who are advertising on the net must be asking this otherwise the woman would not have said this - that's an extortionate amount of money and a ridiculous amount to be asking anybody." | "Obviously some surrogates who are advertising on the net must be asking this otherwise the woman would not have said this - that's an extortionate amount of money and a ridiculous amount to be asking anybody." |
| Carol has come across situations where surrogates have tried to exploit desperate couples by asking for a new car half way through the pregnancy. | Carol has come across situations where surrogates have tried to exploit desperate couples by asking for a new car half way through the pregnancy. |
| "They will ask for extra things such as a holiday for their family - I think it is totally unacceptable for surrogates to hold couples over a barrel." | "They will ask for extra things such as a holiday for their family - I think it is totally unacceptable for surrogates to hold couples over a barrel." |
| Carol believes legally binding contracts acceptable to UK courts are needed to stop surrogates keeping the baby or claiming extra money. | Carol believes legally binding contracts acceptable to UK courts are needed to stop surrogates keeping the baby or claiming extra money. |
| In the next few weeks she is due to travel to Greece to begin the legal formalities that could see her embark on another pregnancy to produce a 13th surrogate child. | |
| 'Birth addict' | 'Birth addict' |
| "I'm hoping it will be only one - after triplets one will seem like I'm not really pregnant." | "I'm hoping it will be only one - after triplets one will seem like I'm not really pregnant." |
| She added: "I think it could be my last, I will be 43 by the time I give birth and the doctors have stressed the dangers to me." | She added: "I think it could be my last, I will be 43 by the time I give birth and the doctors have stressed the dangers to me." |
| However she conceded she could be addicted to this lifestyle. | |
| "I do like being pregnant and I do like helping other people, I really enjoy the buzz from being part of this huge event in their life. | "I do like being pregnant and I do like helping other people, I really enjoy the buzz from being part of this huge event in their life. |
| "I can stop anytime I want as long as I don't talk to any childless couples who need my help because I find myself saying, 'they would be such wonderful parents, I'll help them.' | "I can stop anytime I want as long as I don't talk to any childless couples who need my help because I find myself saying, 'they would be such wonderful parents, I'll help them.' |
| "I wouldn't risk my health to do it but if I thought my body was ok for one more time than maybe I could be dragged back into it." | "I wouldn't risk my health to do it but if I thought my body was ok for one more time than maybe I could be dragged back into it." |