Modern-day technology has not just made life easier but made a major impact in the scientific and medical findings.
Surrogacy, a reproductive arrangement where a woman carries and gives birth to a baby for another individual or couple, has become a beacon of hope for those struggling with infertility or seeking alternative family-building options.
This process involves what is called Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), such as in Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and may incorporate donor eggs, sperm, or embryos.
Here are some Nigerian celebrities who became mothers via surrogacy/IVF:
1. Ini Edo:
The seasoned actress in an episode of the “Young and Famous” Tv reality show, spoke on her surrogacy journey.
She revealed she had fertility issues and wasn’t able to carry pregnancies for all.
Nadia, one of her co-hosts, asked, “Are you married?” Ini replied, “I’m not married.”
Nadia enquired, “Are you together with the dad?” Ini responded, “No, I’m not.”
Nadia then asked, “Is he still alive?” Ini hesitated before saying, “Well, I don’t know.”
“Girl, is he dead or not? It’s a yes or no question,” Nadia insisted.
“He’s not dead,” Ini clarified. “He doesn’t have anything to do with us. It’s just me and my child
Ini stated she had no relationship with her child’s father, and that surrogacy was the best option for her.
“I never thought I would be someone who had fertility issues. But I’ve had issues carrying pregnancies long-term.
“When it looked like it was not going to happen the way I wanted it to happen and I wasn’t getting younger, I said, ‘What are the options? What is available to me?’
“And then, this option came up, so I took it.”
“And I’m very happy with my decision,” she told her co-stars.
Ini welcomed her Baby girl in 2021 via surrogacy.
2. Ufoma McDermott:
Actress and film director Ufoma McDermott on the 10th of October 2010, welcomed her IVF Baby boy via C-section. The actress disclosed this in November 2018, while celebrating her son’s birthday.
She encouraged women who want to have kids but probably encountering challenges, to over look fear and shame and have their babies either via surrogacy or IVF.
She disclosed that she had her first child, Isio, via Invitro Fertilization (IVF). “DO NOT DENY YOURSELF …If you so desire, the joy of #motherhood.
“My son was born EXACTLY 2 And half years after we got married. I wanted to wait. My husband obliged.
“When we were ready, I wanted twins.
“#IVF was the choice. We could afford it.
“I had two embryos inserted. God decided Isio would stay.
“On the 10th of October 2010 my beautiful #IVFBaby was delivered by C-section.
“SO WHAT? This post is for all of you keyboard cowards trying to downplay and devalue the joys of a child’s arrival into a new “world” whether it’s by #Surrogacy #Adoption #ArtificialInsemination #DonorSperm #DonorEgg #DonorEmbryo #GIFT Gamete intrafallopian transfer #ZIFT Zygote intrafallopian transfer,” she wrote.
3. Nike Osinowo:
The one-time beauty queen welcomed her set of twins in the United States via a gestational surrogate.
Nike has a medical condition called endometriosis, which can cause severe pain and infertility, making her opt for a gestational surrogacy,a process where she’d have her biological children, but through another womb/woman.
“I was out of my marriage and I was lying in bed, talking to my God.”Okay, so, here I am, is this what you want for me? Please tell me the next step. What am I supposed to do now? And I fell asleep. As I slept, I felt a tug on the bedding and I opened my eyes, there is nothing and so I look at the bottom of my bed to see a little child tugging at the bottom of my duvet. It was a little girl so I carried her, put her on my bed and she played while I slept. She would always come in my sleep and play and then I would put her on my bed, we would play and then we would sleep. The one day I thought ‘This little girl I keep seeing in my dreams, maybe I can have a child. Maybe it is God’s way of telling me its time. I take my iPad while lying in bed and I start surfing the net all the while thinking I have Endometriosis. I literally typed in Google search ‘what is the best way to have a child if you have extreme Endometriosis? I hit search and it came out!” she said.
4. Stephanie Coker:
Media personality Stephanie Coker in March 2020 revealed that her daughter of 3 years marriage was conceived via IVF.
Stephanie revealed that she had a severe case of Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which according to her daughter was life threatening, hence she opted for IVF..
She also stated how her husband and friends who had children via IVF encouraged her in telling her story.
“I believe one has to seek God when one is on a fertility journey. I managed to get through it with the support of family, friends, and others who had experienced failed cycles. Their support was instrumental in helping me overcome that state of mind.
“I haven’t seen many women speak about their fertility and hormonal issues. I wanted to use my platform to show young girls that they are not alone, to share my journey, and to give women strength, because so many of them are going through health issues they can’t talk about.”
