These days millions of couples are starting families with the help of medical treatments. One option many women may not consider at first is having another woman carry their baby. Here's a success story from one local woman.
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler brought it to life on the big screen, but for women like Amy Smith of Sherborn, needing someone else to carry their baby is a very real part of starting a family.
Amy is now a mom thanks to the help of a gestational carrier, an option she considered after she was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease and told that carrying her own child would put her and her baby at risk.
Amy Smith, used gestational carrier
"With all the risks involved with possible kidney failure and everything else that would go into it, and risking the fetus as well, it just really wasn't an option."
After months of searching and with help from doctors at Brigham and Women's hospital here in Boston, Amy found her carrier, Tammy.
Dr. Rachel Ashby, Brigham and Women's Hospital
"We take Amy through an IVF cycle, where we retrieve her eggs, and using her husbands sperm to create embryos and then the healthy embryos are then inserted into the uterus of the gestational carrier."
Thanks to Tammy, Amy and her husband were able to bring their daughter Cameron into the world.
Amy Smith, used gestational carrier
"You have a goal, your goal is to have a family, have a child, and it really doesn't make a bit of difference in the long run how the child was brought into the world, it really doesn't."
Not only did Tammy carry Amy's first child, she's now 14 weeks pregnant with her second baby. And if you're looking to start a family and want more information about your fertility options, come to the free Health and Fitness Expo on June 21st and 22nd at the Hynes Convention Center.
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