A woman who has been a surrogate five times says people think she is being exploited for her womb.
Ariel Taylor, who has a daughter of her own, embarked on her journey to help other couples almost a decade ago.
The 33-year-old shares her experience of being a surrogate with her 90,000 followers online and says she “cherishes” the opportunity to raise awareness.
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But while she recieves a lot of support, she also recieves a lot of negativity.
And some people think she is being exploited.
“People either think surrogates are rich and making millions, or we are poor and being exploited,” Ariel, who is from London, Ontario, in Canada, told What’s The Jam.
“The truth is, we are just regular women who want to help someone else by carrying their baby.
“Intended Parents are just regular couples who have some form of infertility.
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“I have been a surrogate five times and have donated eggs six times – experiences that have profoundly shaped my journey and came from my passion to help others.”
Ariel said her primary motivation was simple – she wanted to help someone else experience the joy of becoming a parent, just as she had.
She said: “The idea that I could give that gift to someone who needed it was incredibly powerful to me.
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“I also really loved pregnancy but knew that I was done having children for myself.”
Ariel gave birth to her now nine-year-old daughter Scarlett in 2015.
Later that year, she started her journey as a surrogate and in January 2016, after matching with a family, she underwent an embryo transfer.
An embryo transfer is a medical procedure that involves placing fertilised eggs, or embryos, into a woman’s uterus. It’s the final step in the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) process.
Sadly, Ariel miscarried the couple’s baby at four months in May.
She gave it a second go with a new couple in the Autumn of 2016 and in August 2017, she gave birth to Baby R.
Ariel went on to give birth to another four surrogate babies, delivering Ari in December 2018, Baby J – Baby R’s sibling – in April 2021, and DJ in July 2023.
Ariel, who works as a fertility therapist, said: “Handing over the baby to their parents was always the most rewarding part of the process.
“I was really lucky that pregnancy seemed to agree with me most of the time.
“It made me feel happier and I didn’t gain a lot of weight or have complications.”
Between pregnancies, Ariel says she made sure to focus on getting back to a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) and staying fit.
She had a total of four C-sections, which is the maximum allowed for surrogacy.
Ariel said: “Despite loving pregnancy, by the time I reached my last, my body was telling me it was time to stop.
“Recovery was much longer and I was so puffy and swollen and sore, so that was a new challenge for me.
“It was my body’s way of saying, ‘That’s enough’, and I had to accept that it was the end of my pregnancy journey.
“I’ll always cherish the experiences I had. I think I was made for surrogacy. And what a really nice way to use my body for good.”
Ariel has also been an egg donor for six different families.
She says her wider family have been very supportive of her choices and have learned a lot about the process along the way.
And Ariel says her partner Brandon has been “incredible”.
She said: “I’m very fortunate that my partner views surrogacy the same way I do – as a beautiful opportunity to help someone else, and be part of something truly special.
“He takes on so much during the pregnancy and post-partum and I am so grateful for him and the way he took care of me so I could take care of others.”
Ariel also has positive relationships with all of the families she’s helped and loves being able to watch the children grow up.
Ariel said: “We still chat and follow each other on social media.
“The connection we share is unique and it’s a reminder of how surrogacy brings people together in such a meaningful way.
“There’s a misconception that surrogates never see the children again but in my experience, we’ve become family friends.
“These children know who I am and it’s wonderful to be a part of their lives in some way.
“I think many people assume that surrogates feel sadness or disappointment after the birth but for many of us, it’s quite the opposite.
“I look back so fondly on my surrogacy journeys.
“Every birth was such a beautiful and meaningful experience – challenging, yes, but incredibly rewarding.”
Ariel now also runs her own platform, Carried With Love, which she uses to dedicate time to supporting those who are navigating infertility.
She also owns Smarter Surrogacy, an educational resource to teach future parents about surrogacy.
At home, she lives with Scarlett, her partner Brandon and his two children – Addison, 15, and 11-year-old Alexis – and their family dog and cat.
Ariel added: “Now, I focus on guiding intended parents as they find their surrogates and helping them navigate the process smoothly and safely.
“I also personally believe that globally, we can change the narrative of surrogacy to be one of empowerment, choice and bodily autonomy.
“And a process in which loved and wanted children are brought into the world for their loving parents with the help of a well qualified surrogate.
“I am hoping that this can change surrogacy not only in Canada but everywhere.”
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