Bangalore:
In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment for the childless is not new. The technique that helps fertilise a human egg externally, before implanting the embryo in a uterus, even won the Nobel Prize for its inventor Bob Edwards 35 years after its inception.
However, now there is a small but growing number of urban couples who choose to find surrogates despite the woman being medically able to become pregnant.
Dr Kamini Rao, one of Bangalore's leading fertility specialists, puts it down to modern day stress.
"Family time is dwindling. So any extra work that comes in is digging into family time. So a time comes when they look at themselves and say that, "Oh, I am already 33 so therefore my eggs must be dwindling, so I must go for an IVF. If I go for an IVF, I have to bear the baby. Do I have the kind of time? 9 months?" And then 9 months becomes a long time for them. They will have to be off work, so promotions will be delayed, all these things start going on their head," explains Dr Kamini Rao, Bangalore Assisted Conception Centre.
Further, changing attitudes make couples today more open to the idea of having a surrogate bear their child.
"They say, "My baby is growing in someone else's uterus, so what? What's there after all? When the baby comes, I will look after." And that's the kind of trend I see today," adds Dr Rao.
The number of women who are willing to become surrogate mothers for a price also seems to be growing.
26-year-old Rupa Manjula Nayak is looking forward to the 2 lakh rupees that she will get from the couple whose child she now carries in her womb. Also the monthly allowance, food and constant care in the conception centre she will stay in, until her delivery - a luxury she missed when she was pregnant with her own two girls.
"Bed coffee comes where I am sitting. Also juice and tasty food. To tell you the truth, I am happier here than at my own home. There are other women too, we all are friends. It feels like being a child again. I even forget that I am married, have a husband and children," says Rupa.
"I used to have lots of money problem. My husband used to earn, but we had to send to his village, so money was never enough," she adds.
Naresh and Asha, a childless couple undergoing IVF treatment due to a medical problem, say they can empathise with couples who are fertile, yet choose to go the surrogate route.
"It's a blessing for such a couple. They may be at the point of time in their career that their promotion might be due. Entire career decides their future. Depending on how important their job is or well-paying their job is, they may not be able to take a long 9-month break or lose their job," says Naresh.
But there can be other stumbling blocks.
Naresh continues, "In India, there is no proper law related to surrogacy. So we have to consult lawyers, risks like later on the surrogate shouldn't claim the child as her own."
On one hand is the issue of whether it is ethical to 'outsource' one's pregnancy while being medically fit to be pregnant. But looking at the issue through the lens of individual choices, it seems a win-win situation for both the parents and the surrogate mothers.
However, now there is a small but growing number of urban couples who choose to find surrogates despite the woman being medically able to become pregnant.
Dr Kamini Rao, one of Bangalore's leading fertility specialists, puts it down to modern day stress.
"Family time is dwindling. So any extra work that comes in is digging into family time. So a time comes when they look at themselves and say that, "Oh, I am already 33 so therefore my eggs must be dwindling, so I must go for an IVF. If I go for an IVF, I have to bear the baby. Do I have the kind of time? 9 months?" And then 9 months becomes a long time for them. They will have to be off work, so promotions will be delayed, all these things start going on their head," explains Dr Kamini Rao, Bangalore Assisted Conception Centre.
Further, changing attitudes make couples today more open to the idea of having a surrogate bear their child.
"They say, "My baby is growing in someone else's uterus, so what? What's there after all? When the baby comes, I will look after." And that's the kind of trend I see today," adds Dr Rao.
The number of women who are willing to become surrogate mothers for a price also seems to be growing.
26-year-old Rupa Manjula Nayak is looking forward to the 2 lakh rupees that she will get from the couple whose child she now carries in her womb. Also the monthly allowance, food and constant care in the conception centre she will stay in, until her delivery - a luxury she missed when she was pregnant with her own two girls.
"Bed coffee comes where I am sitting. Also juice and tasty food. To tell you the truth, I am happier here than at my own home. There are other women too, we all are friends. It feels like being a child again. I even forget that I am married, have a husband and children," says Rupa.
"I used to have lots of money problem. My husband used to earn, but we had to send to his village, so money was never enough," she adds.
Naresh and Asha, a childless couple undergoing IVF treatment due to a medical problem, say they can empathise with couples who are fertile, yet choose to go the surrogate route.
"It's a blessing for such a couple. They may be at the point of time in their career that their promotion might be due. Entire career decides their future. Depending on how important their job is or well-paying their job is, they may not be able to take a long 9-month break or lose their job," says Naresh.
But there can be other stumbling blocks.
Naresh continues, "In India, there is no proper law related to surrogacy. So we have to consult lawyers, risks like later on the surrogate shouldn't claim the child as her own."
On one hand is the issue of whether it is ethical to 'outsource' one's pregnancy while being medically fit to be pregnant. But looking at the issue through the lens of individual choices, it seems a win-win situation for both the parents and the surrogate mothers.
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