A HEATONVILLE mother brought joy to a Johannesburg couple recently when she gave birth to their healthy baby girl through gestational surrogacy in Empangeni.
Being the first successful surrogacy birth at Life Empangeni Garden Clinic, 34-year-old Janine Quaite agreed to be a first time surrogate mother for her aunt, Isabel Harflett (41) and her husband Jonathan (42).
Isabel, who has a son, had remarried but was unable to carry a child after she had undergone a hysterectomy.
‘My only option to have a child with my second husband was through surrogacy or adoption,’ said Isabel.
‘Our initial surrogate mother was unable to go through with the procedure because of high sugar levels.’
It was at this point when Janine offered a lifeline to the couple by agreeing to carry their first child.
‘When I called Isabel, she was disappointed that their surrogate mother would not be able assist. It was my husband who then suggested that I become a surrogate. This was a family decision,’ said Janine.
Despite enduring a few complications towards the end of the pregnancy, including hypertension, Janine delivered a healthy baby girl – Amoné Harflett at 36 weeks.
‘I take off my hat to Dr RK Misra and staff at Life Empangeni Garden Clinic. They treated me like family and not a patient,’ said Janine.
It is not often that a beaming mother thanks another mother for ‘giving her a beautiful baby girl’ but proud parent Isabel could not contain her emotions when she spoke to the Zululand Observer from Johannesburg on Wednesday.
‘I couldn’t have asked for a better mom for my baby. She did her best for our baby and we are grateful to Janine.’
Gestational surrogacy
In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate is inseminated with an embryo following in-vitro fertilization (IVF) using the egg and sperm of the newly intended parents. The resulting child is related to the intended parents and genetically unrelated to the surrogate.
Gynecologist Dr RK Misra of Life Empangeni Garden Clinic handled the antenatal care of Janine after the successful IVF procedure and embryo transfer by a fertility specialist in Johannesburg.
‘It has been a complicated and arduous journey for all parties involved, however I am happy with the outcome – a healthy 3kg baby,’ said Dr Misra on Wednesday.
‘It was my third case of surrogacy birth and the first for the hospital. My interests are infertility and high risk obstetrics.’
