Infertility

“She told them she had a baby boy but he passed away.” Mrs A, 27, is part of India’s most prolific family of surrogate mothers, something that although not unlawful has to be kept a secret in this conservative country.

Two sisters and their sister-in-law, Mrs A — all mothers with their own children – gave birth to babies last year and passed them to childless couples.

Another sister is waiting her turn.

In return for this “noble cause” they earn more than Rs100,000 ($2,250) for each pregnancy, a comparatively huge sum since one of their working husbands earns about $5 a day.

It will pay for their children’s education and home renovations.

But it comes at a cost.

For the sake of financial security, the life of India’s new breed of professional surrogate mothers means lies, secrecy and often nine months hiding from disapproving eyes.

Despite the disapproval in some quarters, the births have caused a social shift in the small town of Anand in western Gujarat state.

In the last two years, six women in the town, population 150,000, and surrounding villages have acted as surrogates, three of them for US-based Indian couples.

Two women are pregnant and seven more h...

Read more...