DO YOU KNOW OF PARENTS WHO AN OVERSEAS SURROGATE TO 'GET' A BABY? (5)

I wonder from time to time about these deprived couples, the apparent harshness of the law here, although it has softened a little over the years and a surrogate can be engaged to produce for another couple, as long as no money changes hands.

Many years ago (over 32 yrs) I had firsthand experience when I put my hand up after seeing an ad in the paper (Qld) for someone to agree to be a surrogate for this couple, incognito. I even got to speak to the 'go-between' soon after to talk about how this couple envisioned the process. It was eventually decided that they couldn't go through with the whole shebang because their original idea of Her actually faking a pregnancy for 9 months would be too difficult. At this particular time I'd had my first 2 children under 12 months apart and decided I didn't want any more of my own...I considered myself the perfect candidate! I even went off the pill to give this couple a baby! FIRST ERROR: my husband was away doing basic and then corps training for the defence forces and I made this decision without his consent. SECOND ERROR: I stayed off the pill for a little too long and got pregnant with my 3rd child! Then when baby number 4 came along 2 years later, I wondered what made me even consider going through all that discomfort and pain for 'someone else'!!!!

To cut this story shorter, I did eventually become a real-life surrogate mum, after hearing heartbreaking experiences that a neighbour went through to conceive a surviving child with her 2nd husband (she miscarried many times, lost twins and a premmy baby girl).

Yes it is a lot to endure for someone else. But there need not be so much expense involved in surrogacy overseas, when it can, or could, be closely monitored here. Wouldn't it be better in the long run to keep our couples in Australia and 'getting' Australian-born babies?

I know there will always be the knockers, religious beliefs and so forth, but it's supposed to be a free country. Why are we making it so hard for couples to have babies in Australia with Australian women, who can be rewarded for all their hard work? I will open this box of worms and let others have their 2-bits on the subject....

CAN I EDIT MY HEADING???? I WANTED TO PUT '...WHO EMPLOY AN OVERSEAS SURROGATE' hellllp!