Corina’s Birth Story

Written by
Melissa is a wife, mom and experienced gestational carrier. She has a history as a paralegal, focusing on surrogacy and ART law, and now helps guide and support individuals throughout their surrogacy journey. Melissa is the Lead Advocate and Digital Creator for Stronger Together Surrogacy.
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Corina’s Birth Story

Corina’s Birth Story

This was my 5th pregnancy, and I can honestly say all of them were different. I have had twins and singletons, a boy and girls, c-section and vaginal births. I’ve had the doctor break my water at delivery, and I’ve had my water slowly leak. I have delivered with an epidural and without, been induced and gone into labor naturally. I’ve miscarried, had a D&C, gone into preterm labor, and delivered after 40 weeks. I’ve delivered by myself once, and without the intended parents once, but also with my husband there, and the intended parents present once.

No two pregnancies have been the same, and I think that’s the hardest part because there are so many unknowns. When it’s just you and your partner, it’s a little easier, but when someone else is planning their lives around your pregnancy, it’s more stressful and I wish there were some consistency that would help predict any part of the birth. But every baby has their own story, and that’s magical in itself.

The Journey

This journey was my hardest one, but also my most rewarding. The first transfer didn’t take, and the second one ended with a miscarriage and D&C at 11 weeks. We all felt like we were in the clear, and it made the third transfer that much more nerve wracking. I’m not sure I could have continued without the support of Ashely and the Stronger Together team, but they were incredible the entire time. I was nervous through the whole pregnancy. Before this journey, I really thought growing babies was my superpower. The intended parents came to every ultrasound appointment, and they never lost faith in me or their baby girl. It was also helpful having the Stronger Together support group online with the other surrogates, so I could voice my concerns and know I wasn’t alone.

Labor

Just after hitting 37 weeks, I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like I had peed… I went back to bed and the next morning I kept feeling like I was leaking. With all of my other pregnancies, my water broke with contractions and it felt like a balloon popping so I wasn’t confident that was what was happening, but I wanted to get this checked out. I definitely wasn’t having any contractions at all, so I drove myself to the hospital and it turned out it had been my water slowly leaking.

The parents were in town for an ultrasound appointment the day before, and thankfully they decided to stay for the weekend! When I first called them, their phones were on silent and I had to leave a voicemail. This was the most stressful part of the delivery because my last baby came in 3 hours, and I was worried the parents wouldn’t arrive in time. It ended up being a non-issue because this little girl took her sweet time.

I had to be induced because I wasn’t having contractions. Which also meant we had a FULL day of laboring and waiting. The parents sat with my husband and me in the hospital room for 12 hours until their baby was born. My longest labor previously had been 6 hours, so it felt like forever, especially with everyone waiting on me.

Delivery

I have learned not to do a birth plan because birth never goes how you plan.With all things considered, this delivery was one my easiest and smoothest. For most of my labor, the parents and my husband were in the room, so we were all just talking. They are the sweetest couple and the conversation was easy. Towards the end, I started feeling the contractions but it wasn’t unbearable so I didn’t ask to increase my epidural.

I did rest for the last hour, and just breathed through my contractions until it was time to push. My doctor let the mom catch the baby and cut the cord, and after delivery they got their own delivery room. Then we both got our own postpartum rooms, and the nurses brought any colostrum I pumped over to the baby until I was able to walk comfortably.

Recovery

I was up and walking an hour after delivery, even with the epidural. I didn’t need any stitches, I wasn’t in any pain. My kids and her big brother didn’t come to meet her until the next morning. I got to see their oldest son hold the baby. They also let my children hold her, which is something we had talked about from the beginning, and I was discharged quickly, about 12 hours after delivery.

As the surrogate, I was only woken up every 4 hours throughout the night, while the baby got checked every 2 hours, so the Parents were exhausted. We ended up taking their son to the park to play for a few hours so they could rest. I felt like myself within days of being home, and today, after almost three weeks, I feel like I’m completely back to normal, except that I’m pumping every 3 hours. 🙂

Reflecting

The question I get asked the most is, if it’s hard not bringing the baby home after bonding for 9 months. I was worried about it with my first journey, but both times it was so much easier than I anticipated. For me, it feels like a niece or nephew; I can love them and still know they’re not mine. I know in my heart that my family is complete. I’ve not seen other parents with babies and think, “I wish that was me.” I can still be excited for them because I have fond memories of that stage in my life.

With this journey, the parents (and their son) wanted this baby for so long. They went through so many hurdles and challenges to complete their family. It was a relief that she was born healthy, and it brings me so much joy when I think about them getting their baby girl after trying for so long. She’s a lucky girl and so, so loved.

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