'I love being pregnant so much I became a surrogate - it brings me so much joy'

25 July 2023 , 13:44

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Yessenia said she loved being pregnant but wasn't ready for another child of her own (Image: Yessenia Latorre / SWNS)

A mum made the decision to become a surrogate for someone else because she "loves" being pregnant and couldn't wait to do it again, but wasn't quite ready for another child of her own.

25-year-old Yessenia Latorre felt the "urge" to be pregnant again after the birth of her second son, Trey, three. However, she didn't want to have another child of her own at the time.

So the mum-of-two, who also has eldest Tyson, five, looked into surrogacy. She had always been fascinated by surrogacy and after being an egg donor, she applied to be a gestational carrier with the support of her husband, also called Trey, 27.

Yessenia picked a couple who were willing to allow her to see photos of their baby and stay in touch. After meeting them, she fell pregnant after an egg transfer in June 2022.

Yessenia with husband Trey and two boys Tyson, five, and Trey Jnr, three (Yessenia Latorre / SWNS)

Yessenia with her two boys Tyson and Trey (Yessenia Latorre / SWNS)

She said she had the "best pregnancy " and shared updates with the couple throughout the nine months. They even shared a 3D scan of the couple's baby in person.

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When the baby boy was born on February 18, 2023, Yessenia held him, and has since stayed in touch with the family, receiving frequent updates on the baby she carried for them. Yessenia was paid $40k to be a surrogate, receiving $800 in expenses and $1,500 in gifts throughout the pregnancy.

Yessenia is a surrogate educator from Louisville, Georgia. She said: "After my second son I felt an urge to be pregnant again.

"I love pregnancy. I feel beautiful pregnant. I wanted to be pregnant but I wasn't trying to have another child.

She said it was the "best pregnancy" (Yessenia Latorre / SWNS)

Yessenia met the couple through an online matching service (Yessenia Latorre / SWNS)

"I wanted to be a surrogate. I spoke to my husband and he was extremely supportive. I got to hold him after he was born. I never felt a maternal bond but I cared for him.

"His parents are going to give the baby the world. I felt so proud and accomplished. What I gave them is truly priceless."

Yessenia found a couple to match with after joining SurrogateFirst and completing the application and psychological analysis. She met the prospective parents in November 2021 over Zoom, and in person for the first time in May 2022.

For Yessenia, it was important she would be able to stay in contact with the family she chose to be a surrogate for. She explained: "I said I would love to receive photos of their baby. They said I was welcome to attend birthday parties."

Yessenia and the couple keep in touch and she receives regular photos of the baby she carried for them (Yessenia Latorre / SWNS)

Yessenia went to most appointments alone but stayed in touch with the parents over text and shared the 3D scan with them (Yessenia Latorre / SWNS)

Yessenia underwent the egg transfer in June 2022, and found out she was pregnant just five days later - confirmed by a blood test after two weeks. The couple were "so happy", they sent her a bouquet of flowers and a spa gift card.

Yessenia went to most of the doctor's appointments by shelf but was able to share a 20-week 3D scan with the couple and text every day. The couple paid Yessenia the base surrogacy compensation of $40k, as well as expenses such as $800 for maternity clothes.

She said: "I loved the pregnancy. It was the best pregnancy I have had. I felt really good and really happy."

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Yessenia went to Northside Hospital in Georgia after having contractions overnight in February 2023. Her husband, Trey, who works for a solar company, and the mum were in the room when Yessenia gave birth to the baby boy.

"He was perfect when he came out," said Yessenia. "He did skin-to-skin with his mum. It was a really beautiful moment.

"Then I got to hold him. I did care for him but I never felt like he was mine. He's so blessed."

Yessenia had the chance to hold the baby after giving birth but said she felt no maternal instinct that the child was hers (Yessenia Latorre / SWNS)

Yessenia's husband Trey was supportive of her choice to become a surrogate (Yessenia Latorre / SWNS)

Yessenia receives updates all the time and has been on an "emotional high" since. Despite being paid to be a surrogate, Yessenia sees the money as a "bonus."

"If you're truly doing it for the money it wouldn't be worth it," she explained. "Being pregnant - it did effect my life. I was tired playing with my children. My husband was so supportive.

"I told my kids 'mum is pregnant but it's not our baby'. They seemed to understand that the baby wasn't coming home with us."

Yessenia said she would "love" to be a surrogate again in the future, but isn't ready just yet. Now, she is working as a surrogacy educator to break the "taboo".

"It exceeded my expectations", she said. In the UK it is illegal to pay a surrogate, except for their reasonable expenses. Gestational surrogacy is permitted in Georgia and most surrogates are paid.

Fiona Leishman