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Circle denounces sensationalistic media focus on military wives following Newsweek's surrogacy article

John Weltman, Circle's president, calls for people not to lose sight of the altruistic feelings revealed by Newsweek to be the principle motivation of most surrogates.
 

April 1, 2008

Following the recent Newsweek story titled Womb for Rent: the Complex World of Surrogate Mothers, a media frenzy ensued with almost exclusive focus on one aspect of the article - the supposed large proportions of military wives among the ranks of surrogates.

Examples of such coverage:

• NBC Nightly News: Military wives spawn rise in surrogacy

• ABC News: Why Military Wives Dominate the Surrogate Baby Business"

• Daily News: Military Wives Cashing in as Surrogates

• NY Post: Surrogate Army Brats

Circle denounces the depiction of "military wives", or any other gestational carriers, as if they are resorting to surrogacy because they are desperate or destitute. In fact, the Newsweek article itself includes numerous stories that prove the exact opposite: "we talked to dozens of women across America who are, or have been, gestational carriers. What we found is surprising and defies stereotyping."

Circle is proud that about 15% of our surrogate population are military wives. These wonderful, caring women are carefully screened, like all other surrogates, to make sure their principle motivation is the joy of giving the great gift of family to an infertile straight or gay couple or single. In every case we make sure that they have the support of their husbands, family and friends. We also provide them, and all of our surrogates, with added support throughout their journey, from the moment they apply to our program continuing until several months following the birth.

We are proud that practices Circle adopted over it's 12 years of existence allow us to avoid pitfalls such as surrogates who are solely financially motivated or unprepared for the journey, or ones that lack adequate support and approval from their families and friends. We do not blame the media for mentioning that such problems exist, but call upon them not to lose sight of the altruistic motivations most surrogates share, as revealed in the Newsweek article. Our clients are almost unanimous in praising their surrogates for their devotion and reliability, and our surrogates are overwhelmingly approving of the treatment they receive from both our staff and their intended parents. We hope there will be additional opportunities to expose more of these extraordinary stories of love and support that we hear every day.

NBC's Chris Jansing reports about "Military wives spawn rise in surrogacy" on Nightly News, March 31 2008

About Circle Surrogacy

Since 1995, Circle Surrogacy has helped bring to the world over 350 babies, with unmatched success rates of close to 100% in clients becoming parents through egg donor surrogacy. Its dedicated staff of professionals is made up of lawyers, social workers, parents through surrogacy, and former surrogates and egg donors. Circle Surrogacy provides a choice of specialized clinics at locations throughout the country, a large selection of egg donors, swift matching with carefully screened surrogates, and a variety of flexible programs and financial options to suit its clients' unique family choices.

John Weltman, owner, founder is a Yale graduate and a nationally recognized expert in the field of reproductive law, including surrogacy and gay parenting.

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