‘My mum gave birth for me – twice!’ A rare medical condition left Maddie Coleman unable to have children – but her mum came to the rescue as a surrogate
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ike any doting grandmother, Megan Barker adores spending time with her two grandchildren: Gus, three, and Emmy, one. But the bond they share is particularly special because Megan not only gave birth to both of her grandchildren, but fed them too! She was 47 years old when she first acted as surrogate for her daughter, Maddie Coleman, 27. And she gave birth to her youngest grandchild last year, aged 50. UPSETTING
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Maddie, who lives with her husband, Tyler, in California, says, “Mum helped me to fulfil my baby dream not once, but twice.
Tyler and Maddie with their newborn baby
“I am so grateful to her. The experience has brought us closer together and she’s a wonderful grandma.” Maddie was diagnosed with a rare reproductive condition, known as MayerRokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH), aged just 14. It meant her uterus and cervix hadn’t formed properly and she would be unable to carry her own child. Maddie says, “When I was diagnosed, I was young and hadn’t thought much about children – but it was a very upsetting time. “Thankfully, Mum was amazing, and immediately promised to carry a child for me when the time came. “It was a lot to take in at that age, but knowing I had Mum as my potential surrogate one
ily The whole fam together
day made things easier. I didn’t quite realise at the time what a big deal it was for her to offer to do that for me.” HEALTH ISSUES
At 21, Maddie met Tyler, who is now her husband. But just a few months later, doctors discovered that benign tumours were growing on her ovaries. She said, “The doctors said they would remove the tumours and, as the surgery could damage my ovaries, they advised me to freeze my eggs at the same time.” Maddie had 18 eggs collected, and it was then that she asked her mum about becoming a surrogate for her. Maddie says, “At 47, Mum was healthy and willing to go ahead. I felt more comfortable with Mum being a surrogate – someone I trusted – rather than a younger stranger.” In November 2015, Megan passed a series of mental and physical health checks to ensure she could carry a child and be able to handle the idea of handing the baby over.
Maddie says, “Mum is a strong woman. I had no doubt she’d be able to do this for us. “From the very beginning, she just saw herself as a vessel for the baby to grow in, and I knew she’d only ever see the baby as her grandchild.” Supported by Maddie’s stepfather and two half-sisters, McKenna, 16, and Merrin, 15, Megan was implanted with two fertilised embryos in January 2016. Incredibly, she fell pregnant straight away. Maddie says, “I wanted to be there for Mum throughout the pregnancy. I went to every scan, did her chores, would give her foot massages, and brought her lots of chocolate!
