An influencer who blogs about her infertility battles has revealed her 51-year-old mother is carrying her baby.
Breanna Lockwood, from Chicago, and her husband-of-four-years Aaron, 28, have been trying to get pregnant since they got married.
The couple have endured seven surgical procedures, three rounds of harvesting eggs and four failed embryo transfers, as well as a single and twin miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy.
Breanna has shared their painful struggle on her Instagram and Facebook pages over the past year, admitting in a recent post: ‘The trials and tribulations of infertility was undoubtedly the hardest venture we have had to face in our lives.’
Breanna Lockwood, from Chicago, and her husband Aaron (pictured right) have been trying to get pregnant since they got married – and her mother Julie (left) is now carrying their child
But last month she revealed that their dream of becoming parents is a step closer to becoming a reality, thanks to her mother Julie.
Over the weekend, Breanna posted a photo of Julie at 17 weeks pregnant, cradling her baby bump while she and Aaron hold up the ultrasound and an announcement board.
She captioned the sweet image: ‘They say, “It takes a village to raise a child,” but for some it can take a village to HAVE a child… We are happy to announce, finally… BABY LOCKWOOD IS ON THE WAY!’
Explaining the baby was ‘made with a lot of love and a little bit of science’, Brianna told how Julie is their gestational carrier.
‘My mom will be carrying and delivering our baby!’ she continued. ‘The biggest supporter in my life is giving us our biggest blessing.
Explaining the baby was ‘made with a lot of love and a little bit of science’, Breanna, 29, told how Julie, 51, is their gestational carrier
‘My beautiful mama is carrying her first grandchild, Aaron and my biological child, as a gestational carrier!’
A gestational carrier is a woman who carries someone else’s biological child without donating any of her own eggs or DNA.
Breanna told how Julie went ‘through the ringer of heath tests’ to see if she could qualify to be her surrogate.
In fact, the mother-to-be says she was turned down by multiple reproductive doctors who said that her mom is too old to be a surrogate, despite the fact that she is in ‘tip top’ shape physically.
‘Starting this venture i was told “no” by multiple REs [reproductive endocrinologists] as the standard age cut off is 45,’ Breanna explained.
In the end however, it was Julie’s healthy, active lifestyle that convinced doctors she would be able to carry a child safely.
Breanna explained that Julie had to go ‘through the ringer of heath tests’ to see if she could qualify to be her surrogate
Julie, pictured at 11 weeks pregnant, is one of only a handful of surrogates across the US to deliver their grandchild via gestational surrogacy
‘Once my doctor met my mom at one of my appointments I could see his wheels start turning,’ Breanna said. ‘My mom is a double Boston marathon runner, and triathlete, and looks more like my sister.
‘She is in tip top shape, better health than she was in her twenties when she gave birth to me! He agreed to see if she passed the preliminary testing and talk to the board… with flying colors she passed.’
The embryo transfer took place on February 25, and Julie is now due in November.
Breanna wrote: ‘Sharing this adventure with my mom has been the most unique and amazing experience.
‘Surrogacy is truly the most selfless gift. She is the pure example of “you would do anything for your kids” and if I can even be half of the mother she is, I know I’m doing something right.’
She added that Julie is one of only a handful of surrogates across the US to deliver their grandchild via gestational surrogacy.
The embryo transfer took place on February 25, and Julie – pictured with Breanna – is now due in November
Breanna has shared the couple’s painful struggle online over the past year, admitting: ‘The trials and tribulations of infertility was undoubtedly the hardest venture we have had to face’
The response from Breanna’s 5,809 Instagram followers was overwhelmingly positive, with many commenting on her mother’s incredible gesture.
One wrote: ‘This is absolutely beautiful,’ while another posted: ‘So incredible! What a wonderful gift for all of you!’
In a follow-up Facebook post, in which she tagged her mom Julie, her father Rick, and her husband Aaron, Breanna thanked all of the thousands of people who have reached out to offer words of support to the family.
‘I just want to to say we are absolutely overwhelmed with the love and kind words we have received! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!’ she wrote.
‘Never in a million years did I expect to receive so many touching messages, from all of the world, of women struggling with infertility and loss.
‘Don’t be ashamed of your story, it will inspire others.’