A woman has become one of the UK’s youngest surrogates at 21-years-old… and she’s just given birth to TRIPLETS.
When she was a teenager, Shaniece Sturdy, from Carshalton, Surrey, became interested in sᴜʀʀᴏɢᴀᴄʏ after watching an eye-opening TV documentary. Following the birth of her son Rylee, now four, Shaniece experienced the joys of motherhood.
Wanting to help some hopeful parents, Shaniece contacted a sᴜʀʀᴏɢᴀᴄʏ centre where she came across a loved-up couple, Joanna and Steve.
“It was one of the best experiences of my life”
She was desperate to help them complete their family and ꜰʟᴇᴡ to Los Angeles to a specialist clinic to have their ᴇᴍʙʀʏᴏ ɪɴsᴇʀᴛᴇᴅ. However, Shaniece, who has since set up her own cleaning business, was sʜᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ when midwives found not one but three heart ʙᴇᴀᴛs.
Joanna and Steve, who live in the UK, were thrilled they were expecting triplets and Shaniece now visits them every year for their birthdays.
Cleaning business owner Shaniece, now 24, said: “Even though I was only 21 and it was a huge responsibility carrying their babies, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I had no morning sɪᴄᴋɴᴇss or cravings, the whole ᴘʀᴇɢɴᴀɴᴄʏ ꜰʟᴇᴡ by and with the support of Joanna and Steve, it was amazing and I would recommend it to anyone.”
“I was only supposed to be helping the family have a brother or sister for their little girl but I ended up giving them three babies at once. We all opted for a planned C-sᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ at 33 weeks but my waters ʙʀᴏᴋᴇ on Halloween. Joanna came down to theatre with me and although I was nervous all I cared about was ensuring the babies were delivered safe and healthy.”
The babies weighed just 4lb 2oz, 3lb 7oz and 3lb 11oz when they were born, but they were allowed to go home two weeks later. Shaniece, believes the laws surrounding sᴜʀʀᴏɢᴀᴄʏ need to be changed in the UK so hopeful parents have more control.
Shaniece didn’t tell her family straight away about her sᴜʀʀᴏɢᴀᴄʏ plans in case they didn’t approve. She added: “I decided to conduct all my own research beforehand and it wasn’t until I met the hopeful parents that I told anyone. I was only 21 at the time but I wasn’t interested in partying and drinking, I wanted to help another couple fulfill their family dream and raise Rylee properly. It really doesn’t matter how old you are, as long as you’re ready and understand the importance of what you’re doing.”