Woman becomes ‘surrogacy unicorn’ after delivering 10 babies and setting up her own agency
April 21-27 is National Infertility Awareness Week
In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, we share the incredible story of Emily Westerfield, a 37-year-old woman who has delivered 10 healthy babies, three of whom are her own biological children. As a gestational carrier, Westerfield has helped families bring their dreams of parenthood to life. Her success and passion for surrogacy led her to establish her own full-service agency, Carrying Dreams, which provides support to egg donors, surrogates, and intended parents.
A ‘unicorn’ in the surrogacy world
With 10 babies already delivered, Westerfield has gained a reputation as a “surrogacy unicorn” in the industry. She is currently 28 weeks pregnant with baby No. 11 and expressed her willingness to continue her surrogacy journey in a heartbeat. Her dedication and success in the field of gestational carrier sparked her desire to help others in similar situations.
Planting the seed for surrogacy
After witnessing the struggles of Max’s cousin, who suffered from secondary infertility, Westerfield offered to be a gestational carrier for their embryo. Although the couple declined her offer, Westerfield realized there were many others in need of assistance. This experience, along with the ease of her own biological pregnancies, compelled her to pursue a gestational carrier role.
The first surrogacy journey
Westerfield actively sought another family to help via surrogacy and joined an online forum serving as a platform to connect intended parents, surrogates, and donors. She spoke with several potential parents and ultimately chose a couple who had experienced heartbreaking infertility challenges. By using the couple’s existing embryos, Westerfield successfully delivered their third child, a girl, in December 2015.
Continued passion and supporting others
After her initial journey as a gestational carrier, Westerfield’s desire to help more families grew. She delivered several healthy babies in subsequent years and is currently pregnant and due in July. In August 2023, she founded her own surrogacy agency, Carrying Dreams, to provide resources, support, and education to potential surrogates and intended families.
Pride in helping others
Westerfield takes immense pride in helping families grow and maintains connections with each family she has worked with. She believes it is crucial for gestational carriers to have completed their own families and emphasizes the importance of matching families and carriers based on compatibility for factors such as geographic location and contact preferences after birth.
As her own surrogacy journey nears its eventual end, Westerfield remains committed to helping others as long as her health and family circumstances permit.
This heartwarming story exemplifies the power of selflessness and compassion in building families. By sharing her experiences and setting up her own agency, Emily Westerfield continues to make dreams come true through the incredible journey of surrogacy.
