Breanna Lockwood and her husband Aaron got married in June 2016 and hoped to start a family together soon after. However, that proved more difficult than they’d hoped. After seeking fertility treatment, Breanna suffered two miscarriages and got Asherman’s syndrome after scar tissue built up in her uterus. When her endocrinologist suggested the couple look into surrogacy, the $100,000 pricetag put them off. That’s when Breanna’s 51-year-old mom, Julie Loving, stepped up to carry the child for them.
- Breanna was reluctant to let her mom be her surrogate at first. It was Julie who won her daughter over in the end with her enthusiasm about helping the couple start a family just like they always dreamed. “I kind of felt like I went through this with her from the beginning,” Julie told OprahMag.com. “I felt all of her grief and her struggle. I knew that I was healthy as a 51-year-old, and I knew I could do this for her, I took good care of myself. I actually don’t feel 50, I feel 30!”
- Julie might be a bit older but she’s in incredible health. When Breanna first brought her mom to see Dr. Brian Kaplan, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist at Fertility Centers of Illinois, she could tell Dr. Kaplan wasn’t sure about going ahead with things. “I could see a look in his eye and I could see his wheels beginning to turn a little bit,” Breanna recalled. However, after a series of tests that Julie passed with flying colors, the plan was full steam ahead.
- It’s a unique situation but one that is being monitored closely. Dr. Kaplan admitted that it’s a “very unique scenario” and that it’s only happening because of “very careful personalized medical, psychological and ethical considerations.” Kaplan added, “The family dynamic, unconditional support and sacrifice and the resilience of the human spirit was humbling for me as a physician.”
- Julie is about 21 weeks into the pregnancy now. That’s just about halfway! In fact, just last week they felt the baby kick and even found out that they’re going to be having a little girl. Congrats to all of them and way to go Julie for being such an awesome mom!