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Meghan and Diane have been best friends since childhood. Meghan was born with Cystic Fibrosis and -- because of her health -- thought she'd never have children. But after Meghan got married, Diane made a very generous offer -- she would carry Meghan's baby to term. With considerable trepidation, Meghan accepted.
Now, with Diane well into the third trimester of the pregnancy, the two women talk about their complex emotional, ethical, and legal arrangement -- one that psychologists and surrogacy experts say has the potential to be much more complicated than a traditional "stranger" surrogacy.
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Piece Description
Meghan and Diane have been best friends since childhood. Meghan was born with Cystic Fibrosis and -- because of her health -- thought she'd never have children. But after Meghan got married, Diane made a very generous offer -- she would carry Meghan's baby to term. With considerable trepidation, Meghan accepted.
Now, with Diane well into the third trimester of the pregnancy, the two women talk about their complex emotional, ethical, and legal arrangement -- one that psychologists and surrogacy experts say has the potential to be much more complicated than a traditional "stranger" surrogacy.
Broadcast History
aired on WFCR Public Radio in Amherst, MA on May 27, 2011
Transcript
EVERY YEAR, AN ESTIMATED 13-HUNDRED BABIES ARE BORN IN THE U.S. TO GESTATIONAL CARRIERS -- WOMEN WHO BEAR A CHILD MADE FROM THE EGG AND SPERM OF ANOTHER COUPLE. ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF SURROGACIES ARE AMONG FRIENDS -- INCLUDING A CASE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. ONE WOMAN IS CARRYING A BABY FOR HER BEST FRIEND, WHO HAS A DISEASE THAT WOULD MAKE PREGNANCY DANGEROUS. KAREN BROWN REPORTS.
amb: beep beep...
DIANE KIERAS-CIOLKOS AND MEGHAN HUCKAWICZ ARE CROUCHED OVER A DOZEN GRAINY ULTRASOUND PICTURES AT THE OBSTETRICIAN'S.
"I think this is his face.... and that's his belly.
DIANE WIPES THE ULTRASOUND GEL FROM HER BELLY, WHERE MEGHAN'S BABY BOY IS GROWING. THAT'S RIGHT -- IT'S DIANE'S BELLY, BUT MEGHAN'S BABY.
..."the baby's really growing."
DIANE AND MEGHAN ARE BEST FRIENDS. DIANE ALREADY HAS TWO CHILDREN WITH HER HUSBAND DAVE.. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST BABY FOR MEGHAN AND HER HUSBAND FR...
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Timing and Cues
6:58 plus :25 introduction (optional)
Intro and Outro
INTRO:EVERY YEAR, AN ESTIMATED 13-HUNDRED BABIES ARE BORN IN THE U.S. TO GESTATIONAL CARRIERS -- WOMEN WHO BEAR A CHILD MADE FROM THE EGG AND SPERM OF ANOTHER COUPLE. ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF SURROGACIES ARE AMONG FRIENDS -- INCLUDING A CASE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. ONE WOMAN IS CARRYING A BABY FOR HER BEST FRIEND, WHO HAS A DISEASE THAT WOULD MAKE PREGNANCY DANGEROUS. KAREN BROWN REPORTS.
OUTRO: