P323 Teletext 323 Fjb14 02:23:13 SURROGATE MOTHERS ——————————————————————————————————————— The woman at the heart of the controversy over substitute mothers has applauded the move to offer surrogate births on the NHS. Kim Cotton, 39, the first publicly- known British surrogate mother in 1985, said she was "thrilled" by the decision, which would allow many more infertile couples to become parents. She praised John Parsons, the senior consultant at King's College hospital, who is leading the development. ——————————————————————————————————1/6—— Doctor defends rent-a-womb plan 312 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Next page Letters Papers PollP323 Teletext 323 Fjb14 02:47:52 SURROGATE MOTHERS ——————————————————————————————————————— Kim Cotton, who had surrogate twins for a friend in 1991, said the NHS scheme would help couples for whom surrogacy is financially crippling. "IVF is so expensive, especially IVF surrogacy. It will help people who think 'Oh my God, there's no way I can afford surrogacy'." But she urged couples considering surrogacy to seek guidance and counselling, rather than opting for a private, unversed, arrangement. ——————————————————————————————————2/6—— Doctor defends rent-a-womb plan 312 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Next page Letters Papers PollP323 Teletext 323 Fjb14 02:24:18 SURROGATE MOTHERS ——————————————————————————————————————— Surrogate mother Kim Cotton has urged people considering the scheme: "Don't go it alone." She set up her own charity in 1988 — COTS, Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy. "Our guidelines and all our information is there for the taking. "Wj are implementing the BMA's guidelines and are now making counselling compulsory." ——————————————————————————————————3/6—— Doctor defends rent-a-womb plan 312 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Next page Letters Papers PollP323 Teletext 323 Fjb14 02:21:37 SURROGATE MOTHERS ——————————————————————————————————————— Kim Cotton became a surrogate mother because "the idea of conception, birth and delivery is magical". But she warned against romantic misconceptions about surrogacy. "People have this lovely view of surrogacy and, my God, the reality is nothing like that. "You must know what the implications are going to be — and the pitfalls", she said. ——————————————————————————————————4/6—— Doctor defends rent-a-womb plan 312 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Next page Letters Papers PollP323 Teletext 323 Fjb14 02:22:11 SURROGATE MOTHERS ——————————————————————————————————————— Angel, a nurse who had a baby by surrogate mother Carole Horlock in December, said surrogacy "works for a lot of people". Angel, who suffered a premature menopause at 17, dismissed the BMA's suggestion that surrogacy made intended parents feel like failures. "What nonsense," she said. "When you go for surrogacy, you have to think more about it than you would if you had a child normally." ——————————————————————————————————5/6—— Doctor defends rent-a-womb plan 312 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Next page Letters Papers PollP323 Teletext 323 Fjb14 02:39:29 SURROGATE MOTHERS ——————————————————————————————————————— Angel, a registered nurse, spent "months" getting to know 29-year-old Carole Horlock before the surrogate mother carried her child. Their relationship is a success story. "She's coming to Fabian's Christening. She and her mum are making the cakes," Angel said. Carole, a divorcee from Stevenage, Herts, with two daughters aged five and two, now views Fabian's legal mother as a close friend. ——————————————————————————————————6/6—— Doctor defends rent-a-womb plan 312 WEATHER FOR YOUR REGION p105 Next page Letters Papers Poll