Jessica Altman-Pollack
Bio
Professional surrogate, Women’s Studies major, feminist, lesbian, wife, mother, cat lover. I live in a cabin in the woods with my wife and child on a farm with a menagerie of animals.
“Birth is the epicenter of women’s power.” -Ani DiFranco
Stories (4)
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Surrogacy
When I tell people that I am a surrogate, the predominant question/concern is always how am I able to detach emotionally after carrying a child or children for nine months in my womb. First, let me begin by saying that one of the reasons I got into surrogacy in the first place was because I wanted to help those who wanted to be parents but couldn’t. With that in mind, I never looked at the pregnancies as my own. This prevented me from developing an emotional connection. I also approached each surrogacy as what they always were, a business arrangement. I was always happy for the families, and celebrated with them with each positive pregnancy test, with each ultrasound, and with each healthy baby. I took care of myself, what I ate, stayed healthy, took vitamins, and followed every precaution. When the babies were born, I would opt for the skin-to-skin kangaroo care after birth (better for the baby). Would even offer my nipple, though aside from my first they rarely latched. In some cases, my wife and I, sometimes along with our son, would care for the children as our own for hours, even a full day, after delivery because the IPs were on their way from China or another state. No matter how much time I spent with those little bundles of joy, I never had a hard time saying goodbye. The immense love and gratitude in the faces of the new parents upon seeing their child(ren) for the first time, was the confirmation that all of this was worth it. I must also add that being able to take care of myself after giving birth and not a screaming infant is one of the most peaceful ways to recuperate. While I will always have the physical memory of carrying those children within me, I inherently understood from their conception that they were never mine. Whether they shared my biological DNA or had no ties to me did not change how I regarded them or how I took care of myself.
By Jessica Altman-Pollack5 years ago in Families
My Firstborn
As a lesbian, I know firsthand how difficult it can be for same-sex couples to have a baby. When my wife and I decided to have a child, so many variables had to be considered. We could not just stop using contraceptives or taking a pill, we simply did not possess one key ingredient needed for the manufacturing of life. Even then, when we had our sperm, we needed the financial element to afford the process of going through a fertility clinic for conception. While you could say that I got pregnant “the old fashioned way” with my first pregnancy, through an Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), it was still no walk in the park.
By Jessica Altman-Pollack5 years ago in Families
Birth Tattoo
I am a professional surrogate. I had just given birth on July 5th. It was my 4th pregnancy and the 6th child. I felt as though I had just accomplished some great feat. There is a reason why giving birth has been likened to running a marathon, and this particular birth experience had definitely been a test of my endurance. This was the first time that I had opted for a completely natural birth (no medications). I wanted to mark the occasion on my body.
By Jessica Altman-Pollack5 years ago in Families
Womb for Rent
By the age of 37, I have had five pregnancies and have given birth to seven children. If you are keeping score, perhaps you have surmised that I have carried two sets of twins. To put another spin on things, I should add that I only have one child of my own. I carried all of the babies to full term and they are all growing and thriving, just not with me. I am a professional surrogate, and this is my story.
By Jessica Altman-Pollack5 years ago in Families
