I had baby for my pals

Jan 1 2003 By Sue Smith, Evening Mail

A Midland woman has provided two friends with the best present possible - the joy of parenthood.

Nuala Kelly acted as a surrogate mother and gave birth to bouncing baby boy William Dougal two weeks ago.

The 42-year-old mother, who has two of her own children, carried the 6lb 11oz baby for a Stafford-shire couple, Pete and Lynne.

The surrogacy was the first through the assisted conception unit at Birmingham Women’s Health Care Trust.

Lynne, 36, had problems carrying a baby full-term so the three friends agreed their only hope was if Nuala acted as a host mother. Lynne’s eggs were used to ensure the child had its parents’ genes. Nuala said that although she gave birth to William he was “Lynne and Pete’s child”. Lynne said: “She has given us the most fantastic gift imaginable.”

Friends, family and neighbours have sent numerous gifts and cards after hearing the news.

But surprisingly it is not the first time that Nuala, of Alcester, Warwick-shire, has given birth for another couple.

In 1999 she carried a son, Jake, born at Solihull Hospital, for Angela and Shane Drew-Robinson who lived at Ramsgate in Kent. Angela had been a victim of a cervical smear scandal at Kent and Canterbury Hospital and was told she needed an emergency hysterectomy at 38.

She managed to contact Nuala through Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy (COTS) and after successful IVF treat-ment Nuala carried their genetic baby.

The couple said they could not give enough praise to their “angel” or “thank her enough for what she had done”.