BROCKTON – Maty Barbosa, a long-life Brockton resident, did what she calls “God’s work.”
The 27-year-old served as a surrogate for a Natick couple who struggled for more than a decade to conceive on their own.
The young mother of two boys, ages 9 and 2, was excited to help bring another bundle of joy into the world. Barbosa served as the gestational surrogate for the couple, carrying the baby which had no genetic relation to her.
The baby girl was born on April 24 and, according to Barbosa, is doing well.
“The best part about this experience was giving the baby back to her family,” Barbosa said. “It was kind of an unreal moment when they held their baby for the first time.”
Why become a surrogate?
The young mother’s motivation to become a surrogate was simple; she loved being pregnant but did not want any more children of her own. She also wanted to help a couple experience the birth of a child.
“I love the feeling of pregnancy; feeling the baby growing inside of you and moving is unexplainable. It’s amazing how the body can create life,” Barbosa said.
Becoming a surrogate took a while but so “worth it,” she said.
Barbosa found her family through an agency that matched her based on a lifestyle survey she filled out.
“Many times, surrogacy is a couple’s last resort,” Barbosa said.
Barbosa’s main goal was to carry and safely deliver a healthy baby. She also plans to maintain a relationship with the baby and the family for the rest of her life.
“I stay in contact with the family. I pump milk for them, so I see them often,” Barbosa said. “It felt great to bring a life into the world, especially for people who can’t have kids of their own, so having the ability to do so, it’s just a different feeling.”
Surrogacy is expensive
When a couple begins the process of surrogacy, one of the first steps is financial planning because the process is expensive.
And to make it work, there are cases of intending parents who take out loans, add a second mortgage to their home, start a GoFundMe, or collect money from relatives to achieve their financial goals.
The surrogacy startup cost is well over $100,000, and to create embryos in a lab can range from $25,000 to $45,000, which is a separate cost.
If you’re able to find a surrogate willing to help you out, it can alleviate some of the cost, but that is not the reality for everyone.
As for Barbosa’s medical expenses, they were taken care of by the family.
Common misconceptions about surrogacy
One misconception people have about surrogacy in general is that it’s “only for rich people,” which is false.
“You learn a lot of families will get a loan, collect money from their families, and find other avenues for the funds. The first time I heard about surrogacy was when Kim Kardashian had hers, so I think people always assume it’s only something a rich person could have access to,” Barbosa said.
Barbosa gave the gift of life, and that’s something so special you could “never repay.”
“Becoming a surrogate is so beneficial and rewarding. You’re creating a life for another family outside of yours, and when you’re doing it from the kindness of your heart, it hits entirely different,” Barbosa said.
Barbosa documented her journey on Tik Tok and let her followers get a peek into the life of a surrogate.
