Meet the grandmother who will give birth to her son's baby: 'So eternally grateful'
By Merryn Porter |
A US grandmother will give birth to her own grandchild in November after offering to carry the baby girl for her son and daughter-in-law.
Nancy Hauck, 56, offered to be a gestational carrier for son Jeff and his wife Cambria after a previous complication meant Cambria had to undergo an emergency hysterectomy shortly after the birth of her second set of twins, according to TODAY Parents.
Cambria Hauck, of the state of Utah, has been posting details about the unusual arrangement and impending arrival of her baby daughter on her Instagram account, where there is also a moving video.
Watch the video above.
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Hauck, 30, suffered a haemorrhage shortly after giving birth to her second set of twins and doctors were forced to act when they were unable to find the source of the bleeding.
She said she and her husband struggled with the decision because the deeply religious couple had undergone fertility treatment previously and still had unused embryos.
That is when her mother-in-law came to them with an idea. ?
Hauck said their journey started on October 12 last year when her mother-in-law told her, "I want you to know, I would be willing to carry a baby for youกญ"
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"She continued by telling us she'd been feeling promptings and having spiritual experiences about this baby girl.
"She said she was sure it wasn't even possible, because of her age, but if it was at all possible she would do itกญ if it was what we wanted."
Hauck went on to express her gratitude to her mother-in-law, whom she described as "our angel gestational carrier!"
"I am so eternally grateful for her. She gave life to my incredible husband, Jeff, and is now carrying our baby girl. My heart is overflowing with so much gratitude, love, joy, peace, excitement, faith and amazement," she said.
"Nancy has always been a beacon of faith, light and feminine power to me.
"I've always known that she knows she's a daughter of God. She loves life (I've seen her save many bugs' lives, even roaches) and has always been an advocate for agency.
"But feeling her spirit and seeing her light in this moment was indescribable and I knew she meant it wholeheartedly."
She said they left the conversation agreeing to "ponder and pray about it."
"We had already made an appointment with our fertility specialist just a couple of weeks after this conversation," she said.
"Jeff and I decided we would ask if it was possible at the appointment. When we asked our doctor he answered confidently that it was possible as long as she had a healthy uterus and she was in good physical and mental health (carriers must pass a stress test, do water ultrasound, and a psych evaluation)."
With her father-in-law Jason also offering "loving support" they decided to proceed, adding "it truly has been a team effort" between the two couples.
"I didn't know the beautiful and miraculous journey we were about to embark on back on October 12 or the incredible lessons we'd be taught along the way," she continued.
It took just one embryo transfer in February this year for Nancy to become pregnant with the couple's baby, a girl they have decided to name Hannah.
Cambria has also detailed on Instagram how they came up with the name 'Hannah', saying they did not choose the name, but received it.
"I take names really seriously and the thought of picking a name for this sweet baby hadn't even crossed my mind," she said.
"When we received her name we still didn't have a positive pregnancy test and we didn't know what we were having yet.
"It still gives me chills and fills my soul with so much joy thinking of this experience."
She said that at 6.42am on February 23 this year, just six days after their frozen embryo transfer, they received a text from Nancy in which she said she had woken in the middle of the night and "heard a sweet voice say the words, 'My name is Hannah!'."
"She heard this voice say this several times and knew it was the spirit of this baby telling us her name. I believe it was when her sweet spirit was entering her body and she was introducing herself.
"Jeff and I read the text at the same time, with huge smiles on our faces. I instantly looked up the meaning of the name Hannah."
She said not only did the name mean "favour of Grace", but her mother-in-law's name Nancy is derived from Hannah.
Cambria says she hopes sharing her story will give hope to others going through infertility.
Many on Instagram have left supportive comments.
"I am in tears! Incredible," wrote one, while another said, "Omg! This is seriously the most special thing I have ever seen! Wow! Just wow!"?
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