0:00:03 > 0:00:07Down a dusty back street, in a rural Indian town,
0:00:07 > 0:00:12one house is home to 100 pregnant women.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16They are carrying babies they will soon hand over
0:00:16 > 0:00:18to couples from around the world.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23And it's all the work of Dr Nayna Patel.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25God is creating life,
0:00:25 > 0:00:30but God has appointed me to do that on this earth.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35She's the pioneer of a booming commercial surrogacy industry.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37For many couples worldwide,
0:00:37 > 0:00:41she offers their last hope of starting a family.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45But to her critics, she has commercialised childbirth
0:00:45 > 0:00:50- and exploited the poor. - Am I doing something criminal?
0:00:50 > 0:00:54There were a lot of allegations that this is just a baby-making factory.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58With unprecedented access, we enter the world of Dr Nayna Patel,
0:00:58 > 0:01:02- her international clients... - He's so cute.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06..and the women inside her house of surrogates.
0:01:06 > 0:01:14This programme contains some scenes which some viewers may find upsetting.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20The town of Anand, far from the tourist trail
0:01:20 > 0:01:23in the rural Indian state of Gujarat.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27It's previously only been known for its dairy production.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34But recently, an increasing number of visitors
0:01:34 > 0:01:37from all over the world have been arriving in the town.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48TRANSLATION:
0:02:07 > 0:02:11Dr Patel's fertility clinic in the centre of Anand is where
0:02:11 > 0:02:13over the last decade she has created
0:02:13 > 0:02:18and personally delivered hundreds of babies via IVF surrogacy.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26Australian Sam and his Serbian wife Jana have
0:02:26 > 0:02:30arrived in town for the delivery of their first child.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34My wife is very emotional.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37It's a bit like the old days in Australia
0:02:37 > 0:02:40where the parents were in the waiting room.
0:02:52 > 0:02:5845-year-old Jana has been unable to have a baby since severe illness,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01but commercial surrogacy is a criminal offence
0:03:01 > 0:03:03where they live in Australia.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07I was sick, and unfortunately...
0:03:07 > 0:03:11we couldn't achieve the normal way.
0:03:11 > 0:03:17This was really... In Australia, we don't have this chance,
0:03:17 > 0:03:23and India is the country that I would recommend everyone to go to.
0:03:23 > 0:03:24I still remember the culture shock
0:03:24 > 0:03:28when we arrived at the airport the first time we came.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32But the people are very friendly in India. Very nice.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34So you can't complain.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51WOMAN CRIES OUT
0:03:56 > 0:04:02Sam and Jana have paid a fee of around US28,000
0:04:02 > 0:04:05to Dr Patel's clinic for its services.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13BABY CRIES
0:04:13 > 0:04:17Their surrogate, Jyoti, is from a local village.
0:04:20 > 0:04:25For carrying and delivering the baby, she's been paid 8,000.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30It's a baby boy.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43It's finally happened.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45SHE SOBS, BABY CRIES
0:04:45 > 0:04:47We can hear it crying.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Finally.
0:04:53 > 0:04:59- After how many years?- 11.- It's been a long one. 11 years, yeah.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Everything is fine, Jyoti is fine, the baby is fine.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06We'll just show you the baby.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10You can hold your baby.
0:05:15 > 0:05:22- Oh, my God. Oh, my God. You're so small!- That's amazing.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35OK, let me show you. You can come with me.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39This is going to be a learning experience, doing all this.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43- Come, come with me. - The expert's going to show us.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45OK, we have to come this way.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59When you started, and now, what's the reaction been?
0:05:59 > 0:06:02I have faced criticism.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05I am facing it, and I will be facing it,
0:06:05 > 0:06:11because this, according to many, is a controversial subject.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15There were a lot of allegations that this is just a business,
0:06:15 > 0:06:18this is just baby selling,
0:06:18 > 0:06:24a baby-making factory, and all these phrases used to hurt.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28These surrogates are doing the physical work, agreed,
0:06:28 > 0:06:31and they are being compensated for that.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34They know that there is no gain without pain.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39It's a journey of around two miles from the clinic
0:06:39 > 0:06:44to the surrogate house, situated on the outskirts of Anand.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48With so many pregnant women under one roof,
0:06:48 > 0:06:51the house has its own matron.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08The property is divided into dormitories,
0:07:08 > 0:07:12sleeping up to 10 expectant surrogate mothers in each room.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44LAUGHTER
0:07:46 > 0:07:50The women in the surrogate house have all their meals made for
0:07:50 > 0:07:51and delivered to them.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55They are on a strict regime of vitamins and rest.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14Women can be a surrogate through Dr Patel up to three times,
0:08:14 > 0:08:19and it's 28-year-old's Papiya's second time inside the house.
0:08:37 > 0:08:4228-year-old Vasanti has two children of her own,
0:08:42 > 0:08:47but is currently being employed to carry a Japanese couple's baby.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08The surrogate mothers have no genetic link to the babies
0:09:08 > 0:09:10they carry.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14They are created as embryos at Dr Patel's clinic before being
0:09:14 > 0:09:16implanted into their wombs.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23Under one roof, you have a Japanese baby, British baby,
0:09:23 > 0:09:28American baby, all of them growing up under one world,
0:09:28 > 0:09:33and when they will be delivered, they will all have as a birth certificate
0:09:33 > 0:09:35"born in Anand".
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Dr Patel works six days a week from her clinic.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43As well as the medical work,
0:09:43 > 0:09:47it is from here she liaises with her international clients
0:09:47 > 0:09:51and keeps a watchful eye over the surrogate mothers' movements.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55This is typically a demand book that the surrogates send to me
0:09:55 > 0:09:57from the Surrogate House.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01- So you have to go through that and say yes or no?- Yes or no.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03If I signature, it is sanctioned.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06If I pass a comment that, "No, she should not go,"
0:10:06 > 0:10:10or "she should only give this much money," then it is.
0:10:10 > 0:10:11Every day, about five to six.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Today, one has asked for 1,000 rupees advance
0:10:15 > 0:10:16to open a bank account.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Another has asked that, "My son is in class five,
0:10:19 > 0:10:22"I need to go home for 10 days for his exams."
0:10:22 > 0:10:26Third one has asked for 2,000 rupees for her husband,
0:10:26 > 0:10:29he needs it for something.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32And what kind of things would you refuse?
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Oh, I mean...
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Going home for just some vague reason where
0:10:38 > 0:10:42I feel that she will not be able to take care of herself,
0:10:42 > 0:10:45like there is some celebration and dancing going on, then
0:10:45 > 0:10:49I would suggest, "Please, do not go, because it will not be good for you."
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Amy has just flown into India from Texas.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00She received an e-mail 24 hours earlier
0:11:00 > 0:11:03saying her son had been born via a surrogate.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Go down here?
0:11:10 > 0:11:13She's here to see him for the first time.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Holy moly.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26If we don't get run over first, we'll get there.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31This way?
0:11:31 > 0:11:34Having unsuccessfully tried to hold a pregnancy
0:11:34 > 0:11:38over the last 10 years, 49-year-old Amy and her husband
0:11:38 > 0:11:41opted to try surrogacy.
0:11:43 > 0:11:44I just want to see him.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Because of course you want to make sure the baby is OK.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52She did tell us to go this way, right?
0:11:52 > 0:11:56The surrogate mother, chosen by Dr Patel, and whom Amy has never met,
0:11:56 > 0:12:00is now somewhere in a nearby neonatal hospital ward
0:12:00 > 0:12:01with her newborn baby.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Did she say here?
0:12:05 > 0:12:11Hi. I'm Amy. Someone gave birth to my child.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13The baby is in...
0:12:13 > 0:12:14Where is that?
0:12:18 > 0:12:25Your baby was here at that time. But now he is with the nanny.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28- OK.- Your baby is with the nanny on the second floor.
0:12:35 > 0:12:36Hi.
0:12:40 > 0:12:46Oh! Oh! Hey there. Oh!
0:12:49 > 0:12:52He's so cute. So cute.
0:12:55 > 0:12:56(Little fingers.)
0:12:56 > 0:12:58Oh, my God. I can't believe it.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04Oh, my gosh.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08Surrogate.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11Surrogate.
0:13:13 > 0:13:14Hi. Hi.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18It's beautiful. Thank you.
0:13:24 > 0:13:30I just...I can't believe I'm holding him. 10 years waiting for you. Huh?
0:13:32 > 0:13:33Definitely worth it.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40- She's telling, you are happy? - Am I happy? Yes, more than happy.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44Ecstatic.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48- Does she speak English?- No.- No.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52Tell her she's giving me a huge gift and I cannot thank her enough.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02All right, I'll let you have him back.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04I'm going to go home and sleep
0:14:04 > 0:14:06and then I will see you tomorrow morning.
0:14:08 > 0:14:13- So you can take this, then you can come tomorrow.- He's so cute.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15He's so small, he's so cute!
0:14:15 > 0:14:17SHE LAUGHS
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Commercial surrogacy has become a booming industry
0:14:24 > 0:14:27across the whole of India in the last decade.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Now estimated to be worth £1 billion a year.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39Paying a surrogate here is legal and costs only a fifth what it would
0:14:39 > 0:14:44in the USA, one of the few other countries where it is permitted.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51India has one third of the world's poorest people.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55Labourers and farm workers earn under £10 a week.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02It means there is no shortage of applicants
0:15:02 > 0:15:05to become a surrogate at Dr Patel's clinic.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09Even if they aren't totally sure what it entails.
0:17:03 > 0:17:0762-year-old British doctor Michael and his 33-year-old Russian wife
0:17:07 > 0:17:12Veronica are at the first stage of the surrogacy process -
0:17:12 > 0:17:15having their embryos created by the clinic.
0:17:17 > 0:17:22Unfortunately, I do not have the possibility of conceiving
0:17:22 > 0:17:26as I'm missing one ovary and one tube due to the abnormality.
0:17:26 > 0:17:34I was born like that, as we say, so I didn't know until I was 22.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40That persuaded me that my last chance
0:17:40 > 0:17:47of trying to have my own child is to use a surrogate.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49As a physician, I find it somewhat ironic
0:17:49 > 0:17:52that some days as a family doctor in my office,
0:17:52 > 0:17:56I see poor individuals who are pregnant
0:17:56 > 0:18:00and wish to go the route of terminating that pregnancy,
0:18:00 > 0:18:04whilst other times during the day you may find individuals
0:18:04 > 0:18:08who deeply wish to be pregnant and are unable to.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10It's the fortunes of life.
0:18:11 > 0:18:16When I came to the clinic, the outside looks very ordinary.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19But that hides the interior,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22where the science is quite professional,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25their procedures are sterile
0:18:25 > 0:18:29and no different from what I'm used to in the Western world.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Many women, they all suffer
0:18:32 > 0:18:36because they don't have this possibility to become mothers.
0:18:36 > 0:18:41And they would do anything, like I did, because we will be mothers,
0:18:41 > 0:18:48and we will have our children who will make their children.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53I still think that we will be blessed with twins.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57Potential life begins in the laboratory via IVF.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01Michael's sperm is injected into eggs collected from Veronica.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06Our mind was always in the laboratory with the little ones.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09For me, they are already live.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16They are waiting for that moment to be placed in a place where
0:19:16 > 0:19:20they can grow and then they can be taken out and say, "Hello, Mummy!"
0:19:25 > 0:19:28If the resulting embryos continue to grow,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31they become known as blastocysts.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Today, Michael and Veronica have come to see theirs,
0:19:36 > 0:19:38in the hope they are good enough
0:19:38 > 0:19:42to be placed inside a surrogate and create a pregnancy.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48Oh, my God.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55It's like my whole future is decided today, right now.
0:19:57 > 0:20:02You have five blastocysts. One, two, three, four, five.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04Five, I can see!
0:20:04 > 0:20:11- Looks like Daddy.- They're very good. So we will transfer one.- Only one?
0:20:11 > 0:20:13No, two, please.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17- The others, we will freeze it. - Two. Please.
0:20:19 > 0:20:24- OK, we transfer this, and this we freeze. OK?- Yes, please.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28Thank you so much. They look so good.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31All five blastocysts were looking perfectly healthy,
0:20:31 > 0:20:35so they will implant two, and three they will freeze.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38It's amazing to see life developing at that early stage,
0:20:38 > 0:20:40and here in India, you know,
0:20:40 > 0:20:43we've had to come all this way to experience this,
0:20:43 > 0:20:46and we're just absolutely overwhelmed.
0:20:46 > 0:20:51These two, I have my names already. Alexander and Katarina.
0:20:52 > 0:20:58- I have the names since two years now, so it's kind of...- Sentimental.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02..sentimental, but I had those names for two years.
0:21:02 > 0:21:07Always saying I will definitely one day have these little ones.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11From a scientific point of view, I mean, one is not a 100% guarantee,
0:21:11 > 0:21:12so, if you have two,
0:21:12 > 0:21:15- it just improves your chances of at least having one child.- Yeah.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21Once the blastocysts have been chosen, Dr Patel places them
0:21:21 > 0:21:27inside a surrogate, in the hope they continue to grow inside her womb.
0:21:27 > 0:21:34We take the name of God, give a positive result with all prayers.
0:21:34 > 0:21:41We put the embryos inside the uterus. Yes. Great.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Here, the embryo has gone inside.
0:21:52 > 0:21:57Two weeks from now, there will be a blood test, which will indicate
0:21:57 > 0:22:02whether they have taken the embryos and got pregnant or not.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04Whatever is the outcome, positive or negative,
0:22:04 > 0:22:08the couple will be informed either by e-mail or on the phone,
0:22:08 > 0:22:10and if the pregnancy is confirmed,
0:22:10 > 0:22:14then from time to time the antenatal progress of the surrogate and baby
0:22:14 > 0:22:16is informed to the couple.
0:22:16 > 0:22:23Tomorrow, we're flying back to our home, back to our daily life,
0:22:23 > 0:22:24to work.
0:22:24 > 0:22:29We are hopeful things will work out, but, again, nothing in life is 100%.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36- Thank you.- See you tomorrow. - Take care. Bye.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47Surrogacy in India may be relatively cheap and legal,
0:22:47 > 0:22:50but returning home with your newborn can be
0:22:50 > 0:22:54fraught with difficulties, depending on the rules in your own country.
0:22:54 > 0:22:59A baby born in India by a surrogacy can be classed by some legal systems
0:22:59 > 0:23:02as having no nationality or parents.
0:23:04 > 0:23:09A hotel room in the centre of town has been home to baby boy Ceron
0:23:09 > 0:23:11and his Canadian mum Barbara
0:23:11 > 0:23:14since he was born by surrogacy two months ago.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20They are waiting for official approval to return to Toronto,
0:23:20 > 0:23:23where her husband has had to carry on working.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28Mousy's one of your favourites. Look.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30Mousy's one of your favourites.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34But these few more months are nothing for Barbara.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39Aged 53, she's been trying for a child for decades.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43For me, this has been a 30-year journey.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46We wanted - we got married, and we wanted four children -
0:23:46 > 0:23:50we wanted a whole houseful because we came from big families.
0:23:50 > 0:23:57And it was like my whole identity, everything I even dreamed of,
0:23:57 > 0:23:59was put on hold.
0:23:59 > 0:24:05It's so hard on a couple, because my husband used to say that,
0:24:05 > 0:24:09when I was on all the drugs, etc, and then if it wouldn't work,
0:24:09 > 0:24:12or if I would have a miscarriage, he would say,
0:24:12 > 0:24:17"It feels like a funeral around here every month."
0:24:19 > 0:24:20And he was right,
0:24:20 > 0:24:26because I was in mourning each time that it didn't work.
0:24:26 > 0:24:33And... So, obviously, as I went through a lot of medical problems,
0:24:33 > 0:24:35eventually had to have a hysterectomy,
0:24:35 > 0:24:38and then of course I had to face the fact
0:24:38 > 0:24:42that the biological journey was over, and then it hit me,
0:24:42 > 0:24:48why am I saying that the biological journey is completely shut down?
0:24:48 > 0:24:51Because it doesn't have to be for my husband.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55Barbara was unable to produce eggs or carry a child.
0:24:55 > 0:25:00So Dr Patel was able to source an Indian woman to donate her eggs
0:25:00 > 0:25:03and a separate woman to be the surrogate mother.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05My son is half Indian,
0:25:05 > 0:25:11so he's going to be encouraged to explore that whole part of himself.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13BABY CRIES
0:25:13 > 0:25:16What's going on is he wants milk, and of course she's not here.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Hang on, honey.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20- KNOCKING - Oh, that may be Edan.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22This is Edan.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25Edan, the surrogate mother who carried Ceron,
0:25:25 > 0:25:28is now employed by Barbara to be a nanny,
0:25:28 > 0:25:32and to continue to feed him with her breast milk.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37He is hungry, he was just getting a little uncomfortable.
0:25:37 > 0:25:44Hey, little man. Oh, look who's here! One of your favourite people!
0:25:44 > 0:25:49Look! Oh, he really wants to sit up, doesn't he?
0:25:49 > 0:25:55Edan comes two times a day to actually nurse Ceron,
0:25:55 > 0:25:59and when she is here, just because she adores him so much,
0:25:59 > 0:26:03you know, she will play with him a little bit.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12Not all surrogates get attached to the babies like she has.
0:26:12 > 0:26:17Some surrogates give birth and then they go their separate ways.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20But we have done that because we wanted that relationship -
0:26:20 > 0:26:21we chose it,
0:26:21 > 0:26:27because what could be wrong with more than one woman loving my son?
0:26:27 > 0:26:29Smile, little man.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Despite the close relationship developing,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35once the paperwork has been processed,
0:26:35 > 0:26:38Barbara and baby Ceron will be flying home to Canada,
0:26:38 > 0:26:418,000 miles from surrogate mother Edan.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53In the Surrogate House, Sundays are family days,
0:26:53 > 0:26:56where the surrogate mothers have a chance to spend time
0:26:56 > 0:26:59with their own children and husbands.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10Vasanti is waiting for her husband to arrive.
0:29:39 > 0:29:44How did your involvement with surrogacy begin?
0:29:46 > 0:29:50Well, I was doing IVF since 1999,
0:29:50 > 0:29:53but I never thought about surrogacy.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57And when this first case where a female was born without a uterus
0:29:57 > 0:30:03and they asked me for a surrogate, we could not find a single surrogate,
0:30:03 > 0:30:06not only in Gujarat, but any part of India.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09A pair of twins who were carried in their grandmother's womb
0:30:09 > 0:30:10as she acted as surrogate...
0:30:10 > 0:30:15..miracle babies were born in India to their own grandmother
0:30:15 > 0:30:19because their natural mum was unable to carry them in her womb.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23There was a lot of attention given to this whole case,
0:30:23 > 0:30:28and that is how there were so many couples started approaching me.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30And that is how we got the idea
0:30:30 > 0:30:33of starting this whole programme of surrogacy.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37Why is it India that's leading the way?
0:30:37 > 0:30:41There are many factors contributing
0:30:41 > 0:30:45in making India the surrogacy hub of the world.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49First is the medical technology that the Western world trusts now.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52Second is the cost.
0:30:53 > 0:30:57The third is the guidelines that are favourable.
0:30:57 > 0:30:59The surrogate has no right over the baby
0:30:59 > 0:31:02or no duties towards the baby, so that makes it easier.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04Whereas, in the Western world, most of the places,
0:31:04 > 0:31:07the birth mother is considered as the mother
0:31:07 > 0:31:10and the birth certificate will have her name.
0:31:10 > 0:31:15All these put together makes India a very favourable destination
0:31:15 > 0:31:17for doing surrogacy.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20And the poverty?
0:31:21 > 0:31:23The poverty part,
0:31:23 > 0:31:26I would say that there are so many needy females in India.
0:31:26 > 0:31:31The food, shelter, clothing, and medicine - healthcare -
0:31:31 > 0:31:33is not free for all in India.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35People have to fend for themselves.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46Like most surrogate babies born at Dr Patel's clinic,
0:31:46 > 0:31:49Sam and Jana's son has spent his first days
0:31:49 > 0:31:51under watch on a neonatal ward.
0:31:53 > 0:31:58It's so busy. Everybody wants to see the babies.
0:31:58 > 0:32:03There's about probably 10, 15 babies in there.
0:32:03 > 0:32:05They don't allow more people in the room.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08It seems to be a bit like an assembly line in here.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11Ours was the last baby, now it's the second last,
0:32:11 > 0:32:13now it's the third last in that row.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16The baby will be here on Monday released from the hospital.
0:32:16 > 0:32:18We are paying today the last bills.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22So the baby on Monday,
0:32:22 > 0:32:24- the baby will be all our baby. - That's right.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27Even after Sam and Jana have collected their child,
0:32:27 > 0:32:29it will be some time
0:32:29 > 0:32:32before they are able to return with him to Australia.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35We are waiting now for birth certificate.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37It will be done Tuesday.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40We have to ask for ten birth certificates, believe it or not.
0:32:40 > 0:32:41It's got to do the entire life.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45- Everyone seems to be...- A little bit surprised about it.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49But, fair enough too, because you wouldn't want to have to try to get
0:32:49 > 0:32:53another copy at some point in the future. Better to ask for more.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55Shoes!
0:32:55 > 0:32:57I went first yesterday.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59You can go first today.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10This is the most happy I've seen her for a long time.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16Ah, she's saying she thinks he's going to have dimples,
0:33:16 > 0:33:21which wouldn't surprise, yeah.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27I don't know. She looks so natural,
0:33:27 > 0:33:30I think she might make the nanny redundant very quickly.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59It is said that any human being is born with two basic instincts.
0:33:59 > 0:34:03One to survive and one to reproduce.
0:34:03 > 0:34:07Here, when we do surrogacy, we have a couple who want to procreate,
0:34:07 > 0:34:12so the surrogate comes into picture who wants to survive
0:34:12 > 0:34:16and here, by doing surrogacy, she gets the financial help
0:34:16 > 0:34:20and her instinct to survive is fulfilled.
0:34:20 > 0:34:21By denying surrogacy,
0:34:21 > 0:34:26we are basically depriving these people of their basic instincts
0:34:26 > 0:34:28rather than helping them go ahead
0:34:28 > 0:34:31with their dream of living a good life
0:34:31 > 0:34:33and their dream of having a child.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38Each fortnight, Dr Patel visits the surrogate house
0:34:38 > 0:34:42to check on the women's progress and hear of any concerns.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06The surrogate mothers are paid in a strict system of instalments.
0:36:08 > 0:36:13At six months pregnant, Vasanti has now received two payments of 600.
0:36:26 > 0:36:31The surrogate get on an average 8,000 US dollars.
0:36:31 > 0:36:35If it is twins, 10,000 US dollars.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39If she aborts within three months, she gets the 600 US dollars.
0:36:41 > 0:36:47If it's more than three months, then it's 1,200.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49After six months, whatever happens,
0:36:49 > 0:36:51whether the baby survives or whatever,
0:36:51 > 0:36:55the surrogate gets the full payment of 8,000 US dollars.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04What happens if there's abnormalities?
0:37:04 > 0:37:08Look, even if it's handicapped, the contract says that the couple
0:37:08 > 0:37:12has to accept the baby. The surrogate has no duty towards the baby,
0:37:12 > 0:37:16so the couple will have to accept the baby, even if it is handicapped.
0:37:16 > 0:37:21But now, with the technology, most of the malformations can be picked up.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23Though some can be a surprise.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25Once we had a baby with multiple malformations
0:37:25 > 0:37:30which was detected around 18 weeks, and the baby was terminated.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36As well as being in charge of all things medical and financial
0:37:36 > 0:37:41at the clinic, Dr Patel also likes to influence how the surrogates
0:37:41 > 0:37:45spend their fees after they've been paid.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49Mina. Mina does not have a bank account.
0:37:49 > 0:37:51So she has come today.
0:37:51 > 0:37:52I will be signing this paper
0:37:52 > 0:37:54so that she can open an account across.
0:37:56 > 0:38:00So these are the typical pictures of the surrogates,
0:38:00 > 0:38:04how they are using their money, we've got files of them,
0:38:04 > 0:38:06whether they have done a fixed deposit
0:38:06 > 0:38:12or whether they have bought a house of their own.
0:38:12 > 0:38:13And why do you do that?
0:38:13 > 0:38:16So that we want to see that they are being educated in the right way
0:38:16 > 0:38:20and they utilise this hard-earned money in the right way.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24Because they do not understand the value of the money.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27This money should be put to the right use.
0:38:27 > 0:38:31Some people might think they should be able to do what they want
0:38:31 > 0:38:33with their money. So why are you doing that?
0:38:33 > 0:38:35Yes. They are doing what they want with the money,
0:38:35 > 0:38:37but once the money is there
0:38:37 > 0:38:40and there will be someone who would ask for a loan
0:38:40 > 0:38:43or they will use the money in the wrong way.
0:38:43 > 0:38:44That is what we do not want.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12Oh, pretty colours.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14Barbara and her newborn son Ceron
0:39:14 > 0:39:18have now spent three months living in their hotel.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21Ooh, we love the colours in India!
0:39:21 > 0:39:25They've started to become familiar faces around the town.
0:39:26 > 0:39:31Oh! What could you show us today in some little boys' clothes?
0:39:31 > 0:39:34We need light clothes for India.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40Do you have any others that are really, really cute
0:39:40 > 0:39:44like the elephant and the zipper one that I got last time?
0:39:49 > 0:39:54I think couples that come here have longed for children for so long,
0:39:54 > 0:39:57when we get these little ones in our arms,
0:39:57 > 0:40:02we treasure every single moment.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11We're going to be in the shade in just a second.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15We're going to go look at the pretty flowers.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17Want to smell the flowers?
0:40:17 > 0:40:18Mm-mm-mm!
0:40:20 > 0:40:23There's some little puppies...
0:40:23 > 0:40:25under the slide!
0:40:25 > 0:40:27Num-num-num-num-num.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31Other people might say, well, some people are
0:40:31 > 0:40:35just destined not to have children.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38You know, is it a God-given right to have a child?
0:40:41 > 0:40:45That is...it's such a difficult question to really process.
0:40:46 > 0:40:47When people say, you know,
0:40:47 > 0:40:50if you have all these medical problems
0:40:50 > 0:40:53then you just weren't meant to have a child. Um...
0:40:53 > 0:40:56You know, people are born with problems with their eyes,
0:40:56 > 0:40:58people are born as diabetics.
0:40:58 > 0:41:02And are they not meant to have corrective eyeglasses?
0:41:02 > 0:41:05Are they not meant to have insulin?
0:41:05 > 0:41:09I mean, we all have certain things that we have to bear,
0:41:09 > 0:41:10and ours is infertility.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12So why, since it's a medical issue,
0:41:12 > 0:41:17are we not able to have medically corrective procedures
0:41:17 > 0:41:19that enable us to then lead
0:41:19 > 0:41:21as close to a normal life as possible?
0:41:23 > 0:41:26So...why didn't you adopt?
0:41:26 > 0:41:30After I had my hysterectomy, then we really thought that
0:41:30 > 0:41:33that was the way. But we had so many hoops to jump through
0:41:33 > 0:41:36for domestic and international adoption.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39Home studies to be done by social workers,
0:41:39 > 0:41:41psychiatric reports,
0:41:41 > 0:41:44Interpol, you know, clearance.
0:41:44 > 0:41:50And also you are going to usually get a child much older.
0:41:50 > 0:41:54To be honest, most of those babies are parents of alcoholics,
0:41:54 > 0:41:57drug addicted people
0:41:57 > 0:41:59or any other number of problems.
0:41:59 > 0:42:05So we both decided that we would even remain childless
0:42:05 > 0:42:07before we would choose to have
0:42:07 > 0:42:10a foetal alcohol or a drug addicted child.
0:42:10 > 0:42:15You know, that was not our vision of our family
0:42:15 > 0:42:16and of our child.
0:42:16 > 0:42:20And really we're looking to fulfil the...
0:42:20 > 0:42:22what our dream family was going to be.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38Amy has come to collect her newborn baby son Christopher
0:42:38 > 0:42:41and return home with him to Texas.
0:42:43 > 0:42:47As commercial surrogacy is also legal in parts of the States,
0:42:47 > 0:42:48American clients like Amy
0:42:48 > 0:42:52can return much quicker than other nationalities.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55- Are you ready?- Yes, I am.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58Have you learned everything? How to give milk, how to make milk.
0:42:58 > 0:43:02- Everything?- I have already-made milk with me!
0:43:02 > 0:43:03- OK...- So just a nipple and...
0:43:03 > 0:43:06- OK, OK, OK.- Yes.
0:43:06 > 0:43:07So you can take home.
0:43:09 > 0:43:11For surrogate mum Hanifa,
0:43:11 > 0:43:14it's time to say goodbye to the baby she's carried.
0:44:00 > 0:44:02Hello. It's OK?
0:44:05 > 0:44:07Everything's OK.
0:44:15 > 0:44:16He's so peaceful when he sleeps.
0:44:16 > 0:44:19It's almost like you just want to leave him.
0:44:20 > 0:44:22Only 26 hours on the plane and you'll be home.
0:44:24 > 0:44:25Aw-w!
0:44:30 > 0:44:32Five star French cuisine.
0:44:39 > 0:44:42Yeah, he's sleeping.
0:44:42 > 0:44:45He's got it in his mouth but he's not sucking on it.
0:45:00 > 0:45:02All right, thank you.
0:45:11 > 0:45:13Calm? He's calm? Yes, good.
0:45:14 > 0:45:15OK, here we go.
0:45:17 > 0:45:19- Thank you so much.- Bye.- Bye.
0:45:31 > 0:45:32Excuse me.
0:45:59 > 0:46:04Definitely, when you carry a child for nine months, there is a bonding.
0:46:04 > 0:46:07As a mother, I would say that, yes, there is a bonding
0:46:07 > 0:46:08with the baby that you are carrying.
0:46:08 > 0:46:10And there's no denying...
0:46:10 > 0:46:12it's painful.
0:46:12 > 0:46:18I would say that it's not really painful
0:46:18 > 0:46:21for 95% of the surrogates.
0:46:21 > 0:46:22Only, I would say, 5%.
0:46:22 > 0:46:24So far, I have delivered 500 surrogates.
0:46:24 > 0:46:26I would say only two surrogates
0:46:26 > 0:46:30had got a little bit of a psychological problem,
0:46:30 > 0:46:32for 10 to 12 days only,
0:46:32 > 0:46:34where they remembered the baby.
0:47:58 > 0:48:00Home, for Vasanti,
0:48:00 > 0:48:03is one room shared amongst seven.
0:48:47 > 0:48:49With the money from surrogacy,
0:48:49 > 0:48:51they're building themselves a larger home,
0:48:51 > 0:48:54far from the villagers that know and disapprove
0:48:54 > 0:48:56of what Vasanti's done.
0:49:55 > 0:49:58Dr Patel's modern home sits a few miles from the clinic.
0:50:00 > 0:50:03She's had to ensure her house is well protected,
0:50:03 > 0:50:06having received death threats due to her work.
0:50:23 > 0:50:26She lives here with her own family.
0:50:26 > 0:50:30Husband Hitesh helps run the surrogacy business.
0:50:30 > 0:50:33We were introduced in medical college.
0:50:33 > 0:50:35There was a dance programme.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37And she had more experience in dance than us,
0:50:37 > 0:50:38we were all beginners.
0:50:38 > 0:50:41So we were supposed to give a stage show
0:50:41 > 0:50:47and a few of the people, friends, they introduced her to us
0:50:47 > 0:50:50and she was managing this show.
0:50:50 > 0:50:53So that's how I came to meet her.
0:50:53 > 0:50:56MUSIC STARTS
0:51:07 > 0:51:11SHE LAUGHS I danced for my daughter's wedding...
0:51:11 > 0:51:12three years back!
0:51:24 > 0:51:27My plan is to hand over the practice and the clinic
0:51:27 > 0:51:31to my son who is...and his fiancee,
0:51:31 > 0:51:34both of them are planning to do gynaecology
0:51:34 > 0:51:37and they are waiting for their postgraduate admissions.
0:51:37 > 0:51:41A lot of people would be expecting a lot of things out of me
0:51:41 > 0:51:43and there'll definitely be some pressure.
0:51:43 > 0:51:48Let's see if I can withstand that and come through.
0:51:48 > 0:51:50My son, initially, when he was young,
0:51:50 > 0:51:52and there is an article in the newspaper,
0:51:52 > 0:51:54the first thing he will ask,
0:51:54 > 0:51:57"Is it a positive article or a negative article?"
0:51:57 > 0:52:00One of the very famous magazines in India, The Week -
0:52:00 > 0:52:06in 2009, had "25 Most Controversial Indians"
0:52:06 > 0:52:07and I was one of them.
0:52:07 > 0:52:09I mean, the title was
0:52:09 > 0:52:12You May Love Them, You Can Hate Them But You Cannot Ignore Them.
0:52:12 > 0:52:15And that is when...when they read all this,
0:52:15 > 0:52:19they would want to know why you are the controversial person
0:52:19 > 0:52:22and why there is something wrong about it.
0:52:22 > 0:52:24No, no. You have to take it with a pinch of salt.
0:52:24 > 0:52:27You always are going to get some negativity.
0:52:27 > 0:52:31Why is it controversial, in your opinion?
0:52:31 > 0:52:34In my opinion, people may think
0:52:34 > 0:52:39that a couple cannot go that far to have a baby -
0:52:39 > 0:52:43asking somebody to keep the baby in her womb for nine months
0:52:43 > 0:52:46rather than that they should accept childlessness.
0:52:46 > 0:52:48But I initially really debated.
0:52:48 > 0:52:50And I had sleepless nights, also.
0:52:50 > 0:52:52I would get up in the middle of the night.
0:52:54 > 0:52:57It was tough to get going.
0:52:59 > 0:53:01First of all, initially when I started,
0:53:01 > 0:53:05there was no awareness about what is surrogacy, what is IVF, also.
0:53:06 > 0:53:09There was so much of criticism from the medical fraternity.
0:53:10 > 0:53:14People used to shy away from me that, "Oh, she's doing surrogacy."
0:53:14 > 0:53:19Doctors saying that this procedure of surrogacy
0:53:19 > 0:53:22is unethical or immoral or it's exploitation.
0:53:22 > 0:53:25And it bothers you.
0:53:25 > 0:53:28To a certain extent, it hurts you, also.
0:53:28 > 0:53:31And there are so many hypocrites all around
0:53:31 > 0:53:33who would themselves be doing it
0:53:33 > 0:53:35but openly criticising this procedure.
0:53:35 > 0:53:37That hurts you even more.
0:53:39 > 0:53:42'I still want to work for another ten years.
0:53:42 > 0:53:46'And the success stories of each couple and each surrogate
0:53:46 > 0:53:48'keeps me going.'
0:53:52 > 0:53:55Having had blastocysts placed inside her two weeks earlier,
0:53:55 > 0:53:5928-year-old Papiya is about to have a pregnancy test.
0:54:00 > 0:54:02If it's positive,
0:54:02 > 0:54:05it will be the second time she's been a surrogate mother.
0:54:05 > 0:54:08INDISTINCT SPEECH
0:54:23 > 0:54:25For hopeful parents,
0:54:25 > 0:54:29the blood test can be the difference between starting a family or not.
0:54:32 > 0:54:34For surrogates like Papiya,
0:54:34 > 0:54:39it can mean her going home today with a small fee of 75
0:54:39 > 0:54:42or in nine months' time with 8,000.
0:55:24 > 0:55:28At Dr Patel's clinic, the surrogates receive regular check-ups,
0:55:28 > 0:55:31the results of which are e-mailed to her clients.
0:55:33 > 0:55:37Dr Patel has now received news on Michael and Veronica's attempt
0:55:37 > 0:55:40at starting a family through surrogacy.
0:55:40 > 0:55:43This is that lovely couple who has gone through a lot,
0:55:43 > 0:55:45tried everything possible.
0:55:45 > 0:55:48A very jolly couple.
0:55:48 > 0:55:50Their attitude was very positive.
0:55:50 > 0:55:53Veronica, when she had come over here,
0:55:53 > 0:55:56she said that she had always dreamt
0:55:56 > 0:55:58that she would be having twins one day.
0:55:58 > 0:56:00For overseas clients,
0:56:00 > 0:56:02the news of whether they're to become a family
0:56:02 > 0:56:04is sent via e-mail.
0:56:04 > 0:56:10The Beta HCG count was high so we were expecting twins.
0:56:10 > 0:56:15And when we are doing her scan and seeing the twins,
0:56:15 > 0:56:22We feel it's so really wonderful that her dream is being fulfilled.
0:56:22 > 0:56:26How does it feel to be the person responsible for that?
0:56:26 > 0:56:30I would say it's not one person, but it's a team which is responsible.
0:56:30 > 0:56:34But it gives a feeling of great joy
0:56:34 > 0:56:38and I would say, most importantly, job satisfaction.
0:56:43 > 0:56:46It's Vasanti's last day in the surrogate house
0:56:46 > 0:56:49before she's moved to the clinic.
0:56:49 > 0:56:53Her children, who believed she was being treated for trapped wind,
0:56:53 > 0:56:54have joined her.
0:59:24 > 0:59:28The clinic is full of other expectant surrogate mothers
0:59:28 > 0:59:32but a free bed is finally found for Vasanti.
0:59:32 > 0:59:36INDISTINCT SPEECH
0:59:46 > 0:59:48Have you ever regretted a case?
0:59:52 > 0:59:54Once in a while, yes, when I feel that...
0:59:54 > 0:59:57Mostly, I am being more...
0:59:58 > 1:00:01..considering about the surrogate.
1:00:01 > 1:00:04Once in a while, I have come across a case where the couple would say
1:00:04 > 1:00:06"We don't even want to look at her."
1:00:06 > 1:00:10Then you feel hurt, that "Why did I do for them?"
1:00:10 > 1:00:13Had I known that they would do like this, I would have never done it.
1:00:13 > 1:00:16Because money does not matter that much to the surrogate
1:00:16 > 1:00:18as the love and the feeling that she gets.
1:00:18 > 1:00:20It's just two sentences, that's all.
1:00:25 > 1:00:26In a town centre hotel,
1:00:26 > 1:00:31Barbara's surrogate, Edan, has been visiting baby Ceron
1:00:31 > 1:00:33twice a day for the last few months.
1:00:33 > 1:00:36It's the second time she's been a surrogate mother
1:00:36 > 1:00:39but never before has she spent so long with the child.
1:01:55 > 1:01:58With Barbara hoping to return home in the next few weeks,
1:01:58 > 1:02:02Edan's time with baby Ceron is running out.
1:02:03 > 1:02:06It's just now, when she starts to process losing him
1:02:06 > 1:02:08that it's difficult.
1:02:08 > 1:02:10And I think in these coming weeks,
1:02:10 > 1:02:14because we're probably only here about another month, um,
1:02:14 > 1:02:19it'll become a little more difficult for Edan. For us both, really.
1:02:21 > 1:02:27And we've already talked a little bit about easing out of the nursing
1:02:27 > 1:02:29and easing out of the time with her
1:02:29 > 1:02:34so that it isn't just suddenly gone,
1:02:34 > 1:02:37in fairness to both her but also obviously the baby.
1:02:48 > 1:02:53At a nearby spa resort, Australian Sam and his wife Jana
1:02:53 > 1:02:56now have the paperwork to return home with their son,
1:02:56 > 1:03:00a process that took 37 days from his birth.
1:03:02 > 1:03:05You live your whole life to have children.
1:03:05 > 1:03:08You live your whole life to have children,
1:03:08 > 1:03:09otherwise it's not complete.
1:03:09 > 1:03:12Good times are going to be ahead and that's for sure.
1:03:12 > 1:03:14Look forward to the baby growing up,
1:03:14 > 1:03:17seeing the little changes every day.
1:03:17 > 1:03:20You want to get back home, you want to start your life.
1:03:20 > 1:03:24You pretty much aren't really starting your life in...
1:03:24 > 1:03:28in blissful surroundings, as nice as it is, in this resort.
1:03:28 > 1:03:31OK, with the squirrels and the nice mango trees,
1:03:31 > 1:03:33the swimming pool behind you...
1:03:33 > 1:03:36Just looking forward to going back
1:03:36 > 1:03:40and just having all the creature comforts back home,
1:03:40 > 1:03:43like the flatscreen TV.
1:03:43 > 1:03:47And it'd be nice to have a thick-cut steak
1:03:47 > 1:03:49which we have back home.
1:03:49 > 1:03:51So, I mean, that's the goal
1:03:51 > 1:03:53of anybody who has a baby born in surrogacy here,
1:03:53 > 1:03:55is to get home.
1:03:55 > 1:03:58We wouldn't come to India, probably, for any other reason.
1:04:02 > 1:04:04Can you see why it's controversial?
1:04:06 > 1:04:11I would feel that what controversial a couple may feel... or society may feel is,
1:04:11 > 1:04:13that the surrogate is being used,
1:04:13 > 1:04:17but I feel that each and every person in this society
1:04:17 > 1:04:20is using one or the other person to go bigger.
1:04:20 > 1:04:23Whether it's a corporate house, whether it's glamour world,
1:04:23 > 1:04:26whether it's politics.
1:04:26 > 1:04:28Nobody is spared.
1:04:28 > 1:04:29It's a cruel world.
1:04:29 > 1:04:32And here, there is nothing like that.
1:04:32 > 1:04:35Yes, the surrogate is giving her uterus,
1:04:35 > 1:04:39or being used by a couple to have a baby.
1:04:39 > 1:04:41But that you do when you employ a maid.
1:04:41 > 1:04:46That you do when you employ a labourer to do your task for building a house, etc.
1:04:50 > 1:04:54In the surrogate house, Papiya is waiting for the result of her blood test
1:04:54 > 1:04:58to see if she has successfully become pregnant.
1:04:58 > 1:05:02If she hasn't, she will have to leave the house today
1:05:02 > 1:05:03with only a 75 fee.
1:05:20 > 1:05:21OK, thank you, madam.
1:05:46 > 1:05:48After four months stuck in India,
1:05:48 > 1:05:53Barbara and baby Ceron's paperwork has been processed.
1:05:53 > 1:05:57Her husband Michel has joined them before they return to Canada.
1:05:57 > 1:06:02I think the first sight I got of him was the back of his head,
1:06:02 > 1:06:05so that wasn't the biggest thrill,
1:06:05 > 1:06:08it was when he turned around and I saw his eyes
1:06:08 > 1:06:10that things began to light up!
1:06:10 > 1:06:13Every time I saw his face on the computer screen,
1:06:13 > 1:06:16I just wanted to be here, of course.
1:06:16 > 1:06:17And be with them.
1:06:19 > 1:06:21We just want to get him home
1:06:21 > 1:06:24and continue along our happy family journey
1:06:24 > 1:06:29and hopefully be adding another brother or sister for Ceron
1:06:29 > 1:06:31if we're blessed again.
1:06:33 > 1:06:38Having used only two of their blastocysts trying for baby Ceron,
1:06:38 > 1:06:43Barbara and Michel have three more frozen in storage at the clinic.
1:06:47 > 1:06:51Before they leave for Canada, Barbara and Michel are meeting
1:06:51 > 1:06:54a prospective surrogate for their potential new baby,
1:06:54 > 1:06:58introduced to them by Dr Patel's husband, Hitesh.
1:06:59 > 1:07:04- OK, Barbara. We are meeting your new surrogate.- Yes.
1:07:04 > 1:07:06- Her name is Duksha.- Luksha.
1:07:06 > 1:07:09- Duksha. D, D.- Nice.
1:07:09 > 1:07:11- Duksha.- Luksha.
1:07:11 > 1:07:13- D for donkey. - Blud.
1:07:13 > 1:07:15D for donkey.
1:07:15 > 1:07:17- Where's the D? - In the beginning!
1:07:17 > 1:07:20- Oh, Duksha! OK.- Yeah.
1:07:21 > 1:07:24And that's the husband, Sanjay.
1:07:24 > 1:07:27Hi. That's a common name, yeah.
1:07:27 > 1:07:30- And they have two children, as you can see.- Ha-ha!
1:07:30 > 1:07:34- Two boys.- Yes. - One is seven and one is four.
1:07:34 > 1:07:35Ah, OK.
1:07:38 > 1:07:40- No, it's their first time.- Uh-huh.
1:07:40 > 1:07:43- She has not been a surrogate before. - OK.
1:07:43 > 1:07:45And how old is she, may we ask?
1:07:45 > 1:07:48- Yeah, I was just coming to that, she's 26 years old.- Wow!
1:07:50 > 1:07:52- Did you say 20?- Six.
1:07:52 > 1:07:5426? Wow, and these kids.
1:07:55 > 1:07:57She got married at a young age, very young.
1:07:57 > 1:08:02- But she's young and strong enough. - Yes.- I can't see her standing up,
1:08:02 > 1:08:05but I think she's a good enough size
1:08:05 > 1:08:08that if it was twins, she would be...
1:08:08 > 1:08:11There's no problem. She had no problem.
1:08:17 > 1:08:20She delivered the kids at full nine months.
1:08:20 > 1:08:24Do you know what their weights were? His family is big babies.
1:08:24 > 1:08:30So, er, he was seven and a quarter, one month early. So...
1:08:30 > 1:08:33So he would be bigger than these.
1:08:33 > 1:08:37We have medically and psychologically assessed her
1:08:37 > 1:08:41- and she's completely... - The thing for us, we...
1:08:41 > 1:08:43We did say you're Christian, right?
1:08:43 > 1:08:45They are Christian.
1:08:45 > 1:08:48Edan behind you is my surrogate for this little guy,
1:08:48 > 1:08:53and she's Christian as well and we just felt better with that.
1:08:57 > 1:08:59Oh, you have to talk too, apparently.
1:08:59 > 1:09:01Do you have anything in that head?
1:09:01 > 1:09:05- He wants you to know he would like a sister this time.- Yes, let's see.
1:09:18 > 1:09:21Right, so you are happy and satisfied with her, Barbara?
1:09:21 > 1:09:26Absolutely, yeah, no problems at all. Yeah, she's good and solid enough to handle.
1:09:26 > 1:09:30- That's good.- You know, some surrogates are so tiny, so petite.
1:09:30 > 1:09:33And with our structures, we need to make sure...
1:09:33 > 1:09:36It's important that the first meeting vibes are positive.
1:09:36 > 1:09:40- Very good, yeah, they're very positive.- It's the important thing.
1:09:40 > 1:09:42Nice to meet you.
1:09:42 > 1:09:46Hey, little guy, Good to meet you.
1:09:46 > 1:09:50We'll see you again. Take care. We pray for you, eh?
1:09:50 > 1:09:54We pray for you in the year, and for your wife. OK?
1:09:55 > 1:09:57No, I think they're lovely.
1:09:57 > 1:09:59I can see that.
1:09:59 > 1:10:05- Shall we go?- Yes, I think so. - You can follow, you can come with us.- Come, little man.
1:10:09 > 1:10:12She wants to spend every moment possible with him
1:10:12 > 1:10:14- these last two days. - I can understand.
1:10:17 > 1:10:20OK, little man. Happy, happy, little boy.
1:10:20 > 1:10:21OK, let's have it. Yeah.
1:10:26 > 1:10:31One more, the end of a 31-year journey.
1:12:09 > 1:12:14I definitely consider myself as a feminist.
1:12:14 > 1:12:17Right from my childhood days, I was brought up in such a way
1:12:17 > 1:12:21that just because you are a female, you cannot do this
1:12:21 > 1:12:25or you can do this, is not existing because my mother herself -
1:12:25 > 1:12:27I'm talking about 40 years back -
1:12:27 > 1:12:29was a very strong feminist.
1:12:29 > 1:12:31And that is what keeps me going
1:12:31 > 1:12:34and that is what I explain to my surrogates,
1:12:34 > 1:12:38that...just don't take any domestic violence,
1:12:38 > 1:12:40or any nonsense from your family.
1:12:40 > 1:12:43You are doing a very good job, and at the end of the day,
1:12:43 > 1:12:46when you come out, you should be the leader of your family.
1:12:50 > 1:12:54In what she feels is part of her feminist mission for the surrogates,
1:12:54 > 1:12:59Dr Patel has introduced various lessons for them inside the house.
1:13:05 > 1:13:08We want them to utilise their time in the best way.
1:13:08 > 1:13:11Learn all this, and once they leave the surrogate house,
1:13:11 > 1:13:15they can get some earning out of this as long as they get this embroidery work.
1:13:15 > 1:13:19They can still be at home, do this work and earn some money.
1:13:19 > 1:13:20So we are training them.
1:13:20 > 1:13:24Same thing with this... training them as a beautician.
1:13:24 > 1:13:27Because there is a good scope, they can work from home.
1:13:27 > 1:13:31Later on, we are planning to start a co-operative within a year,
1:13:31 > 1:13:35wherein we will find clients for them for beauty treatment, etc,
1:13:35 > 1:13:39so that they can get work through us and they get earning through us.
1:13:41 > 1:13:44That is the thing I want in them, to groom them overall.
1:13:44 > 1:13:48Not just give a baby, finish, take your money and go away.
1:13:48 > 1:13:50But change their outlook towards life.
1:14:26 > 1:14:30Make her a more confident female.
1:14:30 > 1:14:35And make her...self sufficient.
1:14:35 > 1:14:38That is what I want to see in a surrogate.
1:14:51 > 1:14:54Having been in labour for a prolonged period,
1:14:54 > 1:14:59Dr Patel has opted to give Vasanti a Caesarean in order to deliver
1:14:59 > 1:15:01the Japanese baby she's been carrying.
1:16:03 > 1:16:05Like most newborns at the clinic,
1:16:05 > 1:16:10the Japanese boy is immediately taken straight to the neonatal hospital,
1:16:10 > 1:16:13where it can be collected once the parents are in India.
1:16:43 > 1:16:47As Dr Patel approaches the tenth anniversary
1:16:47 > 1:16:49of her surrogacy work, she has new plans.
1:16:51 > 1:16:55Despite the criticism, death threats and media attention,
1:16:55 > 1:16:58she wants her project to be bigger than ever before.
1:17:00 > 1:17:02It's a vision that I'm seeing.
1:17:02 > 1:17:05An institute for surrogacy
1:17:05 > 1:17:09where total care of the gestational mother,
1:17:09 > 1:17:13genetic couple and the newborn baby is under one roof.
1:17:16 > 1:17:19The idea is to have a unique clinic
1:17:19 > 1:17:22which could be the first of its kind in the world.
1:17:27 > 1:17:31This is the main building, which is about 85,000 square feet.
1:17:31 > 1:17:36And the building behind that is about 15,000 square feet.
1:17:36 > 1:17:37And that is the utility area.
1:17:39 > 1:17:41These are the engineers.
1:17:41 > 1:17:43That's Mr Yogesh, Mr Prathik.
1:17:43 > 1:17:45All of them are engineers.
1:17:48 > 1:17:52This is quite ambitious. How much does a project like this cost?
1:17:52 > 1:17:55Six million? Six million dollars.
1:17:55 > 1:17:58Look, the whole idea is to create a nest,
1:17:58 > 1:18:01where we'll have the surrogates staying
1:18:01 > 1:18:03in the lower ground floor,
1:18:03 > 1:18:06with various activities which they can pursue.
1:18:06 > 1:18:09Upper ground will be the outpatient department,
1:18:09 > 1:18:12where all the consultancy and the diagnostic department...
1:18:12 > 1:18:13And the gift shop
1:18:13 > 1:18:16and the gallery of the skills of the surrogates,
1:18:16 > 1:18:19whatever we display, will be there.
1:18:19 > 1:18:23And the second floor will be a neonatal care unit.
1:18:23 > 1:18:25Then there will be serviced apartments
1:18:25 > 1:18:27for the couples who come to collect the babies.
1:18:27 > 1:18:30So the idea is, the couple is there, the baby is there
1:18:30 > 1:18:33and the surrogate is also there, everyone under one roof.
1:18:38 > 1:18:41And I am also visualising one step further.
1:18:41 > 1:18:44I want most of my ex-surrogates to be employed
1:18:44 > 1:18:46and have a work opportunity over there,
1:18:46 > 1:18:48because some day I am thinking of a hospital
1:18:48 > 1:18:52of the surrogates, run by the surrogates,
1:18:52 > 1:18:58And I feel that surrogacy is one woman helping another woman.
1:18:58 > 1:19:03And only a woman will understand the feeling of both these females
1:19:03 > 1:19:06who are unable to live a life of their dream.
1:19:17 > 1:19:18- BARBARA:- Uh, uh, uh, uh.
1:19:21 > 1:19:23We'll need a warm protector when we get...
1:19:30 > 1:19:34It's the final day in India for Barbara, husband Michel
1:19:34 > 1:19:36and baby Ceron.
1:19:42 > 1:19:44Ah, very good.
1:19:44 > 1:19:46This is his actual diaper bag
1:19:46 > 1:19:49but I'm not taking it out en route, Michel.
1:19:51 > 1:19:53We're a little bit pressed for time.
1:19:56 > 1:19:59We've been giving all kinds of things away.
1:19:59 > 1:20:03Our surrogate has gone home with about five bags of things.
1:20:03 > 1:20:06She's got a new iron and a new kettle and...
1:20:06 > 1:20:07Anything that we're...
1:20:07 > 1:20:11you know, that's just too large for us to take back that she can use.
1:20:24 > 1:20:29He is officially...you know, has his own Canada passport here,
1:20:29 > 1:20:31right, as you can see.
1:20:31 > 1:20:34His exit visa reads like a deportation order.
1:20:34 > 1:20:36Yes, here it is.
1:20:36 > 1:20:39"If he does not leave by April 2nd,
1:20:39 > 1:20:43"it's punishable with imprisonment for a period of five years
1:20:43 > 1:20:45"and a fine."
1:20:45 > 1:20:49so I think they really want our son out of India now.
1:20:49 > 1:20:51- Four months is enough! - THEY LAUGH
1:20:57 > 1:21:00SHE COOS
1:21:00 > 1:21:03Cow, cow, cow, knocking on your nose.
1:21:03 > 1:21:05- SHE LAUGHS - Mummy being silly?
1:21:10 > 1:21:13It's also time for Edan to say goodbye
1:21:13 > 1:21:16to the baby she held for nine months
1:21:16 > 1:21:17and nursed for four more.
1:21:21 > 1:21:25Thank you for being so patient, little man.
1:21:25 > 1:21:27Mummy's good, good boy.
1:21:28 > 1:21:31I'll take the stroller down, honey.
1:21:31 > 1:21:35Now I just need to run around and do some tips to all the staff.
1:21:35 > 1:21:38Where's the cook?
1:21:38 > 1:21:41Cook is in...room. Staffroom.
1:21:41 > 1:21:43Cook's in the staffroom?
1:21:43 > 1:21:46So, if you can give him one of those for us.
1:21:48 > 1:21:51I gave him 700, so he already has some.
1:21:53 > 1:21:57Can you break up a couple of 500s for me?
1:21:57 > 1:21:59Give me some change.
1:22:00 > 1:22:04And...you did a lot more for me than a lot of the others,
1:22:04 > 1:22:07so you get two. OK?
1:22:07 > 1:22:09Anybody has five 100s? No?
1:22:09 > 1:22:11No?
1:22:11 > 1:22:14OK... Well, I'll have to leave it at seven...
1:22:15 > 1:22:17April 7, so 14, 21.
1:22:18 > 1:22:20Is that right?
1:22:23 > 1:22:24SHE LAUGHS
1:22:24 > 1:22:28Oh, my goodness! Is there any room in there for us?
1:22:32 > 1:22:36Those are the two Skypes, Michel and me.
1:22:36 > 1:22:37Two e-mails.
1:22:37 > 1:22:39Our full address.
1:22:45 > 1:22:47All right.
1:22:47 > 1:22:50All right. Here, let's put this...
1:22:50 > 1:22:53Are you OK? You want to say your final goodbyes, or are you OK?
1:22:53 > 1:22:54BABY CRIES
1:22:59 > 1:23:02Give her a hug. Give Edan a hug.
1:23:07 > 1:23:09Bye-bye.
1:23:21 > 1:23:22Thank you so much.
1:23:25 > 1:23:27It's going to be OK. We'll see you again.
1:23:27 > 1:23:30OK? Love you.
1:23:30 > 1:23:33BABY CRIES Ssh, ssh!
1:23:33 > 1:23:37He's going to be upset. Let's just...
1:23:37 > 1:23:38It's going to be hard for him.
1:23:38 > 1:23:40OK?
1:24:06 > 1:24:07KNOCK AT DOOR
1:24:08 > 1:24:11Three days after Vasanti had a Caesarean,
1:24:11 > 1:24:13she's still in the clinic recovering,
1:24:13 > 1:24:15and, as yet, not seen the baby.
1:26:34 > 1:26:38Do you think it's a shame that they have to do surrogacy?
1:26:40 > 1:26:43- For the couple or for the surrogate? - The surrogate, financially.
1:26:43 > 1:26:46No, I don't think it's a shame.
1:26:46 > 1:26:49It's a very special woman who can become a surrogate.
1:26:49 > 1:26:51It's not for all.
1:26:51 > 1:26:54And it's not easy to become a surrogate.
1:26:56 > 1:27:01And I repeat, it takes a very, very special woman to become a surrogate.
1:27:01 > 1:27:03So she should never be ashamed of it.
1:27:03 > 1:27:06But instead, she should come out in the open and say proudly,
1:27:06 > 1:27:08"Yes, I have been a surrogate,
1:27:08 > 1:27:10"and I have changed the life of this couple."
1:27:14 > 1:27:15OK. Done.
1:28:15 > 1:28:18Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd