A mum pregnant with her own son's baby after offering to be her daughter-in-law's surrogate says she can’t wait to give birth to her granddaughter. Nancy Hauck, 56, stepped in after her daughter-in-law Cambria, 30, had a hysterectomy following the traumatic birth of their twins.
Cambria and husband Jeff, 32, had already been struggling to conceive for six years before they had twins, Vera and Ayva, now three, and another set, Diseal and Luka, 11 months, via IVF. But after still wanting to expand their family, Nancy had 'a feeling' she was the one who should carry their baby and told Jeff, a computer scientist, she would be willing to do it for them.
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Nancy was surprised when doctors told her she was healthy enough to be a gestational carrier - as she wasn’t expecting it to be possible at her age. The family started the hormone treatment in January 2022 and had the fertilised embryo transferred at a clinic in February and were over the moon when it worked.
Now Nancy is expecting her biological granddaughter and can’t wait to give birth. Nancy, an administrator, said: “I never imagined I would be pregnant at 56 or that this would be possible, but it is the most beautiful thing.
“I never planned for it, but I had this feeling not long after Cambria’s traumatic birth that I should carry their baby. “I told them I was willing but that I thought I would be old.
“But to my surprise medics said I was healthy and could do it and here I am. The pregnancy has been very similar to carrying my son, but I’ve been a bit more nauseous.
“My husband and Jeff and Cambria have been amazing throughout the pregnancy. I feel very powerful carrying my son’s daughter.”
Cambria, an owner of a dance studio, said: "It is so humbling that Nancy is doing this for us. "She is sacrificing so much for us, and our family and we just feel so grateful.
"It has been so miraculous and beautiful to watch Nancy carry our sweet baby girl. She has been nothing short of amazing and filled with so much light and grace.
"They say pregnancy comes with a glow, but Nancy’s is a full-on lighthouse."
Jeff said: "I felt grateful to have such a selfless & loving mum that was willing to make that kind of sacrifice for my family. Having experienced over four years of infertility treatments, I knew how complicated the process can be and doubted that it was possible for her to carrier a baby for us - but I was very moved that she would even offer.
"The entire journey has left me in awe. I’m in awe of my Mom - her kindness, love, strength, attitude, wisdom, and dedication through this experience has been humbling and beautiful to witness."
Nancy decided she wanted to be surrogate for her son and his wife after her daughter-in-law was left unable to carry any more children when she had a hysterectomy to save her life in September 2021. "They’ve had lots of struggles with infertility and had seven embryos to try with IVF and decided they wanted to use them all,” Nancy said.
“Cambria had lots of complications with the birth of her twin boys so she had to have a hysterectomy so she can no longer carry her own children. I just suddenly had a feeling a few months after that I should offer to do it.
“I told my son, and he teared up and was shocked - I hadn’t even told my husband at that point. But he was really supportive. None of us thought it would be possible because of my age.”
Cambria and Jeff brought up Nancy’s offer to the doctor and mentioned she had previously had five healthy children with no complications. “The doctor turned around and said I might be able to be a carrier and asked if I wanted to come in for an exam to see if I was viable,” Nancy said.
I was shocked it might actually be an option but still very willing to do it for my son. The exam showed Nancy was a viable carrier, but it was likely they needed to act quickly before she went into menopause.
“I left the choice up to Jeff and Cambria,” Nancy said. “They’d just had their twins, so it was very quick after to have another baby.
“But they decided to go for it.”
Nancy started her hormone treatment in January 2022 and had injected herself every day for 12 weeks with the help of her husband and Jeff’s dad, Jason, 59, an optometrist. Jeff and Cambria had already collected fertilised embryos from their other rounds of IVF, and Nancy had the embryo transferred in February 2022.
“It was a bit scary as it had been 26 years since I’d had a baby,” Nancy said. “I had a feeling just before the blood test that it had worked, and I did a test and it was positive.
“I called Jeff and Cambria first thing in the morning to tell them. They were over the moon when we found out for certain a few days later that I was pregnant.”
Cambria has been able to go to every appointment with Nancy, and the family were ecstatic to find out they were expecting a girl in May 2022. “The pregnancy has been similar to my other ones, but I’ve had a bit more sickness,” Nancy said.
“Jason has been taking care of me and cooking and Cambria and Jeff have been bringing round dinner once a week. My other children were a bit concerned for my health when I first told them.
“But they’ve warmed up to it all now.”
Nancy’s granddaughter is due on 5th November and will be born with Jason, Jeff and Cambria in the room. "This has all been a big leap of faith,” Nancy said.
“It’s remarkable and a beautiful thing to do. I think this is quite a rare thing to do. I never planned for it, but I am so glad I chose to carry my son’s baby.”
Cambria added: "We have our text threads where we communicate constantly, sharing funny moments, sacred moments and moments of encouragement.
"It’s been so special to be able to support her in unique ways that we wouldn’t be able to had we not chosen to do this.
"I like to give gifts and Nancy is constantly in my thoughts, so when I see something that makes me think of her I get it.
"I try to make her favourite meals, we beg to give her foot rubs, and just take any opportunity to show our love and gratitude for this miracle she is performing for us.
"We cannot wait to meet our daughter."
Jason said: "Nancy is by nature a selfless person, so I wasn't too surprised by her offer. Even so, I was moved and amazed by her willingness.
"I was humbled and amazed when she found out she was pregnant.
"It felt like a miracle even though I had administered the dozens of shots that had prepared her body for pregnancy.
"I couldn't be more thrilled and am excited to meet my new granddaughter."
Jeff added: "We're just grateful and excited for the beautiful new life coming to our family.
"Being a Dad has always been my dream, I adore each of my kids and take my role & responsibility as their Dad very seriously. And the opportunity to be the Dad to another beautiful baby girl is the greatest gift and blessing I could receive.
"There is no repayment for something like that - all I can do is follow the example my parents have set and try to give that same level of love and devotion to my own family and to others."
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