A woman’s best friend stepped in to have her husband's baby - to make their dreams of having a second child come true. Danielle Blair, 28, was heartbroken for Alicia Ward, 34, when she struggled to fall pregnant after having her first child, Declan, six.
Knowing how much Alicia and her husband, Austin, 33, a lorry driver, wanted to give Declan a sibling, she offered to be their surrogate. The friends - who met on Facebook when they were both pregnant with their first children - have been inseparable ever since, despite living two hours away from each other.
Mum-of-two Danielle fell pregnant with Alicia's daughter in January 2019 via IUI and gave birth to tot Maisie, now two, on October 1, 2019. Masie arrived at 12.40pm, weighing 6lbs 11oz, much to the delight of her proud parents - who say Danielle has given them "the best gift ever".
Alicia, who works at a daycare centre, said: “I was shocked someone was willing to do such an amazing thing for us. I was worried about bonding with Maisie and worried that she would miss Danielle.
“But when I first held her that all washed away. This was my child and I felt the connection instantly.
“Now she’s a mummy’s girl, she definitely prefers me over her dad. Danielle was already my best friend, but her doing this incredibly selfless act for us has brought us so much closer together.
"We can't thank her enough for making our dreams come true."
After having a difficult first birth with her son, Declan, now six, Alicia and Austin debated whether they should have another child. Alicia also suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome - a condition that affects how the ovaries work.
They decided to try for a second child, but struggled to conceive again. Best friend Danielle, a veterinary technician, knew of the couple's struggles and gave them "the best gift they could ask for".
They had met on a 'May 2016 due date' Facebook page and hit it off instantly. Alicia said: “She phoned me and said: 'Let me have your baby for you.'
“At first I laughed, I didn’t really think she was serious. But a few weeks later she called me again and said: ‘I’m serious about this. If you want to let’s do it.’
“I was shocked but of course I said: 'OK, let’s do this.'”
Danielle was a 'traditional surrogate' - which is when the surrogate’s egg is fertilised with the sperm of the intended father - and Alicia had her fears about it. “I was really nervous,” she said.
“This child was only going to be a half-sibling to my son and might not look like him. But I was extremely thankful for Danielle.”
When Danielle found out she was pregnant she called Alicia with the good news. “I just started crying," Alicia said.
“I just couldn’t believe it.”
For the following nine months, Alicia went with Danielle to the appointments she could and was kept updated with regular messages and photos. Alicia found out her baby was going to be a girl after Danielle did a home gender reveal test and surprised her with the news.
“She came to visit and handed me this egg that she had wrapped up and inside was a note asking my son to get a bag from the hall,” Alicia said. He opened the bag and inside was a little pink outfit.
“I was so excited, I was going to have a little girl.”
On the day of the birth, Alicia got a call from Danielle to tell her she was having contractions and Alicia immediately rushed to hospital with Austin.
The doctors had to induce Danielle and break her waters and little Maisie was born an hour later. “I was holding Danielle's leg and all of a sudden I could see the baby's head,” Alicia said.
“Then in one push she came right out.”
Maisie was born weighing 6lbs 11oz. Alicia was able to hold Maisie for the first time just after she was born.
“It was magical, it felt no different to when I held my son for the first time," she said. They stayed in hospital two days before they were able to take Maisie home, where she settled in straight away.
“She’s a very happy little girl,” Alicia said. “I will tell her from an early age how she was made and I want it to be normal - not a surprise.
“She is no different, just because she doesn’t have my DNA. Danielle is always going to be in her life and I am so thankful that she could give us the second child we always wanted.
“I never thought it would be possible. It was definitely a rollercoaster of emotions but once they are in your arms it is all worth it.”
Danielle said: “There was never a doubt in my mind that this was something I wanted to do for her. Seeing her reaction to the positive test and seeing Maisie for the first time on the ultrasound was so indescribable.”
Austin said: “It never felt any different to me than our son. She was ours from the start.
“It was a little awkward watching our friend give birth, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
