Man Learns Why Sister Wants Him To Pay For Her Surrogate, Tells Her Exactly What He Thinks Of Her
Surrogacy is a major decision in any person’s life. Usually, when someone looks for surrogacy candidates, it’s because they are infertile and cannot get pregnant themselves. However, for others, the decision on whether or not to pay for the expensive process hinges on how pregnancy will affect their body.
Redditor u/Emotional-Dirt9177 recently went viral after opening up about how he called out his sister, who wanted his financial support to cover the costs of surrogacy because she wanted to stay slim. He then turned to the internet for their verdict on whether or not he handled things well. Scroll down for the full story. Bored Panda has reached out to the author via Reddit, and we’ll update the article as soon as we hear back from him.
Warning: this story may be incredibly triggering for some readers who have had a traumatic past.
Different people have different reasons for considering surrogacy
Image credits: rtemp3/Envato elements (not the actual photo)
One internet opened up online about finding out the real reason why his sibling was considering surrogacy candidates
Image credtis: Jordan Bauer/Pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: simonapilolla/Envato elements (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Emotional-Dirt9177
The financial costs of surrogacy can be mind-boggling. It’s not an easy decision to make even if you’re well-off
Image credits: Karolina Kaboompics/Pexels (not the actual photo)
Surrogacy can be incredibly expensive. It’s definitely not something to be undertaken lightly. What this means is that you either have to have lots of savings, a well-paying job, incredible medical coverage, or the support of well-off sponsors to be able to afford a surrogate.
According to Investopedia, a surrogate can cost upwards of $100,000 in the United States. The costs will vary depending on where you live and the exact procedures that you want or need to be done.
For example, the Fertility Center of Las Vegas puts the cost of surrogacy between $110,000 to $170,000 while West Coast Surrogacy prices it between $190,000 and $230,000.
The surrogacy industry was worth $14 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow by a quarter each year from 2023 to 2032, according to Global Market Insights.
If someone is asking their family and friends for financial support, it only makes sense to be completely open and honest with them about the reasons why. Transparency is paramount. Without it, the foundation of trust they’ve built over the years can get wobbly.
Case in point, the author’s sister wasn’t entirely truthful with him about her intentions at the very beginning. “It turns out my sister is not infertile. She just doesn’t want to get pregnant,” u/Emotional-Dirt9177 explained that his sibling didn’t want to carry her own child in order to keep her figure.
Healthy boundaries are very important when it comes to interacting with even the closest of family members
Image credits: cottonbro studio/Pexels (not the actual photo)
Hearing something like this might make someone who’s dealing with fertility issues or a traumatic past feel resentful or even angry. While they’re looking for surrogates because they have few other choices to have a child, others feel like it’s a viable option “to stay thin.” And on someone else’s dime, no less!
It’s completely understandable that far from everyone would be happy to cover someone’s surrogacy costs when they can get pregnant without much issue. The only question is how to say ‘no’ and enforce those boundaries. How you say something matters just as much, if not more, than what you say.
According to the author, he doesn’t feel guilty about how he called out his sister. However, his wife believes that he could have handled the situation slightly more diplomatically. This is why he asked for the r/AITAH online community’s opinion in the first place.
The author’s story went viral, with 15k upvotes and 1.3k comments at the time of writing. Most readers were very supportive of the internet user and thought that he did the logical thing by refusing to splurge to satisfy his sibling’s whims.
What do you think about the entire situation, dear Pandas? What would you have done differently if you were in the author’s shoes? Would you ever support a loved one financially if you knew they wanted surrogacy to keep their figure, not due to fertility issues? Share your thoughts in the comments.
The author later answered a couple of people’s questions about the context
Many readers were on his side. Here’s their interpretation of the situation
However, some folks had slightly unpopular opinions. They thought that the author could have handled things very differently
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The one commenter who judged him an a$$hole and said "everyone who wants a child should have one"...🤣🤣🤣. No. No they shouldn't.
All children deserve parents but not all parents deserve children.
Load More Replies...I get it that you might want to use a surrogate when you're infertile, but to use one when you can get pregnant but don't want to lose your figure? It makes me wonder: was it sister's decision alone to use a surrogate or did her hubby not want to deal with a wife with a post-pregnancy figure? If you're already so shallow as to not want to, potentially, ruin your figure, then I shudder to think what will happen if the child that becomes yours doesn't turn out the way you want. Will you, like your pregnancy, outsource it too?
While I may not think it's a good idea, I don't have a problem with a woman using a surrogate to have a child because she doesn't want to be pregnant. I do have a problem with expecting family members to help pay for it.
Load More Replies...The YTA and ESH comments are in insane. It is indeed her choice if she doesn't want to get pregnant, but she is beyond entitled to think that anybody else should pay for it when she does not need to go through that process. "A gift doesn't come with conditions" well it wasn't a gift. It was help, help that was fully solicited by the sister.
“Everyone who wants a child should have one.”: NO. Absolutely not. IT’S A HUMAN BEING. If only there were LAWS to prevent “everyone” from having a child (the stupid, the molesters, the murderers, the unfit, the alcoholics, the addicted, etc). I’m imagining someone on Death Row filing a suit because she wants to have a child before she goes. No, no, no, no, NO.
Her decision to not birth a child is her decision. That’s good. Her (and your parents) expecting you to fund it? Um, no. Non-natural conception options are all difficult and expensive, but I feel like surrogacy is probably one of the most expensive way to have a child. Great if you can afford it. But don’t go into expecting other people to pay for it.
This bish is super entitled. Parents need to kick rocks too. Bish isn't willing to risk ruining her figure? Are you freaking kidding me? She can always adopt. They get a kid and no risk to her precious figure. Thry act like their are arquiring property, and to be subsidized by the brother. And these people saying he is an AHole... wow. Maybe they will send this lady some of their money, but I doubt it.
Definitely NTA when the reason is very shallow - "I don't want to put on weight". Then pay for your own surrogacy. And especially don't ask the person who went through it for very valid medical reasons to fund it.
This woman prioritize her figure over her family? Whoa, imagine what kind of mother she'll become. Postpartum body goal is totally manageable with diet & exercise
LOL. I managed to get back on track with 4 pregnancies without diet or exercise → 98 lb 44.5 kg. Until the 5h. Alas!
Load More Replies...The piece that is missing for me is: would the surrogate be impregnated by the sister's embryo (some IVF treatment there); by a donated embryo; would the embryo have her husband's DNA? I feel most sorry for the possible children this sister may have, however she has them. She doesn't sound like a good candidate for motherhood. I'm 72 and an adoptee--there are LOADS of issues associated with adoption, likewise with surrogacy for the child.
I'm on the fence about surrogacy. I can see infertile couples desperate to have children, and if someone is willing to bear the child for them, I suppose it's mutually agreed upon. But I am also aware of the dangers of pregnancy, you are literally risking someone else's health - possibly long term - when asking them to bear that baby. And doing that purely for vanity ala Kardashians, is horrible, IMO. So NTA on this one.
Kim kardashians had severe medical issues. She didnt just do it for vanity. As much as you may hate them. Please don't make up lies about the reason for surrogacy. You can look up the medical reason for her choice. Preeclampsia, high blood pressure and something with the placenta. Yup!
Load More Replies...She wants to keep her figure, so she planned to let a stranger lose their figure for HER child? I don’t understand that level of selfishness, perhaps because surrogacy is illegal in my country.
Surrogates have to have had their own child before they can be considered a candidate for health and safety reasons
Load More Replies...Hey, don't treat puppies as if they can be gotten on a whim. They are a serious obligation.
Load More Replies...Wow, I really really hope the parents of the wife will forever be ashamed of what they allowed to happen to her! May they always feel guilty and hurt at heart for what their daughter suffered.
Yes, she has every right to want a surrogate... But she's the one who -asked- her brother to pay for it, and she lied by omission about why. And I think that makes her the bigger a-hole, which is why he reacted the way he did. Could he have been more diplomatic about it? Sure, but so could she.
If a sibling asked for help, I would assume that they were infertile, and would withdraw the offer if they were not.
Have a natural baby, and then pay for a tummy tuck. It's going to be cheaper.
Sister was an AH for begining OPs wife into it. But it's fine to not want to be pregnant. I don't agree with surrogacy because there are so many children hoping to be adopted, but there's no moral difference to me if you're getting pregnant yourself or paying someone else to do it, so long as it's legal and fairly compensated. There's a lot of predatory practices in the surrogacy industry - not eevry case, but in many. But it's no one's business why you want to manage pregnancy how you do, it's just not. ESH.
What did op do to be called an a*****e? Twll hus sister she is an idiot for bitching that its unfair her ail didnt "lose her figure" to have her child?
Load More Replies...NTA - Why on Earth did she expect you to help her financially? Some posts said you could have been more diplomatic but given the absurdity of her request & reasoning anything you did or said would be completely understandable. And about what you said to your parents: 1) they were completely out of line & 2) you were simply informing them of another "option" & at no cost, courtesy of Mother Nature.
Technically speaking OP's wife and sister had the same reason for using a surrogate - they didn't want to get pregnant. The reasons for THAT varied greatly, but bottom line is - neither wanted to be pregnant. Sister should have been upfront when asking for the money, and not misled OP to think she had fertility problems. Sister is the AH for not being truthful about her reasons. OP is AH for laughing & suggesting she use the old-fashioned way.
OP laughed at someone expecting him to fund her vanity. Thats all this cane down to. OP's wife wanted a child without relapsing into horrific trauma. They are not the same. OP only suggested that because they kept bringing up thr cost of it- so he told them there is a 0 cost way to do it.
Load More Replies...Op needs to be no contact with the sister and the parents. Guaranteed if Op decides to hire a nanny to help out, and his sister finds out, she will demand he pay for a nanny for her.
Did most of the YTAs actually read the story? Anyway what if OP and wife wanted another child and they used the money for his sister who didn't really need a surrogate.
Did the YTA even read even far enough to see that the sister said she didn't want to ruin her body? Jeez. I was a "surrogate" after I had my daughters, I had a touching moment at Christmas when I was very pregnant with my younger one and my mom's cousin's wife asked to feel the baby move. You could see feet rolling in my dress lol and of course she could feel it! I didn't know her very well but always liked her, so waddled into a different room so we could talk for a minute away from noise. I found out that she had had an iud when they were more experimental and it ruined her fertility. They are rather religious and don't believe in medical intervention like IVF. 3 adoptions fell through where the birth mom changed her mind and kept baby. Long story, in about 18 months I chose to get pregnant and give them the baby. They are wonderful parents, their daughter is now a forest ranger in Yosemite. If it had been about "ruining her figure"? Hell no. Infertility? Any day.
Also it doesn't "ruin your body". Pregnancy changes you and reflects the journey you have made.
Load More Replies...When I was modelling ( back in the late 60's and early 70's) quite a few of my model friends induced birth at least six weeks in order to keep their figures. Their occupation demanded this. I see little difference between that and the situation here. That being said, expecting you to pay for her surrogacy is more than a bit entitled. My friends paid for themselves and so should she.
It reads as if the sister assumes that the wife didn't want to destroy her figure by being pregnant. Not knowing about the history, maybe the sister picked up on some of the body dysmorphia and attributed it to the wrong causes? But then go and expect because brother paid for the "privilege" for his wife, that he should pay for her as well... she deserved to be called an idiot. A child is also a long term commitment and "buying" a child doesn't guarantee a "higher yield"...
As somebody who struggled with fertility, I'm genuinely stunned that she wants a surrogate just because she doesn't want to get pregnant! If she doesn't want to get pregnant, stay child free! Surrogacy creates families but usually for people who can't create a baby themselves, not for somebody who just doesn't feel like pregnancy is her thing
It wasn't for her preference but because she felt entitled to his money for it.
Load More Replies...that's an issue with the business of surrogacy, not surrogacy itself. they can have it work out ethically.
Load More Replies...You're letting your own trauma get in the way of logic. The sister is a grade A idiot. You need to get some help.
Load More Replies...The one commenter who judged him an a$$hole and said "everyone who wants a child should have one"...🤣🤣🤣. No. No they shouldn't.
All children deserve parents but not all parents deserve children.
Load More Replies...I get it that you might want to use a surrogate when you're infertile, but to use one when you can get pregnant but don't want to lose your figure? It makes me wonder: was it sister's decision alone to use a surrogate or did her hubby not want to deal with a wife with a post-pregnancy figure? If you're already so shallow as to not want to, potentially, ruin your figure, then I shudder to think what will happen if the child that becomes yours doesn't turn out the way you want. Will you, like your pregnancy, outsource it too?
While I may not think it's a good idea, I don't have a problem with a woman using a surrogate to have a child because she doesn't want to be pregnant. I do have a problem with expecting family members to help pay for it.
Load More Replies...The YTA and ESH comments are in insane. It is indeed her choice if she doesn't want to get pregnant, but she is beyond entitled to think that anybody else should pay for it when she does not need to go through that process. "A gift doesn't come with conditions" well it wasn't a gift. It was help, help that was fully solicited by the sister.
“Everyone who wants a child should have one.”: NO. Absolutely not. IT’S A HUMAN BEING. If only there were LAWS to prevent “everyone” from having a child (the stupid, the molesters, the murderers, the unfit, the alcoholics, the addicted, etc). I’m imagining someone on Death Row filing a suit because she wants to have a child before she goes. No, no, no, no, NO.
Her decision to not birth a child is her decision. That’s good. Her (and your parents) expecting you to fund it? Um, no. Non-natural conception options are all difficult and expensive, but I feel like surrogacy is probably one of the most expensive way to have a child. Great if you can afford it. But don’t go into expecting other people to pay for it.
This bish is super entitled. Parents need to kick rocks too. Bish isn't willing to risk ruining her figure? Are you freaking kidding me? She can always adopt. They get a kid and no risk to her precious figure. Thry act like their are arquiring property, and to be subsidized by the brother. And these people saying he is an AHole... wow. Maybe they will send this lady some of their money, but I doubt it.
Definitely NTA when the reason is very shallow - "I don't want to put on weight". Then pay for your own surrogacy. And especially don't ask the person who went through it for very valid medical reasons to fund it.
This woman prioritize her figure over her family? Whoa, imagine what kind of mother she'll become. Postpartum body goal is totally manageable with diet & exercise
LOL. I managed to get back on track with 4 pregnancies without diet or exercise → 98 lb 44.5 kg. Until the 5h. Alas!
Load More Replies...The piece that is missing for me is: would the surrogate be impregnated by the sister's embryo (some IVF treatment there); by a donated embryo; would the embryo have her husband's DNA? I feel most sorry for the possible children this sister may have, however she has them. She doesn't sound like a good candidate for motherhood. I'm 72 and an adoptee--there are LOADS of issues associated with adoption, likewise with surrogacy for the child.
I'm on the fence about surrogacy. I can see infertile couples desperate to have children, and if someone is willing to bear the child for them, I suppose it's mutually agreed upon. But I am also aware of the dangers of pregnancy, you are literally risking someone else's health - possibly long term - when asking them to bear that baby. And doing that purely for vanity ala Kardashians, is horrible, IMO. So NTA on this one.
Kim kardashians had severe medical issues. She didnt just do it for vanity. As much as you may hate them. Please don't make up lies about the reason for surrogacy. You can look up the medical reason for her choice. Preeclampsia, high blood pressure and something with the placenta. Yup!
Load More Replies...She wants to keep her figure, so she planned to let a stranger lose their figure for HER child? I don’t understand that level of selfishness, perhaps because surrogacy is illegal in my country.
Surrogates have to have had their own child before they can be considered a candidate for health and safety reasons
Load More Replies...Hey, don't treat puppies as if they can be gotten on a whim. They are a serious obligation.
Load More Replies...Wow, I really really hope the parents of the wife will forever be ashamed of what they allowed to happen to her! May they always feel guilty and hurt at heart for what their daughter suffered.
Yes, she has every right to want a surrogate... But she's the one who -asked- her brother to pay for it, and she lied by omission about why. And I think that makes her the bigger a-hole, which is why he reacted the way he did. Could he have been more diplomatic about it? Sure, but so could she.
If a sibling asked for help, I would assume that they were infertile, and would withdraw the offer if they were not.
Have a natural baby, and then pay for a tummy tuck. It's going to be cheaper.
Sister was an AH for begining OPs wife into it. But it's fine to not want to be pregnant. I don't agree with surrogacy because there are so many children hoping to be adopted, but there's no moral difference to me if you're getting pregnant yourself or paying someone else to do it, so long as it's legal and fairly compensated. There's a lot of predatory practices in the surrogacy industry - not eevry case, but in many. But it's no one's business why you want to manage pregnancy how you do, it's just not. ESH.
What did op do to be called an a*****e? Twll hus sister she is an idiot for bitching that its unfair her ail didnt "lose her figure" to have her child?
Load More Replies...NTA - Why on Earth did she expect you to help her financially? Some posts said you could have been more diplomatic but given the absurdity of her request & reasoning anything you did or said would be completely understandable. And about what you said to your parents: 1) they were completely out of line & 2) you were simply informing them of another "option" & at no cost, courtesy of Mother Nature.
Technically speaking OP's wife and sister had the same reason for using a surrogate - they didn't want to get pregnant. The reasons for THAT varied greatly, but bottom line is - neither wanted to be pregnant. Sister should have been upfront when asking for the money, and not misled OP to think she had fertility problems. Sister is the AH for not being truthful about her reasons. OP is AH for laughing & suggesting she use the old-fashioned way.
OP laughed at someone expecting him to fund her vanity. Thats all this cane down to. OP's wife wanted a child without relapsing into horrific trauma. They are not the same. OP only suggested that because they kept bringing up thr cost of it- so he told them there is a 0 cost way to do it.
Load More Replies...Op needs to be no contact with the sister and the parents. Guaranteed if Op decides to hire a nanny to help out, and his sister finds out, she will demand he pay for a nanny for her.
Did most of the YTAs actually read the story? Anyway what if OP and wife wanted another child and they used the money for his sister who didn't really need a surrogate.
Did the YTA even read even far enough to see that the sister said she didn't want to ruin her body? Jeez. I was a "surrogate" after I had my daughters, I had a touching moment at Christmas when I was very pregnant with my younger one and my mom's cousin's wife asked to feel the baby move. You could see feet rolling in my dress lol and of course she could feel it! I didn't know her very well but always liked her, so waddled into a different room so we could talk for a minute away from noise. I found out that she had had an iud when they were more experimental and it ruined her fertility. They are rather religious and don't believe in medical intervention like IVF. 3 adoptions fell through where the birth mom changed her mind and kept baby. Long story, in about 18 months I chose to get pregnant and give them the baby. They are wonderful parents, their daughter is now a forest ranger in Yosemite. If it had been about "ruining her figure"? Hell no. Infertility? Any day.
Also it doesn't "ruin your body". Pregnancy changes you and reflects the journey you have made.
Load More Replies...When I was modelling ( back in the late 60's and early 70's) quite a few of my model friends induced birth at least six weeks in order to keep their figures. Their occupation demanded this. I see little difference between that and the situation here. That being said, expecting you to pay for her surrogacy is more than a bit entitled. My friends paid for themselves and so should she.
It reads as if the sister assumes that the wife didn't want to destroy her figure by being pregnant. Not knowing about the history, maybe the sister picked up on some of the body dysmorphia and attributed it to the wrong causes? But then go and expect because brother paid for the "privilege" for his wife, that he should pay for her as well... she deserved to be called an idiot. A child is also a long term commitment and "buying" a child doesn't guarantee a "higher yield"...
As somebody who struggled with fertility, I'm genuinely stunned that she wants a surrogate just because she doesn't want to get pregnant! If she doesn't want to get pregnant, stay child free! Surrogacy creates families but usually for people who can't create a baby themselves, not for somebody who just doesn't feel like pregnancy is her thing
It wasn't for her preference but because she felt entitled to his money for it.
Load More Replies...that's an issue with the business of surrogacy, not surrogacy itself. they can have it work out ethically.
Load More Replies...You're letting your own trauma get in the way of logic. The sister is a grade A idiot. You need to get some help.
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