London, May 21 (IANS) A growing number of childless British couples are having surrogate babies delivered by Indian mothers, a newspaper reported.
One leading obstetrician at a Mumbai hospital told the Evening Standard she delivers one baby to a British couple every 48 hours, in what the paper described as a 'surrogacy boom.'
The paper said Wednesday couples were heading to India because of strict British laws, which outlaw commercial surrogacy, and the low cost of surrogate deliveries in India.
Citing one such case, it said Britons Chris and Susan Morrison paid a total of 25,000 pounds, including hospital fees, for a surrogate at the Akanksha Infertility Clinic in Anand, Gujarat, which is headed by the well-known infertility expert Dr Nayna Patel.
The amount paid by the Morrisons, who had twins, included a fee of 8,000 pounds for the surrogate mother, identified as Vimla.
Dr Anita Soni, a leading obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Hiranandani Hospital in Mumbai, told the paper: 'I help more white couples than Indians, who are still sceptical about things. English couples come here much more in numbers.
'I deliver babies from Indian women for British couples at the rate of more than 15 a month,' she said.
A delighted Chris Morrison told the paper: 'I am just amazed that there was somebody in Gujarat who was prepared to carry our babies for us and that there is a doctor in India who is smart enough to put it all together for us.'
Susan said: 'I held Vimla's hand and whispered 'Thank you'. Even without the language, there was communication and we cried simultaneously....
'We were just so grateful for her and to her. We still are. She will always be in our hearts.'
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