Woman becomes both aunty and mother after giving birth to baby girl
A woman has given birth to her brother’s daughter, making her both an aunty and the mother.
Chapelle Cooper offered to be the surrogate mother for her brother Scott Stephenson and his partner, Michael Smith.
Scott and Michael had reservations about finding a surrogate they could trust and Chapelle volunteered after finding out how complicated and expensive the surrogate process is.
Michael’s sperm was used with Chapelle’s egg, making Chapelle both the aunty and mother, and the baby having both Scott and Michael’s DNA.
Harper Elizabeth Smith was born five days early, weighing five pounds, eight ounces (2.4 kilograms).
Chapelle shared the news on Facebook, offering her congratulations.
“Can honestly say they were amazing in the delivery room,” Chapelle wrote. “They gave so much love and so much care to me and Harper, cannot thank you enough.
“Enjoy your new family, I love you all so much.”
Michael and Scott told Yahoo UK they were very protective of Chapelle throughout the pregnancy, but they set clear ground rules at the start of the pregnancy.
The new fathers were considering adoption three years before Chapelle offered to carry the baby.
“Who can say they’ve done that for somebody else,” said brother Scott. “It’s the most selfless and amazing gift.”
“We are blown away by the strength, heart and courage of Chapelle,” Michael wrote on Facebook. “Will never be able to truly thank you for bringing us our little perfect bundle.
“We love you more than you know.”
Chapelle admitted she doesn’t think she would’ve been able to be the surrogate if she couldn’t see the baby again, knowing she will see Harper made it ‘a lot easier’.
Chapelle will fulfil her role as an aunty, opposed to a mother and will be a ‘big part of Harper’s life’. When Harper is old enough, the couple will tell her the truth.
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