14 Irish couples are awaiting for the birth of their baby in Ukraine in the coming weeks. Photo: Alicia Petresc

‘These are ordinary people’

By Katie O'Keeffe

Parents of babies due to be born in Ukraine to surrogates have been told not to travel to the country, according to a senator.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is urging people to avoid travelling due to concerns over a potential Russian invasion.

During last weekend Russia amassed 130,000 troops along the Ukrainian border, causing more than a dozen countries including Ireland to urge any citizens in Ukraine to leave.

There are 14 Irish couples awaiting for the birth of their baby in Ukraine in the coming weeks which Senator Mary Seery Kearney, who is helping the affected couples, said will make it difficult for the families to take to Departments advice not to travel there.

She told the Cork Independent: “No one willingly wants to go into a war zone but no one wants to stay apart from their new born baby and leave them in the care of others.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs has urged the couples to get in to contact with the clinics where the surrogate mothers are due to give birth so plans can be put into place should an issue arrive where the couples cannot get into Ukraine.

Senator Seery Kearney said most clinics have been reassuring to couples and agreed to look after the babies if parents could not travel, however they would be charging an additional cost which could be something the couples weren’t prepared for.

It can cost nearly €60,000 to have a child born in a private regulated surrogacy clinic in Ukraine and for the babies to stay any extra time will cost $100 a day.

She added: “These are ordinary people, some women are cancer survivors, they have re-mortgaged their home in order to pay for their child to be born by a surrogate mother and an extra hundred dollars a day can add up.”

Irish Families Through Surrogacy said it is working with couples who are waiting for babies to be born.

Sara Byrne, a spokesperson for the group, told the Cork Independent: “It is unprecedented times but the couples who are currently in Ukraine and those who are getting ready to go are surrounded by great teams of people.”

It’s hoped the process for bringing babies who are born through surrogacy in Ukraine back to Ireland may be handled more quickly than usual amid the tense situation.

Ms Byrne added: “The process takes about four weeks but now it’s being looked at to see what is the minimum that needs to. Be done to get the babies home safely yet legally with their Irish citizenship.”

In a statement to the Cork Independent a spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Department is in direct contact with all of those scheduled to travel to Ukraine for surrogacy purposes.

“The Department will continue to provide support to each of these individuals and families with advice relevant to their particular situation,” said the spokesperson.