"Losing a baby to a stillbirth is arguably the most heartbreaking outcome an expecting mother can experience. But what would you do if that stillbirth kicked off a lengthy and protracted legal battle in which your most intimate details are spilled to the police, the courts, and social media? That's the horrifying conundrum facing Rebecca Smith, a 34 year old would-be surrogate mother who says her stillbirth almost killed her."
"Despite almost paying for the unfortunate complication with her life, Smith's ordeal is far from over - because the unborn child was due to go to Cindy Bi, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist who had set aside $200,000 to ensure the pregnancy was a success. Detailed reporting of the years-long saga by digs into the tragedy facing both sides of the case. More than a simple pregnancy gone wrong, the ordeal is a vivid example of the troubling power dynamics involved in commercial surrogacy."
Rebecca Smith, a 34 year old bank manager and former pro athlete from Virginia, served as a surrogate and experienced a stillbirth that nearly cost her life. The pregnancy began in 2023 under a $45,000 agreement to carry an embryo frozen by Cindy Bi, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist. Bi had set aside $200,000 to support the pregnancy and maintained constant contact with Smith. Bi shared Smith's intimate details with surrogacy groups on Facebook, allegedly violating the commercial surrogacy contract. When Smith was hospitalized at 29 weeks, Bi inundated her with questions, suggestions, and another contract to sign. The case prompted legal action, police and court involvement, and underscored deep power imbalances in commercial surrogacy.
Read at Futurism
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