A surrogate mother gave birth to a baby boy, referred to as 'Baby Gabriel,' on Wednesday morning in the Dallas area of Texas, according to her attorney. The infant is scheduled to undergo life-saving surgery for hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a condition diagnosed during the pregnancy.
The birth has become the focal point of a surrogacy controversy involving the surrogate, McKenna West, 28, and the baby's biological parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed. The dispute arose after a 20-week ultrasound revealed the fetal heart anomaly. At that point, the biological parents reportedly requested an abortion, a decision West opposed.
According to reports, the contract West signed with the California-based couple included a clause mandating abortion in the event of a fetal anomaly. West, a mother of two, expressed her concerns to Worldwide Surrogacy Specialist, LLC, a Connecticut-based agency. She subsequently traveled to Texas to ensure the child's protection.