A surrogate mother who has helped several couples achieve their dream of becoming parents is enjoying her own fairy tale ending.
Ria Pawlow, who has given birth to five surrogate babies, celebrated her wedding day surrounded by the families she has given joy to.
The 37-year-old care worker from Havant in Hampshire got married to her partner Stacey, 30, before posing for heartwarming pictures with her own three children and five surrogates.
A touching photo shows the newlywed alongside her wife Stacey and their son, her two children from a previous relationship, and four of the children she has carried for other parents.
Newlywed Ria Pawlow, right, with her wife Stacey and their son Toby, five (centre), her two children from a previous relationship, and four of her surrogate children
On honeymoon, Ria started fertility treatment for her fifth surrogate child Daisy, who was born in July this year (pictured)
Ria has helped three couples become parents, by carrying five babies – including a set of twins.
But it has not been without its difficulties. Despite the last birth nearly killing her, the kind-hearted mother-of-three is keen to help even more people become parents.
Ria said: ‘It was the best day of my life. Seeing those beautiful miracles with their loving parents, surrounded by all my nearest and dearest.
‘I’d been able to make dreams come true and now it was their time to see mine come true! My sister made a mention of them in her speech… there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.’
Ria had son Matthew, 12, and daughter Charlie, eight, before meeting Stacey in 2010.
They used a sperm donor and Stacey later gave birth to Toby, now five.
She decided to devote herself to helping others, and got in touch the surrogacy agency COTS before an embryo was implanted in October 2011.
Ria has helped three couples become parents, by carrying five babies – including a set of twins
In June 2012, Carl was born and weighed in at 9lbs 3oz.
Ria, who affectionately refers to the babies in her womb as ‘lodgers’, added: ‘The parents are in the delivery suite and are handed the baby first – a magical moment.
‘Seeing the pure elation on their faces after years of anguish and pain is indescribable. No parent could ever be more appreciative than them.’
Ria suffered a miscarriage and four more failed embryo implants before 9lbs 5oz baby Robert was born in 2014.
She said she ‘sobbed her eyes out’ when the new parents held their baby boy.
In 2015 tragedy almost struck wen Ria gave birth to Max and Ruby, who were born prematurely and delivered on her bathroom floor with the help of Stacey.
The 37-year-old, who received these gifts for each of her ‘lodgers’, has a star tattoo for each child she helps bring into the world
On honeymoon, she started fertility treatment for her fifth surrogate child Daisy, who was born in July this year.
Ria said: ‘While she was a healthy 8lbs 8oz, I retained my placenta, leaving me in intensive care and needing a blood transfusion.
‘The surgeon said I was lucky not to lose my womb and need a full hysterectomy.’
Despite there being no payment for being a surrogate, and her near-death experience, Ria says she will continue to ‘create happy families’.
She has a star tattooed on her back for each surrogate baby.
Ria added: ‘I picked up the wedding picture of me surrounded by all those beautiful children and straight away I knew I had to carry on.
‘Seeing that bump grow, knowing the joy it’ll bring, you can’t put a price on it.
‘There might be a day I’ll hang up my ‘surrobump’, but while I still can I won’t stop helping create happy families.’