Louise Thompson Confronts Surrogacy Critics After IVF Setback
Former Made In Chelsea star Louise Thompson has fiercely responded to what she terms 'surrogacy shamers' who have criticised her and fiancé Ryan Libbey's efforts to grow their family following a challenging IVF journey. The couple appeared on This Morning, discussing their exploration of surrogacy with hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard as a means to add to their family.
Opening Up About Fertility Struggles
Louise, 35, who shares a four-year-old son, Leo, with Ryan, revealed they have been investigating surrogacy—a practice where a woman carries and gives birth to a child for another person—to address infertility issues. In the UK, surrogacy is legal, but arrangements are not legally binding, and paying a surrogate beyond reasonable expenses is prohibited. Despite this, the couple is considering the option after a prolonged struggle with IVF, which they described as a traumatic experience.
The mother-of-one explained, 'Ryan and I are in a really good spot, we've obviously been through something traumatic but we're ready to move forward and look into the future, and we feel excited for the next chapter.' She added that the process has been extensive, involving numerous appointments and exploring all possible avenues, including discussions about womb transplants, which she ruled out due to her health conditions.
Defending Their Decision
Louise defended their choice, stating, 'Surrogacy is not a word I would ever think would come into the umbrella of our world, but it's a route that's afforded to people like us that have no other options.' She expressed gratitude for those who make surrogacy possible, acknowledging the complexity and commitment required. Ryan admitted to struggling with the decision, saying, 'In some ways I'm still accepting the routes that we're exploring now to expand the family. None of it feels quite right in my heart but I know that we as a family, and [Louise], deserve to do it the right way without all the pain.'
Louise emphasised their desire to give Leo a sibling, asserting, 'We have a beautiful boy at home but we would love to give him a sibling... and we're not willing to let what happened be the be all and end all. I think we deserve to grow our family and to have another baby.' She urged critics to withhold judgment, noting, 'Until you have walked in the shoes we have walked in, you can't really judge our decision making process.'
Public Reaction and Criticism
Fans on social media were less sympathetic, with some suggesting adoption as an alternative. One commenter wrote, 'Why don’t you adopt instead, there’s plenty of kids that need a home and to be loved,' while others argued, 'Just be happy with what you already have,' or labelled surrogacy as immoral. This backlash comes amid Louise's emotional discussions on her podcast, where she explained why they opted against adoption in favour of using their own DNA through IVF and surrogacy.
Background on Health Challenges
The couple's decision follows a harrowing birth experience in 2021, when Louise nearly died during an emergency caesarean to deliver Leo. Subsequently, she suffered from PTSD, post-natal anxiety, and has been diagnosed with Lupus, Asherman's syndrome, experienced a second haemorrhage, and had a stoma bag fitted. These health issues have compounded their fertility struggles, making traditional pregnancy risky.
In a recent episode of their He Said, She Said podcast, Louise became emotional while discussing their choice, stating, 'I think with every couple they are within their right to want to have a child using their own DNA. It's not something I expect everyone to understand, but until you've had fertility issues of your own, I don't think people should be commenting on it.' Ryan praised those who adopt but acknowledged their current inability to do so due to trauma.
IVF Journey Update
Louise recently shared an update on Instagram, revealing that after undergoing IVF, they have one embryo 'in the freezer.' She posted a photo of flowers from Ryan with a heartfelt message, captioning it, 'One in the freezer for safe keepy's. Inside that sentence is a universe.' She detailed the emotional and physical toll of the process, including weeks of needles, scans, and tears, but expressed hope for the future.
She wrote, 'From our first cycle we went from seeing 20+ good looking follicles on the scan, to getting 8 eggs retrieved to holding onto hope that many of them would make it to day 5... we ended up with just one. One embryo. One possibility.' Despite this, she remains optimistic, viewing it as a starting point for their family expansion plans.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX, where the couple's story continues to resonate with viewers navigating similar fertility challenges.
