LaShonda Unseld-Hopkins, Ed.D., has balanced the demands of pregnancy, military service in the Air National Guard, business ownership, motherhood, and raising her autistic son throughout her surrogacy journeys.
After recently sharing her surrogacy earnings on TikTok, the 41-year-old advocate attempted to dispel myths about the process. She used her platform to clarify that surrogacy is frequently misunderstood as a quick way to earn a six-figure income, emphasizing that the financial reward is only a small part of the overall journey.
“I shared my compensation because I was tired of seeing misinformation and people speaking confidently about something they knew very little about,” Unseld-Hopkins told People.
The sheer volume of replies shocked her. Even though she expected criticism, she said that many women got in touch with her to express gratitude for giving an honest look at a process that often feels misunderstood.
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“Surrogacy is incredibly regulated, and compensation isn’t some big secret, it reflects the enormous commitment and sacrifice involved,” she explained. “I expected people to have opinions, but I was surprised by how many women thanked me for giving them honest information they couldn’t find broken down anywhere else.”
The most widespread misconception, according to Unseld-Hopkins, is not so much the amount of money surrogates earn as it is the idea that the money comes easily. She claimed that compensation covers nearly two years of medical visits, injections, pregnancy, childbirth, recovery, and many personal sacrifices that continue long after a contract is signed.
“There is absolutely nothing ‘easy’ about surrogacy,” she recounted. “You’re committing your body, your time, your mental health, countless medical appointments, injections, pregnancy, labor, and recovery, all while continuing to show up for your own family.”
She explained that at the end of their journey, surrogates are not given a single, sizable salary. Rather, payments are made in accordance with pre-pregnancy milestones specified in a formal contract, with additional reimbursements for lost salaries, childcare, travel, and medical costs incurred during the pregnancy.
“People see the number but rarely see the hundreds of appointments, medications, physical demands, and time away from family that come with it,” she stated.
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She also hopes to challenge the assumptions she’s come across since sharing her story online. Unseld-Hopkins revealed that surrogates are frequently unfairly portrayed as desperate or motivated solely by money, even though she has met a diverse range of women through the community.
“The biggest misconception is that surrogates are desperate, uneducated, or only doing it for money,” she said. “In reality, I’ve met surrogates who are doctors, nurses, teachers, business owners, and stay-at-home moms.”
She claimed that another myth is that surrogates are “selling babies.” She wants people to realize that they are assisting intended parents in having their own children biologically when they are unable to conceive due to infertility or other reasons.
In light of her personal experience, Unseld-Hopkins hopes that readers will see the true person behind the figures.
“I hope people walk away understanding that surrogacy is an act of service that deserves both respect and transparency,” she said. “Yes, surrogates are compensated, but behind every headline is a woman making extraordinary sacrifices to help someone else’s dream come true.”
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Last Edited by:Mildred Europa TaylorUpdated: July 16, 2026
