Rent a womb(5)

Today he is more accepting of the idea, but both Chen and her husband are worried about whether, when and how to tell the child — if they have one — about the surrogate.

Jiang says many clients don't intend to tell their children anything, at least not until the child turns 30. Of course, in the rare case of a donated Caucasian egg, the question might arise sooner. When a donated egg is required, couples prefer an Asian donor.

"They don't think their children will be mature enough to know the truth at 18," says Jiang, who has decided not to tell his own children while they are young.

He requires his clients to keep in contact with surrogates during pregnancy, at least once a month, to stay emotionally attached since their babies are inside other women's wombs.

"Most of them are fine and some even continue ties and send pictures of the child afterward," he says.

Most clients get along well with surrogates, though cultural differences pose some problems, especially when clients are middle-aged and older and surrogates are young and active American women in their 20s.

When some clients choose surrogates, they prefer married women because marriage suggests stability and good character and they don't understand the common pattern of civil partnership, Jiang says.

They also don't understand why so many American women always drink ice water, even while they are pregnant, since TCM links infertility with yin ("cold") energy in ice water and cold foods. Chinese people, especially women, drink warm water.

Garcia also says 95 percent of her Chinese clients want Caucasian surrogates and do not want African Americans or Hispanics. Seventy percent want twins and may think Asian surrogates are not big enough to carry them comfortably, she says.

The same is true for Jiang's clients, with only two exceptions. Jiang himself first chose a Hispanic surrogate, but his mother objected and wanted a Caucasian, so he switched.

"Even I didn't understand why my surrogate chose to go to baseball games, football games, birthday parties and even go camping before week 12," Jiang says. "But she had a doctor's certificate saying it was OK."

Many Chinese parents-to-be pay extra so that surrogates do not work or do anything strenuous before three months, to ensure the fetus is sound. They are ultra-cautious.

"Of course, I would be willing to pay her not to work," concludes Daisy Chen, who is still mulling the idea. "If possible, I would love to pay her to just lie in bed for nine months."