Celebs Who Had Children With The Help Of A Surrogate

Although wild baby names and cute, high-fashion clothes tend to be the main focus on celebrity kids from fans of their parents, famous couples sometimes have to go to great lengths to get their families started, just like the rest of us. Multiple sources reported Wednesday that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are hiring a surrogate to carry their third child. (The couple has not yet confirmed the reports themselves; Bustle has reached out to their reps for comment, but has not yet received a response.) If they are using a surrogate, the couple join a long list of celebrities who have chosen to have children via surrogate.

Although celebs appear to have it all — fame, fortune, and fabulousness — they also desire to expand their families and experience ups and downs when it comes to doing so. Kardashian has documented so much of her life on E!'s Keeping Up With the Kardashians. From her marriages to the birth of her babies, North and Saint, the reality star has shared both her fertility issues and the joys of motherhood, which many people can relate to.

Couples have very personal reasons for choosing surrogacy as a way to have children. Here's a look at some high-profile couples whose lives were changed with help from a surrogate.

1. Elizabeth Banks

The Power Rangers actor and her husband, Max, welcomed sons Felix and Magnus via gestational surrogate in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Banks wrote about her journey on her website, "This experience has exceeded all expectations, taught us a great deal about generosity and gratitude, and established a relationship that will last a lifetime."

2. Tyra Banks

The supermodel and her boyfriend, Erik, welcomed son York via gestational surrogate in 2016. Banks told People magazine, "As I gaze into the beautiful eyes of my son, I think about all the people who struggle with fertility or carrying a child and continue to pray for them every day."

3. Angela Bassett & Courtney B. Vance

The acting couple welcomed fraternal twins, Bronwyn and Slater, in 2006 via surrogate. Bassett told Oprah Winfrey she struggled with fertility treatments for seven years. "I was devastated when it didn’t happen [again and again]," she said (via People). "I had to remain hopeful and resilient and, ‘Okay, let’s do it again.'"

4. Robert De Niro

The legendary actor is no stranger to surrogacy. De Niro and ex-girlfriend Toukie Smith welcomed twins sons, Aaron and Julian, in 1995 via surrogate. He and his wife, Grace Hightower, welcomed baby girl, Helen Grace, in 2011 via surrogate, according to People.

5. Jimmy Fallon

The late night talk show host and his wife, Nancy, welcomed both of their daughters, Winnie Rose and Frances, via surrogate. Fallon told the Today show's Savannah Guthrie following the birth of their first child, "My wife and I had been trying a while to have a baby. We tried a bunch of things — so we had a surrogate."

6. Neil Patrick Harris & David Burtka

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, welcomed son Gideon and daughter Harper in 2010 via surrogacy, according to People magazine. Burtka told Wendy Williams, “It’s a lot harder for gay guys [to have kids], although we tried!" Burtka explained that there were "two different women involved" in their surrogacy and carrying the babies to term. "There was an egg donor, a wonderful woman who was anonymous. We took two of our best guys and implanted them into her eggs, two different eggs."

7. Elton John

The iconic singer and his husband David's two sons, Zachary and Elijah, were born via surrogate in 2011 and 2013, respectively. John told People their surrogate who carried both boys is part of the family: "She is a wonderful, kind and loving woman."

8. Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban

The acclaimed actor and award-winning country singer used a used a surrogate to have their second daughter, Faith Margaret, in 2010. In a statement, the couple said, "No words can adequately convey the incredible gratitude that we feel for everyone who was so supportive throughout this process, in particular our gestational carrier."

9. Lucy Liu

The Elementary actor welcomed son Rockwell in 2015 via gestational carrier. Liu told People her hectic schedule caused her to choose surrogacy: "It just seemed like the right option for me because I was working and I didn’t know when I was going to be able to stop."

10. Ricky Martin

The "Living La Vida Loca" singer has twin boys, Matteo and Valentino, who were born via surrogate in 2008. Martin told People he considered adoption, but went with surrogacy to speed up the process. "Adoption was one option, but it’s complicated and can take a long time," he said. "Surrogacy was an intriguing and faster option. I thought, ‘I’m going to jump into this with no fear.’"

11. Sarah Jessica Parker & Mathew Broderick

The actors welcomed twin girls, Marion and Tabitha, in 2009 via surrogate. Parker told Today's Billy Bush that after trying for several years, she and Broderick were overjoyed to have twins. She said,

"We didn’t expect it. I think after a certain amount of time, you tend to hold your hopes at bay a bit so as not to be disappointed. One really would have been thrilling and we would’ve felt incredibly lucky. And two was a comedy.”

12. Dennis Quaid

The Parent Trap actor and his former wife, Kimberly, welcomed twins, Thomas and Zoe, in 2007 via gestational carrier, his rep confirmed to People magazine.

13. Giuliana & Bill Rancic

The E! News reporter and businessman welcomed son Edward Duke in 2012 via surrogate. Giuliana told Ryan Seacrest how grateful she was for her carrier after struggling to get pregnant. "She was so devoted and such a good person," Guilana said. "There are so many women out there who want to help who are such amazing women. They're like angels."

All of these couples have gestational carriers to thank for bringing their dreams of a family to fruition.