10 celebrity parents who used surrogates

The INSIDER Summary:

• Surrogacy is relatively common for parents who face infertility issues or cannot birth children.
• Celebrities are shining a light on the importance of using surrogacy to grow their family.
• From Kim Kardashian and Kanye West to Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, these are celebrity parents who have used surrogates.

Ever since news broke that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were reportedly expecting a third child via gestational surrogacy, we thought it’d be interesting to look back at all the celebrity parents who extended their families in a similar fashion. But beyond Hollywood, surrogacy is a relatively common phenomenon for parents who have infertility issues or cannot birth children for a variety of reasons.

Given that the nuclear family is long gone these days, it’s important for moms and dads in the public eye to shine a light on the fact that surrogacy is just another way for parents to grow their families. Ahead, take a peek at 10 celebrity couples who welcomed their children via surrogacy.

SEE ALSO: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are having their third baby in January

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

After struggles with conceiving her first two children, North and Saint, Kim Kardashian considered other options. The mom of two opened up about the process on a recent episode of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," in which she revealed that she was considering using a surrogate for her third child with husband Kanye West.

In late July, Us Weekly broke the news that the E! personality was indeed expecting a third child via surrogate, who is currently three months pregnant. According to sources for the magazine, Kardashian's surrogate is a San Diego mom in her late twenties who was paid $45,000 for the process. The mag estimates that the A-list couple will welcome their third child in January 2018.

Tyra Banks and Erik Asla

In January 2016, Tyra Banks and her boyfriend, photographer Erik Asla, welcomed their first child together, a son named York, via gestational surrogacy. In an interview with People shortly afterward, the "America's Next Top Model" host empathized with parents who also have fertility issues and must seek other options.

"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," she said.

Lucy Liu

In 2015, Lucy Liu welcomed her first child, a son named Rockwell Lloyd, via surrogacy. However, the actress—who is a single mom and has spoken out about wanting to expand people's notions of a "traditional family"—faced backlash for using a surrogate shortly after the news broke.

“I just went ahead and did it," Liu told CBS News. “I didn’t realize there was criticism until after I sent out the information that I had my baby through a gestational carrier and my friends said, ‘Don’t listen to what some people are saying.’ I didn’t realize people were saying anything negative!”