Surrogate McKenna West (28) gives birth to baby during legal dispute with biological parents

[Bewitchingstorm]

A baby born with a rare heart defect is at the center of a bitter legal dispute between the child’s biological parents and the woman who gave birth to the baby as a surrogate against their wishes.

McKenna West, 28, agreed to act as a surrogate for Los Angeles couple Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar.

The couple opted to terminate the pregnancy at around 20 weeks after it was revealed that the boy had a rare and life-threatening congenital heart condition called hypoplastic left heart syndrome, in which the left side of the heart doesn’t develop fully.

According to a copy of the surrogacy contract obtained by the Dallas Morning News, the document West signed allows for the intended parents to choose abortion in the case of a fetal anomaly.

However, West refused to have an abortion and fled to Texas, a state where abortion is banned. There, she sought specialists who could treat the baby’s defect.

On Aug. 12, West gave birth to the baby in Dallas and is now seeking custody of the child.

The case drew national attention, notably from anti-abortion activists who provided West with legal representation and had helped her travel to Texas for medical care.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton got involved and took legal action, arguing in court that the biological parents were required to provide lifesaving medical care to the child under Texas law.

The court order was successfully issued on Aug. 11, requiring that lifesaving care be provided once the baby was born. The order barred West from presenting herself as the baby’s parent or guardian and prevented her from making any medical decisions on the child’s behalf.

The order also barred West from having any contact with the child after birth, though her lawyer, Lincoln Wilson, told the Times that West plans to continue pursuing custody.

A temporary restraining order will prevent the parents from removing the child from Texas until a hearing in late August.

The baby, whom activists have called “Baby Gabriel,” while his legal parents have chosen a different name, must still undergo weeks of surgeries for hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

https://ktla.com/news/california/sur...arents-wishes/

McKenna: https://www.facebook.com/mckenna.west.169

[Nic B]

This makes me angry. It was NOT her baby. She was just the oven cooking it.

[raisedbywolves]

They want to increase the population (with the 'right' people). They have made it dangerous to get pregnant. They have tried to shut off IVF in the name of their religion. Now I look for this to make people think twice about surrogacy. It's like they are so stupid that they are doing exactly the opposite things to encourage people to have babies, while whining that people aren't having babies anymore.

If she couldn't go through with an abortion, she shouldn't have signed the paperwork.

[Bewitchingstorm]

They want to increase the population (with the 'right' people). They have made it dangerous to get pregnant. They have tried to shut off IVF in the name of their religion. Now I look for this to make people think twice about surrogacy. It's like they are so stupid that they are doing exactly the opposite things to encourage people to have babies, while whining that people aren't having babies anymore.

If she couldn't go through with an abortion, she shouldn't have signed the paperwork.

Don't worry, Elon Musk is having enough babies to repopulate the country.

[Nic B]

They want to increase the population (with the 'right' people). They have made it dangerous to get pregnant. They have tried to shut off IVF in the name of their religion. Now I look for this to make people think twice about surrogacy. It's like they are so stupid that they are doing exactly the opposite things to encourage people to have babies, while whining that people aren't having babies anymore.

If she couldn't go through with an abortion, she shouldn't have signed the paperwork.

Exactly. If you can't realize that it is not YOUR baby, you have business being a surrogate.

I'm surprised with all the legal stuff I am sure they have to sign, that it isn't stated clearly, regarding their "rights" to someone else's baby.

[Boston Babe 73]

They want to increase the population (with the 'right' people). They have made it dangerous to get pregnant. They have tried to shut off IVF in the name of their religion. Now I look for this to make people think twice about surrogacy. It's like they are so stupid that they are doing exactly the opposite things to encourage people to have babies, while whining that people aren't having babies anymore.

If she couldn't go through with an abortion, she shouldn't have signed the paperwork.

BINGO. Don't be a surrogate if you aren't willing to do what the parents of the child your carrying decide to do.

[Bewitchingstorm]

The biological parents of the child birthed by surrogate mother McKenna West are suing her more than $100,000 for keeping the baby rather than abort it at their request, according to a report.

Nasheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed filed a countersuit against West, a 28-year-old nurse from Alaska, weeks before she gave birth in Texas to their baby, who was born with a serious and rare heart defect, TMZ reported.

They agreed to pay West $60,000 to carry their child — with an abortion clause that allowed them to terminate the pregnancy if there were issues with the fetus, according to the lawsuit.

The baby was born on Aug. 12. West named him Gabriel, but the biological parents insist his name is Rumi.

https://nypost.com/2026/08/19/us-new...aborting-baby/

[Boston Babe 73]

https://nypost.com/2026/08/19/us-new...aborting-baby/

Honestly, 100K is not that much. Considering the fact that not only are they now raising a child with special and expensive needs, they paid her 60K to be the surrogate in the first place. They have a long, expensive and emotional road ahead of them now because of her actions.

AND she named him! That tells me right there that she is not the right mindset of a person to be a surrogate. Ever.

[Bewitchingstorm]

Honestly, 100K is not that much. Considering the fact that not only are they now raising a child with special and expensive needs, they paid her 60K to be the surrogate in the first place. They have a long, expensive and emotional road ahead of them now because of her actions.

AND she named him! That tells me right there that she is not the right mindset of a person to be a surrogate. Ever.

I was really shocked at the $100k amount, as they could get much more. I guess it isn't about money to them, but more the principle.

[Angiebla]

These poor parents. I cant tell if the surrogate is an idiot, a brainwashed RWNJ, or she thought she could get custody with a payout.

[Nic B]

If she was against abortion, she should never have agreed to be a surrogate. She is an idiot. Probably figured what are the odds, and wanted the money.

[Angiebla]

I think putting a baby through multiple surgeries, and if they make it through, have a severe health problems their whole life is much more devestating than if they werent born at all.

[of_corpse_not]

I think putting a baby through multiple surgeries, and if they make it through, have a severe health problems their whole life is much more devestating than if they werent born at all.

Agreed. She brought a baby into the world only for it to suffer. It’s disgusting she got to even name the baby. It’s not her kid at all.