I've been a surrogate twice, and helping someone else build their family gives me overwhelming joy. Here's what the process is like.

Katherine Reinhart has been pregnant twice with surrogate babies. Courtesy of Katherine Reinhart Katherine Reinhart has been a surrogate — also known as a gestational carrier — twice over. The mom of three said she was motivated by the desire to help would-be parents achieve their dream. She got a base compensation of $35K for the first pregnancy and $45K for the second, plus expenses. German politician Jens Spahn resigned after announcing he had a baby via a surrogate in the US. It's brought surrogacy back into the headlines as it's illegal in Germany, but legal in the US. This story is based on an interview with Katherine Reinhart, 31, a stay-at-home mom with three children from Midwest Ohio. It has been edited for length and clarity. Five years ago, a close friend confided in me that she was battling infertility . It was heartbreaking to hear her story.