Surrogacy Australia Conversations

Kim's journey started in March 2020 when she first joined SASS. After joining, Kim and her family were fortunate enough to meet two couples through the surrogacy community, however both IP (Intended Parents) couples decided to pursue other options to start a family, After taking some time out to regroup, in March 2022 Kim accessed the SASS database and asked to be introduced to Lindsay and Antony...

Three parents through surrogacy share their own thoughts on this question. If you’re looking to explore these ideas in more depth, in episode 15 I share thoughts from other surrogates on the question “Do you get to see the baby”, and episode 18 “what if the relationship dissolves post birth”.  If you’d prefer to see 3 surrogates talk about it in video format, google search for Interview with a sur...

Tim and Sasha joined SASS in January 2022 having attended the Rainbow Families Seminar and the Growing Families Conference in 2021. In May 2022, I introduced them to their surrogate Lizzy as part of SASS and began surro-dating as complete strangers. Tim and Sasha met their IVF doctor during the Growing Families Conference. They later created their embryos with their IVF clinic in Los Angeles with...

Guests: Clarity, Cooper and Eleanor Hear from 3 teenagers whose mums have been surrogates in Australia. * How did you get to know the IPs (Intended Parents)? * What were your first thoughts when she brought up the idea of being a surrogate? Were you worried, and why? * Did you siblings feel the same/different about surrogacy? * How did your extended family react? * How do you explain surrogacy to...

​Counselling for surrogacy happens at a variety of different times and for different reasons. All types of counselling are appropriate for surrogates and IPs (Intended Parents). The four main stages are 🌟pre-surrogacy 🌟mandatory 🌟ongoing (while pregnant) 🌟ongoing (after birth) Check out the full episode show notes: https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-69-surrogacy-counselling Wan...

Bonnie, who lives near Hervey Bay, was a traditional surrogate for Andrew and Sam who live in Canberra. She birthed their daughter Paige in December 2020 and son Cole in February 2023. The births were total opposites with Paige needing to be in the NICU for 7 weeks but Cole was a homebirth.  You can hear from one of the dads she carried for, Andrew, in previous episode 38 . These podcasts were rec...

Brendan and Matt, from Adelaide, became Dads to their son, Baker, in September 2020. Their son was carried by their surrogate (previously a stranger) Anna (me!) who lives in SA too. Brendan has been a mentor with SASS and has supported many new gay Intended Dads who are at the beginning of their journey. You can find them on instagram @the_real_dads_of_adelaide These podcasts were recorded as part...

Candice and her partner, Robert, from Adelaide became parents to their daughter (Abigail) in December 2023. Abby was carried by surrogate Laura who was previously a stranger. At 4 years old, Candice was diagnosed with cancer: non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Due to the radiation therapy and multiple cases of pneumonia she now has only 30% lung capacity and doctors advised her that she would need a surrogat...

Laura and husband, Justin, live in Adelaide with their 3 children and she birthed a little girl, Abigail, as a surrogate in December 2023. The parents, Candice and Robert, were previously strangers whom they met through the facebook communities. Laura expressed milk for 5.5 months and even continued to do some direct feeds until 4.5 months. Their team had roadblocks along the way so it took them a...

Three parents through surrogacy share their own thoughts on this question. Check out the full episode show notes: https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-65-how-do-you-repay-someone-for-the-gift-of-life Looking to find a surrogate in Australia? Consider joining SASS . Looking for an overview of surrogacy? Join us in a free, fortnightly Wednesday night webinar . Looking to chat with othe...

What do the dynamics of your surrogacy team look like and how can that be nurtured to ensure a healthy journey during and beyond birth. It is best to see this episode on our youtube channel to see the graph that Katrina has created to explain this concept. These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy Australia. If you would like to attend one, head to our websit...

Sam is a trail blazer as one of the first men to become a single dad through surrogacy in Melbourne. His daughter, Hazel, was born in January 2024. It was traditional surrogacy, meaning his surrogate was also the egg donor. They were previously strangers but met through friends of friends during the first lockdown break of 2020 - now friends for life! These podcasts were recorded as part of the fr...

In case you're wondering, it's never by having intercourse with the Intended Father 😉. Check out the full episode show notes: https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-61-how-do-you-get-pregnant-as-a-surrogate Looking to find a surrogate in Australia? Consider joining SASS . Looking for an overview of surrogacy? Join us in a free, fortnightly Wednesday night webinar . Looking to chat wit...

Zoe birthed a little boy as a surrogate in Wollongong in October 2018 for her sister and brother in law who live in New Zealand. Unfortunately the relationship dissolved during the pregnancy and post birth. Surrogacy has had a huge impact on her life, contributing to the strains in her now separated marriage, and she wants to share her story so future surrogates and Intended Parents can be aware o...

Intended Parents, Dan and Stu who live in Sydney but are originally from Yorkshire, did find a surrogate and began the journey with her and her family. Their surrogacy team went through the counselling and legal process, however due to a change in her family situation, the surrogate was no longer able to continue.  Although it took a lot to put themselves back out there to look for another surroga...

Menaka's SASS team is the first that we have supported from their introduction (or match) with their surrogate through to birth and now beyond for a year. Menaka and her husband, Simon, from the Gold Coast became parents to their daughter Isabelle in October 2023. Isabelle was carried by surrogate Nikita, who lives outside of Brisbane, who was previously a stranger and now a lifelong friend. It wa...

Yes, but it also depends who that question is directed to. The Intended Parents (IPs) will eventually be the legal parents of their child, however there is a process to follow in Australia to get to that point. Check out the full episode show notes: https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-57-is-the-child-legally-yours Looking to find a surrogate in Australia? Consider joining SASS . Loo...

Janna birthed a little boy as a surrogate in Adelaide in October 2023 for a couple who were previously strangers and are now life long friends. Janna and her team have not only created an extended modern family but have all supported many other IPs and surrogates in the SA and National community over the years.  These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy Austr...

This episode features Psychologist Narelle Dickinson. At her practice, Lotus Health and Psychology, Narelle leads a team of expertly trained perinatal specialists to support people through pre-conception, pregnancy and into parenthood.  If you’d like to arrange your own session with Narelle, you can find her at Lotus Health and Psychology These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar se...

Jay and his husband Mika from Melbourne became parents to their son Leonidas in August 2022. Their surrogate Kim, who lives in Adelaide, was previously a stranger and now a life long friend. Their egg donor, Sadie, is a family friend of both Jay and Mika.  These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy Australia. If you would like to attend one, head to our websit...

❗️ YES❗️ There is no law prohibiting direct breast feeding with a surrogate and her surrobub. How many surrogates do not produce any colostrum or milk? How many do some colostrum and milk in the first week? How many express milk for an extended amount of time? Check out the full episode show notes: https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-53-can-a-surrogate-breastfeed-surrobub Looking...

Nikita's SASS team are the first that we have supported from their introduction (January 2021) through to birth and now beyond for a year. Nikita birthed as a surrogate in Brisbane, QLD in October 2023 for a couple who were initially strangers and are now life long friends. They had a little girl, Isabelle, and her parents are Menaka and Simon who live on the Gold Coast. These podcasts were record...

Bell and her husband Keiron from regional South Australia became parents to their son Emmett in November 2023. Emmett was carried by surrogate Halina, who was previously a stranger, and was also created using donor eggs from one of Bell’s friends. It was a very long journey to parenthood with 2 stillbirths and 13 miscarriages as a result of Antiphospholipid Syndrome which is an immune condition wh...

Guests: Kelli, Trudy and Hannah Hear from 3 mothers through Australian surrogacy who induced lactation and were able to directly breastfeed their babies. We discussed: ❤️ What’s the name of the protocol / process you follow? 🧡 When do you need to start taking meds/tablets? 💛 What pump did you use? 💚 How much should I expect to get each pump? 💙 How often to pump? 💜 Did you see a lactation cons...

❗️ NO ❗️ Surrogates are not paid / compensated in Australia. We have our surrogacy and pregnancy related costs covered for by the Intended Parents (IPs). ❤️ Surrogacy in Australia is altruistic and is legal   🧡 Commercial surrogacy is illegal in Australia Check out the full episode show notes: https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-49-do-surrogates-get-paid Looking to find a surroga...