Surrogacy Australia Conversations

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...

Rachel, from Melbourne, birthed as a surrogate in Adelaide September 2022 for a couple who were strangers and now life long friends. Matt and Aldo are now dads to their son Ari and have embraced Rachel as part of their modern family. Rachel's story is also unique as she has not had children of her own before surrogacy. These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogac...

Sam and his husband Sam from Coffs Harbour became parents to their son Charlie in September 2023. Allison, who also lives locally, was their surrogate and they knew her socially before starting their journey. Their egg donor, Claire, was previously work colleague of the other Sam and has been a part of their second family for many years already. You can hear from his surrogate, Allison, in episode...

Angela birthed as a surrogate in Tamworth in December 2019 for a couple who were friends of a friend and they connected through a facebook post. The parents, Casey and Andrew, live nearby with their first son Nate and surro bub Darcy. She is a single mum to four children of her own. These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy Australia. If you would like to att...

A recap of our webinar titled 'Becoming an advocate for surrogacy in Australia'. If you’re keen to help us spread the word about surrogacy in Australia, regardless of what month/year you’re listening to this episode, please get in touch via email to volunteer your time.  anna@surrogacyaustralia.org Check out the full episode show notes: https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-45-help-us...

Hear from Dr Shadi Khashaba (IVF Specialist and dad himself through surrogacy) as he takes us through: ❤️ How are the eggs collected from a donor? 🧡 How are the embryos made and genetically tested? 💛 What tests will the surrogate need? 💚 How is a surrogate's menstrual cycle tracked prior to embryo transfer? 💙 Who is present at embryo transfer? 💜 Can a surrogate have a natural cycle instead of...

Mira and her husband Daniel are parents through surrogacy - twice! Their first son, Thomas, was born in July 2021 in Canada with surrogate Nadine. Their second son, Angus, was born in September in 2023 with their surrogate Lisa. Lisa is Daniel's sister and the two families live in Sydney.  You can hear from her sister-in-law, Lisa, in episode 42.  These podcasts were recorded as part of the free w...

Lisa birthed as a surrogate in Sydney in September 2023 for her brother Daniel and his wife Mira. They had a little boy, Angus, who made a big brother out of Thomas who was born through surrogacy in Canada. Lisa's husband Vincent and two young daughters went on this journey together and have helped to expand a family.  You can hear from her sister-in-law, Mira, in episode 43.  These podcasts were...

The fourth trimester refers to the first three months after birth. This episode salutes one phenomenal resource which surrogacy teams should ALL use as their road map “ Surrogate Post Birth Emotional Needs – A Guide for Intended Parents ” by Psychologist Katrina Hale.  Pair this episode with episode 37 - The Third Trimester . Katrina Hale’s podcast on the Fourth Trimester in the Resources section...

Meg and her partner, Matt, became parents to their daughter (Imogen) in September 2022. Imogen was carried by their surrogate who was a former work colleague of Meg's and they all live in Brisbane. Meg needed a surrogate after radiation therapy to her pelvis damaged her ovaries and uterus. These podcasts were recorded as part of the free webinar series run by Surrogacy Australia. If you would like...

Merindah birthed as a surrogate on the Central Coast in November 2020 for a couple who were previously friends through her wife’s work. They had a little girl, Josie, and the two dads live in Sydney.  Merindah's wife Kelly can be heard (with 2 others) on an episode about Partners of Surrogates. Watch it on youtube or listen to it on episode 36 . My own reflection piece about my postnatal depressio...

Andrew and Sam from Canberra became parents to their daughter Paige in December 2020 and son Cole in February 2023. Bonnie, who lives on the Sunshine Coast and knew Sam from high school, was their Traditional surrogate, meaning it was her egg. The births were total opposites with Paige needing to be in the NICU for 7 weeks but Cole was a homebirth. They have been advocates for legalising Tradition...

The Third Trimester refers to the last 13 weeks of a 40 week pregnancy. This episode shares contacts and resources, and unpacks the idea (by Psychologist Sarah-Jayne Duryea) that "Babies are gestated in the mind as well as the body " Psychologists mentioned in this episode: Queensland - Narelle Dickinson at Lotus Health and Psychology New South Wales - Katrina Hale Victoria - Sarah-Jayne Duryea at...

Guests: Jayden, Kelly and Troy Hear from 3 people who supported their partners through Australian surrogacy. What were your first thoughts when she brought up the idea of being a surrogate? How did you find IPs? How did your children feel about their mum being a surrogate? How did your extended family react? How was the pregnancy? How was the birth and those first few weeks/months after? Surrogate...