A calm first journey, a terrifying second, and a life-changing pivot into nursing—Lauren’s story reveals what surrogacy really asks of the body, the mind, and the heart. We welcome Lauren back to share how she chose agencies, navigated a Canada-to-U.S. match during COVID, and moved through a natural-cycle transfer that led to a smooth full-term birth. Then everything changed: a double embryo transfer, surging symptoms, a gut feeling something was wrong, and a hospital visit that exposed early dilation and bulging membranes. When monitors missed contractions, her voice did not. The emergency C-section that followed was chaotic and partially anesthetized, the twins headed straight to the NICU, and the aftermath raised hard questions about support, recognition, and care.

We talk candidly about the parts people don’t see: reduced compensation after a preterm birth, the emotional shock of limited updates from intended parents, and the mental health gap that too many contracts overlook. Lauren’s experience also spotlights bias in healthcare—how Black women are often dismissed, and why listening can be the difference between safety and harm. Out of that crucible, she found purpose. She’s starting nursing school with her eyes set on labor and delivery, determined to make sure no patient under her watch has to perform to be believed.

You’ll learn practical takeaways for surrogates and intended parents: how natural-cycle transfers work, what to include in contracts (postpartum therapy, communication expectations, emergency planning), and why clear, compassionate agency support matters long after delivery. It’s a story of grit, grace, and the power of advocacy—proof that intuition is data and that gratitude should never arrive late.

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