Surrogacy Australia Conversations

Jessie and Andrew became parents through surrogacy in March 2020. Their son, Arlo, was carried and birthed by Susan, who was previously a stranger and is now a lifelong friend. Jessie is a SASS Parent Mentor and has helped many IPs at the beginning of their journey.

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 website for dates and registration links. They can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.

Follow Surrogacy Australia on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

Check out the full episode show notes:

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-104-jessie-straight-mum/

Watch this episode on youtube

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 other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

Billie and husband Rob, from Western Sydney, became parents to their daughter Westyn in December 2023. Westyn was carried by her sister, Shannen, as Billie has MRKH - meaning she was born without a uterus. You may have seen their team featured on channel 9's show Big Miracles. 

If you’d like to watch their story, be sure to check it out on 9Now, Big Miracles, Season 3, episodes 4 and 5.  

You can hear from her surrogate, her sister Shannen, in the previous episode 102.

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 website for dates and registration links. They can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.

Follow Surrogacy Australia on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

Check out the full episode show notes:

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-103-billie-straight-mum

Watch this episode on youtube

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 other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

Shannen, from the Central Coast, birthed as a surrogate in Sydney in December 2023 for her sister and brother-in-law, Billie and Rob. They had a little girl, Westyn, and she also has four children of her own. You may have seen their team featured on channel 9's show Big Miracles. 

If you’d like to watch their story, be sure to check it out on 9Now, Big Miracles, Season 3, episodes 4 and 5.  

You can hear from her Intended Mother, her sister, Billie, in the next episode 103.

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 website for dates and registration links. They can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.

Follow Surrogacy Australia on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

Check out the full episode show notes:

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-101-shannen-surrogate

Watch this episode on youtube

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 other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

Hear from 3 mothers whose daughters have been surrogates in Australia. Guests: Tammy, Karina and Patti

* What were your first thoughts when she brought up the idea of being a surrogate? Were you worried, and why?

* How did you explain this to your extended family and how did they react?

* Did you meet the IPs?

* What was your involvement in the journey/pregnancy?

* What were some of the challenging times?* How was the birth and those first few weeks/months after?

* Surrogates usually feel a high after surrogacy by birthing a child for their friends - how did you feel?

* How did you feel about the genetic factor in regard to traditional surrogacy?

* Do you still see the parents and the child? And do you feel a connection to surrobub?

* What have you learnt about your daughter and yourself?

* Is there anything you would do differently?

* What changes would you like to see for surrogacy in Australia?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 website for dates and registration links. They can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.

Follow Surrogacy Australia on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

Check out the full episode show notes:

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-101-mothers-of-surrogates

Watch this episode on youtube

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 other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

This episode was recorded in May 2024 to celebrate me (Anna) having hosted 100 free webinars since April 2021. My friend and fellow surrogate, Danni, took the reins and interviewed me about my own journey. 

I've been in the surrogacy community since August 2016, have been an egg donor 3 times, and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two dads (Brendan and Matt) who were previously strangers. My own surrogacy journey took 2.5 years until birth and had challenges such as post natal depression.
You can hear from one of my Intended Fathers, Brendan, in episode 71.

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 website for dates and registration links. They can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.

Follow Surrogacy Australia on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

Check out the full episode show notes:

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-100-anna-mckie-surrogate

Watch this episode on youtube

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 other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

This series of episodes springs from my work with SASS (Surrogacy Australia’s Support Service). When Intended Parents (IPs) have completed their profile and are in the pool of IPs waiting to connect with a surrogate, I do monthly check-ins to make sure they’re still active and waiting. I like to give some guidance and support along the way because the waiting game can be hard.

This series of episodes is designed as though they are a letter to the waiting IPs.

Check out the full episode show notes:

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-99-ideas-for-ips-in-waiting

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 other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

Leah and James are parents through surrogacy - TWICE! Their first daughter, Alyza, was carried and birthed by Leah's cousin, Belinda. Their second daughter, Ottilie (Lottie), was carried and birthed by Julie, who was previously a stranger. They met through the online communities and are now life long friends. 

You can hear from her surrogate, Julie, in episode 92.

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 website for dates and registration links. They can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.

Follow Surrogacy Australia on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

Check out the full episode show notes:

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-98-leah-straight-mum

Watch this episode on youtube

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 other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

Rachel birthed as a surrogate in Brisbane in November 2024. They had a little girl, Lenny, for dads Caleb and James and she knew Caleb's brother in law from school. Their first pregnancy was ectopic and needed a fallopian tube removal and the second was a miscarriage just before 8 weeks, requiring medication and two D&Cs. Rachel expressed milk for 7 weeks before going back to work and Uni 2 months post birth. Rachel's story is also unique as she has not had children of her own before surrogacy and is also single.

You can hear from one of the dads she carried for, James, in the previous episode 96. 

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 website for dates and registration links. They can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.

Follow Surrogacy Australia on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

Check out the full episode show notes:

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-97-rachel-surrogate/

Watch this episode on youtube

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 other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

James and his partner Caleb from Brisbane, became dads to their daughter, Lenny, in November 2024. Their surrogate, Rachel, who lives locally, was known to them as a school friend of Caleb's sister's partner. Their egg donor is James' sister, so the whole family was involved in this journey. Their first pregnancy was ectopic and needed a fallopian tube removal and the second was a miscarriage just before 8 weeks, requiring medication and two D&Cs.

You can hear from his surrogate, Rachel, in the next episode 97. 

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 website for dates and registration links. They can also be found on our YouTube channel so you can see the photos that are described in the recordings.

Follow Surrogacy Australia on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

Check out the full episode show notes:

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-96-james-gay-dad

Watch this episode on youtube

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 other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]

About me:

My name is Anna McKie and I’m a part time high school senior Math teacher, single mum with two children in Adelaide, South Australia and birthed as a surrogate in September 2020 for two Dads. I’ve also been an egg donor for 3 families, and 2 of those were for surrogacy teams. I have been closely involved in the Australian surrogacy community since 2016 and am responsible for the day-to-day administration of Surrogacy Australia's Support Service (SASS).

I’m passionate about the surrogacy community (the village) and that people should be able to navigate surrogacy in Australia without being on Facebook. That was part of our motivation for creating SASS, the monthly zoom catch ups and the free webinars. Within SASS we have a Mentor program, so you can be connected with a peer to meet in person and to ask questions without fear of online judgement. 

Contact…

Facebook: @surrogacyforaustralians

Instagram: @surrogacyaustralia

YouTube: @surrogacy.australia

Website: www.surrogacyaustralia.org

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the Village 🥰

Surrogacy in Australia is Altruistic (as opposed to Commercial), which means surrogates have their surrogacy and pregnancy related costs covered by the IPs (Intended Parents) but they do not receive any payment to be a surrogate. Surrogates are ultimately doing it to see their friends/family become parents, and that in itself is very rewarding. 

You can find a List of Expenses on our website.

Check out the full episode show notes:

https://www.surrogacyaustralia.org/podcast/episode-95-what-expenses-are-covered-for-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 with other IPs and surrogates in a casual setting? Join us for a monthly Zoom catch up, one Friday of each month. 

Looking to hear stories from parents through surrogacy and surrogates? Listen to our podcast series or watch episodes on our YouTube channel. 

Looking for support one-on-one? Register for SASS to connect with me - your Siri for Surrogacy, or book in for a private consultation [email protected]