Did you know non-birthing parents can still have the opportunity to breastfeed their babies? Alyssa Schnell, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and proud breastfeeding mom of three (two by birth and one by adoption), has done it —and now helps other parents do it too with her practice focused on induced lactation. 

🗣️In this episode, Casey and Sunshine chat with Alyssa on how she helps intended parents, adoptive parents, and same-sex women who want to share in the feeding responsibilities by stimulating milk production for non-birthing parents. 

🎧What You’ll Hear:

✔️What it means to induce lactation 

✔️Why it’s so important to determine what success looks like for you

✔️The optimal time to start the process (hint: it might be sooner than you realize) 

✔️The medication that’s involved and how to set realistic pumping routines

✔️Ways to find emotional support on your induced lactation journey

✔️Baby-led bottle feeding methods that can support your breastfeeding/induced lactation goals

✔️Alternative ways to connect/bond with your baby through comfort or feeding 

And so much more!

If you’re a non-birthing parent interested in induced lactation, you don’t want to miss this incredible and informative time with Alyssa!

💛Follow @alyssa_schnell_ibclc on Instagram or find more information or book a free mini consultation with Alyssa on her website here: www.alyssaschnellibclc.com

📲And as always, please like, share, and subscribe to stay in the know for surrogacy journey resources. 

#SurrogacyIs #SurrogacyIsLove #SurrogacyIsAPodcast #SurrogacyPodcast #SurrogacyIsAgency #IPSupport #InducedLactation

How do you know what an appropriate range is for surrogacy compensation? What is too-low and what is too good to be true (because there are catches with it)? How does someone new on a surrogacy journey know how to research compensation? 🤔In this episode of Surrogacy Misconceptions with Surrogacy Is Founders, Casey and Sunshine break down all the need-to-know information that can help you feel informed and empowered when deciding what compensation range feels right for you on your journey. 🤗They’ll go over topics such as: ✨ What does base compensation mean and what does all-in compensation mean?✨ Should compensation be negotiable?✨ Why Southern California surrogates are in such high demand.✨ Should surrogates feel guilty about asking for a different compensation? ✨ Why looking at compensation + benefit packages together is so important.✨ How your “basket items” can influence your compensation range.✨ What red-flags to look for around compensation talks…… And so much more! If you’re a new surrogate, an experienced surrogate wanting to be more informed, or even an intended parent curious about surrogate compensation, this episode is for YOU! 💜💜💜

Krystal Williams from Blooming Love Postpartum Support knows how challenging the newborn stage can be—and she also recognizes the significant shift that occurs for intended parents when they finally bring their sweet baby home. 

In this episode, Krystal chats with us about the virtual newborn classes she offers, specifically designed for intended parents. In her classes, she skips all the unnecessary topics like healing postpartum and focuses her time on what intended parents really need: tips to boost their parenting confidence and the specifics to consider when using surrogacy to becoming new parents (ie: how to travel back home with baby, what feeding options to explore, ways to bond with baby—and more!) 🫶

🎧What You’ll Hear:

✔️ How Krystal focuses on painting a realistic picture of what life looks like with a newborn + all the care tips catered to IPs 

✔️ The importance of navigating new emotions with a baby, and why, if the connection isn’t instant, that’s okay!

✔️How to rely on your personal strengths to balance responsibilities with your partner (if you have one) 

✔️ Ways to distinguish the helpers & the guests in your inner circle 

✔️ Why it’s important to recognize when you’re reaching your tap-out zone

✔️ Reasons why you might want to consider hiring a postpartum doula 

Plus lots more. 🤗

If you’re an intended parent, looking for helpful resources, you want to give this episode a listen!

💛Follow @bloominglovepdx on Instagram for more insights and class information or visit: www.bloominglovepdx.com

#SurrogacyIs #SurrogacyIsLove #SurrogacyIsAgency #SurrogacyIsAPodcast #SurrogacyPodcast #IPSupport #IPNewbornClasses #IPClasses #IPPostpartumDoula

Jessie Jaklusky is the driving force behind Surrogacy Simplified, a consulting firm built from lived experience, deep empathy, and fierce advocacy. In this episode, Jessie shares the heartbreak that changed everything—the loss of her son, Luke, at 22 weeks—and the resilient path that led her to become a proud mother through surrogacy to daughters Lily and Luna.

With openness and heart, Jessie takes us through the real moments—grief, diagnosis, determination, and finally, the joy of holding her babies thanks to surrogacy. Today, she offers personalized, concierge-style guidance for Intended Parents, helping them navigate the complex, emotional road with clarity, support, and hope.

🎧 What You'll Hear:

• Jessie’s deeply personal journey through loss and surrogacy

• The inspiration behind Surrogacy Simplified

• Real talk about grief, resilience, and rebuilding

• What she wishes every Intended Parent knew

• Myths, mean tweets, and the powerful truths behind them

✨ Jessie has been through it all—and now she’s here to walk with others on their journey to parenthood.

📲 Learn more at linktr.ee/surrogacysimplified
💛 Follow @surrogacysimplified for real support, honest insight, and practical IP guidance.

#SurrogacyIsSupport #SurrogacyIsLove #SurrogacyJourney #SurrogacySimplified

Coming soon 🎧✨ Meet Jessie Jaklusky—Founder of Surrogacy Simplified, mother through surrogacy, and a woman who turned unimaginable heartbreak into an unstoppable mission.

After losing her son at 22 weeks and facing a diagnosis of Asherman’s Syndrome, Jessie didn’t just seek parenthood—she created a way to help others get there too. Now, through Surrogacy Simplified, she walks alongside Intended Parents offering personalized guidance, honest insight, and deep emotional support.

💛 Trailer Sneak Peek:

• From loss to Lily & Luna

• The emotional truth of Intended Parenthood

• Why simplifying surrogacy changes everything

🎧 Full episode drops next Tuesday!
📲 Learn more: linktr.ee/surrogacysimplified
Follow @surrogacysimplified for more Intended Parent support

#SurrogacySimplified #PodcastTrailer #SurrogacyIsHope #LossToLight

Agency vs. Independent Surrogacy Journeys: What’s Really the Difference? 🤔

It’s one of the most common questions in surrogacy: Should I go independent, or work with an agency? In this honest and eye-opening episode of our Misconceptions Series, Casey and Sunshine break it all down—no fluff, just real talk. 🎧

✨ What does an agency actually do?
✨ What do you need to handle a journey on your own?
✨ And most importantly… what’s the right fit for you?

⚠️Spoiler: Doing it solo takes a lot more than people think.

Whether you're a potential surrogate or an intended parent trying to figure out your next step, this convo is packed with insight, clarity, and a few laughs too.

In this deeply moving episode of Surrogacy Is a Podcast, we sit down with Dani Wade- writer, advocate, and IVF warrior for a conversation that brings light to the emotional layers of infertility.

Dani shares her raw and powerful story from countless retrievals and transfers to grief, loss, and the search for hope in the waiting. With honesty and grace, she opens up about how infertility has shaped her identity, tested her strength, and inspired her to create space for others walking the same path.

This is a special National Infertility Awareness Week episode, that honors the quiet strength of those trying to conceive and invites surrogates to better understand the emotional journeys of the intended mothers they walk alongside.

Whether you’ve experienced infertility yourself, supported a friend, or are stepping into the world of surrogacy—this conversation is a reminder that you are never alone. 💛

In this powerful and informative episode, we’re joined by Meryl Rosenberg—Founder and CEO of Art Parenting, and a longtime leader in reproductive law—to break down Michigan’s historic shift in surrogacy legislation.

With warmth and clarity, Meryl explains what the new law means for surrogates and intended parents, the protections it offers, and how it brings Michigan in line with a more compassionate, inclusive future for family building.

Whether you’re a surrogate, intended parent, or simply curious about surrogacy law, this conversation offers real insight, expert guidance, and plenty of heart. 💛

🎧 Tune in to learn:

• What Michigan’s new surrogacy law actually changes

• The legal & emotional support families need during the journey

• Tips for navigating surrogacy with confidence and care

The Truth About Fertility & Surrogacy with Dr. Aimee, The Egg Whisperer

In this episode of Surrogacy Is..., we’re joined by Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh, aka The Egg Whisperer—a leading fertility specialist, reproductive endocrinologist, and host of The Egg Whisperer Show! 🥚✨

Dr. Aimee breaks down everything you need to know about egg freezing, IVF success factors, common fertility myths, and the emotional journey of fertility treatments. Plus, she shares expert insights for intended parents considering surrogacy or egg donation.

💡 Whether you’re on your own fertility journey, supporting a loved one, or just curious about the science behind making babies, this episode is packed with hope, knowledge, and real talk.

🎧 Tune in now and get the expert advice you need! #SurrogacyIs #FertilityJourney #EggWhisperer

🚨 New Episode Coming Soon! 🚨 We’re sitting down with Dr. Aimee, The Egg Whisperer 🥚✨ to dive into the truth about fertility, egg freezing, IVF, and what intended parents really need to know. Whether you’re navigating your own fertility journey or considering surrogacy, this episode is packed with expert insights and real talk. 🎙️💖

🎧 Episode drops next week—who’s excited?!