Last updated on November 6, 2020
What is this exactly? I heard it was illegal? Isn’t it difficult to give your baby away to another couple? I thought only celebrities used these services?
Well think again because this conversation will explain it all, the main misconceptions that most people have about surrogacy as well as hearing it from both a surrogate’s mother’s perspective and Surrogacy Agency’s perspective all rolled into one amazing mama.
Meet Michelle Avery, a Canadian mother from a blended family of 6 (which she’s given birth to 4 naturally) and if you think this isn’t enough for her, she simply loved being pregnant and wanted to give the ultimate gift of life to 5 other couples that were waiting, praying, hoping and dreaming of having a baby and starting their own little family one day. But since many couples either have fertility issues or are same-sex couples among which are the most common reasons that one would seek a surrogacy service to create their families.
She is also Director Of Operations at JA Consulting, a surrogacy service agency in Canada which literally help and supports and guides intended parents as well as matches them to a surrogate mother on this journey. They say it takes a village to raise a child but in this case, it literally takes a village to conceive a baby!
At 35, I was already too old to be an egg donor but I could be a surrogate.
Michelle Avery
Listen To This Episode!
Apple Podcast (Leave A Review HERE) / Spotify / Soundcloud / Stitcher
What You’ll Hear In This Episode:
0-6:50 Intro
7:35- Michelle shares her experience as a 5 times surrogate mother
10:45 Meeting her first couple as a potential surrogate mother & the process
14:15 How she got matched as a surrogate to her first couple (aka intended parents)
15:00 Surrogacy doesn’t work everytime. Truth about fertility & embryos.
16:15 Her second couple & pregnant with triplets
18:00 Termination & selective reduction during pregnancy
20:25 Michelle’s message of hope to women during your fertility journey
20:50 Common misconceptions about surrogate mothers & how they become pregnant & egg donors
25:25 About your fertility health & the clock is ticking on fertility issues
29:10 The reality of giving birth as a surrogate and giving the baby to another couple … the intended parents.
35:15 Breastfeeding as a surrogate
37:00 Legal Contracts between the surrogate & intended parents
38:35 Who decides food & lifestyle choices during the surrogate’s pregnancy
42:15 Who can be a surrogate mother & specific requirements
45:00 Parentage and how intended parents get legal rights to the surrogate’s baby
46:40 Financial misconceptions about being a surrogate and international parents.
50:10 Financial benefits of surrogacy
53:50 Examples of budgets for surrogates
55:50 Maternity Leave for Surrogates in Canada
57:00 The cost for couples interested in having a surrogate.
1:00:15 Intended Parents from the United States
1:00:50 Surrogacy Tourism – International Intended Parents
1:02:50 Intended Parents In Canada & Costs of the Newborn
1:04:30 The demand of intended parents & waitlist & the demand for surrogates
1:06:20 The challenge of finding surrogates & the need for more education
1:08:10 JAConsulting Surrogacy Agency
1:09:25 The beautiful journey of surrogacy – Michelle’s final message
1:10:00 How her children experienced surrogacy with a surrogate mom
1:11:00 Being honest to your kids about surrogacy
1:14:00 Offering support to explain to your family, friends & spouses about surrogacy
1:17:35 Independent Surrogates
1:18:40 Lobbying to the government for changes in laws related to surrogacy
1:21:00 Fighting for the rights for people to have families
1:24:00 Why now is a great time to become a surrogate mother!
1:25:00 Connect with Michelle & find more information
1:25:45 The last question : keeping motherhood inspired, what keeps her energized throughout her mom journey?
Connect With Our Guest:
Ressources Mentioned In This Episode:
- Sara Cohen – Fertility Law Canada
- Fertility Matters – Fertility Resource
- Fertility Match (egg bank)
- Little Miracles (egg bank)
- Egg Helpers (egg bank)
- Globe & Mail Article on Surrogacy Tourism In Canada
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