My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast

Welcome to My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.

Trigger Warning; Pregnancy, Baby Loss and Infertility

Just in time for St Patricks Day! Today's episode is more than a treat for your ears, this episode gave us all the feels and more. We're honoured to also have Senator Mary Seery Kearney join us live in the studio. Yes, and she’s also the mother of a child born through surrogacy and has an intimate knowledge of this form of assisted human reproduction as a means to build your family. The episode also features three other amazing women, Sinead Gallagher, Ciara Merrigan and Cathy Wheatley.

Michael and Wes are parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy.

Our season 3 sponsor

We have a fabulous sponsor for our Season 3 podcast. Manchester Fertility were founded in 1985 and has an exceptional team of fertility doctors, nurses, embryologists and patient support staff. Manchester Fertility remains one of the leading fertility clinics in the country to this day, delivering more than 8,000 babies.

Thanks for listening! Have you subscribed yet?

Guest Bios;

Senator Mary Seery Kearney who is not only the Fine Gael Senator and party spokesperson on Children Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth, but also a leading advocate for the provision of a legal framework to ensure that both intended parents have full, life long, legal relationships with their children.

Cathy Wheatley

Spokesperson for Irish Families Through Surrogacy

IFTS are an advocacy group campaigning for legislation which will give full recognition to our children and those born in the future. Their hope would be that by the end of the year (their) children and future children would have the regulation, protections and ethical safeguards in place

Ciara Merrigan

Ciara had a hysterectomy in 2014 as a result of a cancer diagnosis. This led Ciara and her husband Michael down the surrogacy pathway to create their family . They started this journey In 2015. After a few bumps in the road in August 2018 Clara and Matthew were born in the Ukraine. Finally our dream of having a family were fulfilled thanks to the most wonderful lady who carried them. In October 2020 Ciara cofounded and chairs Irish Families Through Surrogacy to campaign for surrogacy legislation

Sinead Gallagher

Sinead and Mark went through 14 IVF cycles with a number of early miscarriages. They reached a point were they had no other viable option to have a family. Snead had suffered with grade 2/3 endometriosis for years, and had elements of polycystic syndrome as well as issue with her immune system. Sinead became a committee member of Irish Families Through surrogacy when she returned from Kyiv with Theo.

Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in Dublin.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.

Thanks for downloading us again, next week Wes is talking to Leanne and Debbie from MSJ and we're talking about the wonder that is Known Egg Donation. Another fascinating and insightful episode exploring the reasons behind egg donation and the treatment protocols. A wonderful episode if you are considering fertility treatment with egg donation, or perhaps you're wanting to become a known egg donor yourself - this episode is for you. Listen to this brief episode with the full version available next week.

Michael and Wes are parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy.

Our season 3 sponsor

We have a fabulous sponsor for our Season 3 podcast. Manchester Fertility were founded in 1985 and has an exceptional team of fertility doctors, nurses, embryologists and patient support staff. Manchester Fertility remains one of the leading fertility clinics in the country to this day, delivering more than 8,000 babies.

For intended parents seeking surrogacy support, Manchester Fertility is My Surrogacy Journey’s Northern & Midlands Centre for Excellence, offering surrogacy advice and fertility treatment options for gay, bi, queer and trans men and heterosexual singles and couples, helping them to navigate their way through their surrogacy journey. Make sure you check them out.

Don't forget to listen to the full episode next week!

Guest Bios;

Debbie Evans qualified as an Registered General Nurse in 1985. She specialised for 25+ years on fertility management and previously worked with Herts & Essex Fertility Centre as Director of Nursing & Clinical Services, where she took ownership of the day to day clinical management of the Centre with direct responsibility for 40+ members of staff.

Her senior role did not change her approach or work ethos; she is as passionate about patient care as when she first joined the nursing profession. Debbie was a founding member of SING (Senior Infertility Nurse Group) and held the positions of both secretary and Chair. SING was set up to support nurses in the fertility industry by providing peer support, guidance, and encouragement to its members, but it quickly became recognised as a major stakeholder within the industry, providing guidance on policy and practice. Debbie has been working with MSJ since January 2023 joined us as Clinical & Compliance Director.

Leanne Drewell

Leanne is MSJ's Surrogate and Know Egg Donor Lead and has been employed since 2021. Leanne has also been an egg donor herself multiple times resulting in children being born from her donation. Her invaluable experience means our known egg donors are guided throughout their journey, knowing we have experience of the full process

Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.

Part two is coming up next!

Surrogacy in the USA Part 2; ft. Brian Klein from Klein Fertility Law, Shelly Marsh (ex Spring Fertility) and Jessica Williams from Family Source Consultants.

What do we ask our guests in part two?

How do you choose your lawyer?

Typical costs, which surrogacy agency can you work with?

Managing your relationship with your surrogate when they are overseas - how do you do this?

How does a US surrogate compare to a altruistic surrogate?

How do you choose a US surrogacy agency?

Where do you begin with surrogacy insurance, what if you have having multiples?

What does the return process to the UK look like?

Well, we're going to tell you!

Michael and Wes are parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy.

Our season 3 sponsor

We have a fabulous sponsor for our Season 3 podcast. Manchester Fertility were founded in 1985 and has an exceptional team of fertility doctors, nurses, embryologists and patient support staff. Manchester Fertility remains one of the leading fertility clinics in the country to this day, delivering more than 8,000 babies.

For intended parents seeking surrogacy support, Manchester Fertility is My Surrogacy Journey’s Northern & Midlands Centre for Excellence, offering surrogacy advice and fertility treatment options for gay, bi, queer and trans men and heterosexual singles and couples, helping them to navigate their way through their surrogacy journey. Make sure you check them out.

Thanks for listening! Have you subscribed yet?

Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back and Welcome to My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.

It's time to get back to where we left off! How wonderful was last weeks episode?

Michael and Wes are parents themselves through surrogacy to two children (Talulah is 7 and Duke is 4) they continue to advocate, campaign and strive to improve the landscape of surrogacy in the UK and globally. Addressing safety, exploitation and educating those about the real truths about safer surrogacy.

Wes and Michael are back talking again talking to two surrogates (Gina and Megan) and their husbands (Ed and Ian) , asking them about their journey, why they carried a baby for other people and what was the impact on their own relationship.

Our season 3 sponsor

We have a fabulous sponsor for our Season 3 podcast. Manchester Fertility were founded in 1985 and has an exceptional team of fertility doctors, nurses, embryologists and patient support staff. Manchester Fertility remains one of the leading fertility clinics in the country to this day, delivering more than 8,000 babies.

For intended parents seeking surrogacy support, Manchester Fertility is My Surrogacy Journey’s Northern & Midlands Centre for Excellence, offering surrogacy advice and fertility treatment options for gay, bi, queer and trans men and heterosexual singles and couples, helping them to navigate their way through their surrogacy journey. Make sure you check them out.

Thanks for listening! Have you subscribed yet?

Bios;

Gina

Gina is the MSJ Surrogate Member Coordinator who will focus on making sure our Surrogate Members are fully supported and take full advantage of all the member benefits.

At the age of 38 and after having three children of her own with husband Ian, Gina very much yearned for something more. She never imagined she would step onto the pregnancy rollercoaster again let alone for someone else. Gina met a wonderful lady who would become the intended mother of this journey. She instantly warmed to her. Gina fondly refers to the intended mother and her partner as ‘F&M’ as they became not only her friends but part of their extended family and together they were able to welcome two beautiful little girls into the world, ‘E’ in 2016 and ‘G’ in 2019. Gina then explored surrogacy again in 2022/23 and carried for a heterosexual couple that were MSJ members, wanting to complete their family. Gina gave birth to a baby girl late in 2023 and completed this gorgeous family.

Megan

Megan is childless by choice, but has an egg donor and gave birth to a baby boy late in spring 2023. Megan thinks perhaps subconsciously her desire to help may have been triggered by learning about her parents and their own struggles with fertility. Her admirable altruism and desire to help those who cannot conceive naturally or who cannot carry a pregnancy themselves, she has decided to dedicate her childbearing years to helping others fulfil their dream of becoming parents.

Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back and Welcome to My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is the UK's leading multi award winning podcast from a non profit UK surrogacy organisation.

What's coming up? It's a two parter!

Wes and Michael are talking to two surrogates and their husbands, asking them about their journey, why they carried a baby for other people and what was the impact on their own relationship. Megan was even 8 months pregnant on her own wedding day to husband Ed! Check this out!

Our season 3 sponsor

We have a fabulous sponsor for our Season 3 podcast. Manchester Fertility were founded in 1985 and has an exceptional team of fertility doctors, nurses, embryologists and patient support staff. Manchester Fertility remains one of the leading fertility clinics in the country to this day, delivering more than 8,000 babies.

For intended parents seeking surrogacy support, Manchester Fertility is My Surrogacy Journey’s Northern & Midlands Centre for Excellence, offering surrogacy advice and fertility treatment options for gay, bi, queer and trans men and heterosexual singles and couples, helping them to navigate their way through their surrogacy journey. Make sure you check them out.

Thanks for listening! Have you subscribed yet?

Bios;

Gina

Gina is the MSJ Surrogate Member Coordinator who will focus on making sure our Surrogate Members are fully supported and take full advantage of all the member benefits.

At the age of 38 and after having three children of her own with husband Ian, Gina very much yearned for something more. She never imagined she would step onto the pregnancy rollercoaster again let alone for someone else. Gina met a wonderful lady who would become the intended mother of this journey. She instantly warmed to her. Gina fondly refers to the intended mother and her partner as ‘F&M’ as they became not only her friends but part of their extended family and together they were able to welcome two beautiful little girls into the world, ‘E’ in 2016 and ‘G’ in 2019. Gina then explored surrogacy again in 2022/23 and carried for a heterosexual couple that were MSJ members, wanting to complete their family. Gina gave birth to a baby girl late in 2023 and completed this gorgeous family.

Megan

Megan is childless by choice, but has an egg donor and gave birth to a baby boy late in spring 2023. Megan thinks perhaps subconsciously her desire to help may have been triggered by learning about her parents and their own struggles with fertility. Her admirable altruism and desire to help those who cannot conceive naturally or who cannot carry a pregnancy themselves, she has decided to dedicate her childbearing years to helping others fulfil their dream of becoming parents.

Available wherever you get your podcasts. My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast is a Talulah and The Duke Production and is recorded in London at Outset Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.