This week’s episode features Laura, a two-time gestational surrogate with a powerful story and a big heart. Laura has carried a pregnancy before for two gay dads and is now five weeks pregnant again with surrogate pēpi number two for a different set of dads, former MP and broadcaster Tamati Coffey and his partner Tim.

Many folks in the LGBTQ+ community are just missing one vital piece of the biological puzzle for reproducing — a uterus! So gestational surrogates like Laura play an incredibly important role in helping others grow their whānau.

In this kōrero, Laura shares openly about her two surrogacy journeys and what inspired her to carry for others, the difference between gestational and traditional surrogacy, how surrogacy works legally in Aotearoa, including the ECART process and the involvement of Oranga Tamariki, the financial realities of surrogacy, her relationships with the intended parents and the importance of ongoing connection, and her advice for anyone looking for a surrogate to help grow their whānau.

Resources:

• You can follow Laura’s journey on Instagram @theirbabymybody and Tamati Coffey (who Laura is carrying this pēpi for) is also sharing some updates on his Instagram @tamaticoffey.

• Laura also mentions some Facebook groups she facilitates for surrogates and intended parents in NZ. You can join them by searching for “New Zealand Surrogate Support” and “New Zealand Intended Parents (via surrogacy) Support” on Facebook. 

• Love Makes a Family is a website where surrogates, gamete donors and intended parents can match up and support one another. You can find out more at https://lovemakes.family/

Thanks for listening to Proud Conception. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, follow the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and join the conversation with us on Instagram @ProudConceptionPod.

If you have a family building story that you’d like to share, please get in touch! You can reach Rachael via Instagram or by emailing proudconception@gmail.com