Hi! I’m Sarah Jefford, an IVF Mum, egg donor, surrogate and family and surrogacy lawyer.
Welcome to the Surrogacy and Donor Conception Blog, with posts about surrogacy, donor conception, laws, news items, and my personal experiences as a donor and surrogate. You can scroll through the posts, search by category or keyword below.
Surrogacy and Fertility Bulletin – January 2020
Looking for updates for all things surrogacy and fertility, in Australia and overseas? Consider this your one-stop-shop with all your news. In Victoria, new Assisted Reproductive Treatment Regulations came in effect on 13 December, allowing surrogate mothers to [...]
We Need A Surrogate: What’s Next?
We Need a Surrogate: What's Next? Now that you've decided to pursue surrogacy, you're probably wondering what to do next. Whether it's in Australia or overseas, with a donor or your own gametes, this interactive chart shows you [...]
Can I Be a Surrogate?
Can I be a surrogate? Many women who consider becoming a surrogate assume they will be eligible, often because they consider themselves fertile and have had smooth pregnancies and births of their own babies. But it's worth considering [...]
DIY Parentage Order: You Can Do It!
DIY Parentage Order - You Can Do It! Do you want to do your surrogacy Parentage Order yourself? By the time you have your baby in your arms, you’ve spent considerable money on IVF, legal expenses, counselling and [...]
Donor Agreements
Donor Agreements involve an agreement between a donor and recipient parent/s that clarifies the relationships and expectations between the parties. Donor Agreements are often used between sperm donors and their donor recipients, and not so often with egg [...]
International Surrogacy Options
International Surrogacy Options for Australians When you're considering surrogacy in Australia or overseas, you're likely to become overwhelmed with the options and processes and getting to grips with the laws surrounding international surrogacy. I cannot recommend a particular [...]
How Does It Feel, To Give Away a Baby?
How does it feel, to give away a baby? Good question, and probably the most common question I've received since I gave birth. And usually the follow up comment is "I could never give away a baby." Don't [...]
Registering the Birth
Registering the Birth of a Surrogacy Baby Congratulations! The baby has arrived! After the birth, registering the birth is the responsibility of the birth parents. As the birth parents, the surrogate and her partner must be listed as [...]
Surrogacy Counselling
Surrogacy Counselling - what should we expect? Intended parents and surrogates are always keen to know what they can expect from the surrogacy counselling. Perhaps you've never had counselling and are expecting to open Pandora's Box on all [...]
Surrogacy Information Sharing and Privacy
A surrogacy arrangement necessarily involves people sharing experiences with each other that would otherwise be reserved for the most intimate of relationships. Besides discussion about your views on pregnancy termination and whether the surrogate will drink alcohol during [...]
Uniform Surrogacy Laws? Yes please!
Uniform Surrogacy Laws? Yes please! The Council of Attorneys General met today in Adelaide for their regular bi-annual meeting. The Council is made up of the State Attorneys General and the Federal Attorney General, and they talk about [...]
Victorian Surrogacy Regulations Update
Victorian Surrogacy Regulations Update If you know me at all, you know how much I enjoy a bit of surrogacy law reform. And this one is particularly satisfying, because the previous provisions were so ridiculously unfair that it [...]
Surrogacy and Social Media
Surrogacy and Social Media You might be surprised to discover that something as simple as social media can cause a rift in surrogacy teams, particularly if the expectations and rules are not established early on. Many intended parents [...]
Surrogate Bodily Autonomy
Surrogate Bodily Autonomy. What exactly do we mean when we talk about the surrogate having bodily autonomy? A surrogate is just like any other person, and can make decisions about her body just as any other person can. [...]
Importing and Exporting Embryos
Importing and Exporting Embryos and Gametes If you are considering surrogacy and fertility treatment options in Australia and overseas, you need to consider where the embryo creation will take place and whether that will have an impact on [...]
International Surrogacy Arrangements
International Surrogacy Arrangements Are you considering surrogacy options overseas? You need to do your research and consider the laws, options and processes. Be prepared to take your time and research, research, research! What are the laws about surrogacy? [...]
Surrogacy Information for Healthcare Providers
Surrogacy Information for Healthcare Providers If you are an intended parent or future surrogate and need to visit your healthcare provider to talk about surrogacy, you may find that they have not dealt with many surrogacy cases in [...]
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Do I Qualify for Surrogacy in Australia? GalleryDo I Qualify for Surrogacy in Australia?
altruistic surrogacy, Australia, Australian Capital Territory, blog, infertility, Northern Territory, NSW, qualifying for surrogacy, Queensland, South Australia, surrogacy laws, surrogacy process, Tasmania, Victoria, WA
Do I Qualify for Surrogacy in Australia?
Do I qualify for surrogacy in Australia? This post is about qualifying for surrogacy as an intended parent. If you are a woman considering becoming a surrogate, you might be interested in this post. The first step when [...]
Supporting Your Surrogate and Family
Supporting Your Surrogate and Family Intended parents carry the pressure of wanting to be appreciative, supportive and caring for their surrogate and her family, and not wanting to be intrusive or overbearing. With that in mind, there are [...]
So You Want to Be a Surrogate?
So you want to be a surrogate? I remember when I first considered becoming a surrogate - searching everywhere for information and ending up down many an internet rabbit hole. I was excited and nervous; my husband was [...]
How Do I Find a Surrogate in Australia?
How do I find a surrogate in Australia? So you've decided to explore surrogacy as an option to grow your family. You've done some google searches and are finding the information-overload a bit overwhelming. Rest assured, you're not [...]