Counselling Archives

Hi! I’m Sarah Jefford, an IVF Mum, egg donor, surrogate and family and surrogacy lawyer.

Welcome to the Surrogacy and Donor Conception Blog. The posts below are specifically about surrogacy counselling and the process and requirements to complete the necessary counselling for a surrogacy arrangement. You can find more posts on the main Blog page.

I have written a book, More Than Just a Baby: A Guide to Surrogacy for Intended Parents and Surrogates, which you can purchase in paperback or electronic versions.

You can also contact me and follow me on social media and make sure to listen to the Surrogacy Podcast, which shares stories from intended parents, surrogates and industry professionals.

Setting Expectations For Our Surrogacy Journeys
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Setting Expectations For Our Surrogacy Journeys

Altruistic surrogacy, Blog, Counselling, Sisterhood, Surrogacy, Surrogacy process

Setting Expectations For Our Surrogacy Journeys

Sarah Jefford2021-06-22T23:06:06+11:00

When entering a surrogacy arrangement, it is important that the parties spend some time setting expectations [...]

Setting Expectations For Our Surrogacy JourneysSarah Jefford2021-06-22T23:06:06+11:00

When Surrogacy Goes Wrong
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When Surrogacy Goes Wrong

Australia, Blog, Counselling, Relationships, Surrogacy

When Surrogacy Goes Wrong

Sarah Jefford2021-06-29T14:44:48+11:00

Surrogacy isn't always sunshine and roses. Sometimes, it can go wrong. Even when it is good, [...]

When Surrogacy Goes WrongSarah Jefford2021-06-29T14:44:48+11:00

Surrogacy Counselling
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Surrogacy Counselling

Birth and beyond, Blog, Counselling, Parentage Order, Surrogacy, Surrogacy process

Surrogacy Counselling

Sarah Jefford2021-06-11T17:31:24+11:00

Surrogacy Counselling - what should we expect? If you are new to surrogacy, you can read [...]

Surrogacy CounsellingSarah Jefford2021-06-11T17:31:24+11:00

Surrogacy Information Sharing and Privacy
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Surrogacy Information Sharing and Privacy

Birth and beyond, Blog, Counselling, Hospital, Pregnancy, Relationships, Surrogacy, Surrogacy process, Surrogate

Surrogacy Information Sharing and Privacy

Sarah Jefford2021-06-09T14:48:03+11:00

A surrogacy arrangement necessarily involves people sharing experiences with each other that would otherwise be reserved [...]

Surrogacy Information Sharing and PrivacySarah Jefford2021-06-09T14:48:03+11:00

Surrogate Bodily Autonomy
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Surrogate Bodily Autonomy

Australia, Birth and beyond, Blog, Counselling, Pregnancy, Surrogacy

Surrogate Bodily Autonomy

Sarah Jefford2021-06-06T20:17:49+11:00

Surrogate Bodily Autonomy. What exactly do we mean when we talk about the surrogate having bodily [...]

Surrogate Bodily AutonomySarah Jefford2021-06-06T20:17:49+11:00

Supporting Your Surrogate and Family
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Supporting Your Surrogate and Family

Altruistic surrogacy, Birth and beyond, Blog, Counselling, Kids and surrogacy, Pregnancy, Surrogacy, Surrogate partner

Supporting Your Surrogate and Family

Sarah Jefford2021-07-02T22:53:59+11:00

Supporting Your Surrogate and Family Intended parents carry the pressure of wanting to be appreciative, supportive [...]

Supporting Your Surrogate and FamilySarah Jefford2021-07-02T22:53:59+11:00

One Year On: My Surrogacy Story
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One Year On: My Surrogacy Story

Altruistic surrogacy, Birth and beyond, Blog, Counselling, Gay dads, Motherhood, Sisterhood, Surrogacy, Surrogate, Traditional surrogacy

One Year On: My Surrogacy Story

Sarah Jefford2021-06-11T18:48:34+11:00

My Surrogacy Story: One Year On - January 2019 I wrote this reflection about my own [...]

One Year On: My Surrogacy StorySarah Jefford2021-06-11T18:48:34+11:00

8 Tips to a Positive Surrogacy Journey
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8 Tips to a Positive Surrogacy Journey

Altruistic surrogacy, Australia, Blog, Counselling, Surrogacy

8 Tips to a Positive Surrogacy Journey

Sarah Jefford2021-07-25T23:07:03+11:00

Altruistic surrogacy is one of the most complex and amazing journeys you'll ever take, regardless of [...]

8 Tips to a Positive Surrogacy JourneySarah Jefford2021-07-25T23:07:03+11:00

Finding Happiness Beyond Surrogacy
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Finding Happiness Beyond Surrogacy

Altruistic surrogacy, Birth and beyond, Blog, Counselling, Preparing for a surrogacy birth, Sisterhood, Surrogacy, Surrogacy process, Surrogate

Finding Happiness Beyond Surrogacy

Sarah Jefford2021-06-11T18:52:21+11:00

Finding Happiness Beyond Surrogacy Surrogacy can be all-consuming - for the intended parents, and the surrogate [...]

Finding Happiness Beyond SurrogacySarah Jefford2021-06-11T18:52:21+11:00

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 32: Katrina Hale
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The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 32: Katrina Hale

Altruistic surrogacy, Counselling, Katrina Hale, Surrogacy Podcast, Surrogacy process

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 32: Katrina Hale

Sarah Jefford2021-06-06T18:22:11+11:00

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 32: Katrina Hale, surrogacy counsellor. Katrina Hale has been described as the [...]

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 32: Katrina HaleSarah Jefford2021-06-06T18:22:11+11:00

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 37: Kate from VARTA
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The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 37: Kate from VARTA

Australia, Counselling, Donor Agreement, Donor conception, Egg donation, Sperm donor, Surrogacy Podcast

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 37: Kate from VARTA

Sarah Jefford2021-06-06T18:23:47+11:00

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 37: Kate from VARTA, where we talk about donor conception and what [...]

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 37: Kate from VARTASarah Jefford2021-06-06T18:23:47+11:00

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 48: Managing Fears with Katrina Hale
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The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 48: Managing Fears with Katrina Hale

Altruistic surrogacy, Birth and beyond, Counselling, Katrina Hale, Surrogacy, Surrogacy Podcast

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 48: Managing Fears with Katrina Hale

Sarah Jefford2021-07-03T20:16:04+11:00

The Australian Surrogacy Podcast Episode 48: Katrina Hale and Managing our Fears in Surrogacy. This is [...]

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 48: Managing Fears with Katrina HaleSarah Jefford2021-07-03T20:16:04+11:00

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 49: Traditional Surrogacy with Katrina Hale
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The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 49: Traditional Surrogacy with Katrina Hale

Counselling, Katrina Hale, Surrogacy, Surrogacy Podcast, Traditional surrogacy

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 49: Traditional Surrogacy with Katrina Hale

Sarah Jefford2021-07-03T20:15:45+11:00

Traditional Surrogacy - Episode 49 of the Surrogacy Podcast, another Khale Series episode with Katrina Hale. [...]

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 49: Traditional Surrogacy with Katrina HaleSarah Jefford2021-07-03T20:15:45+11:00

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 50: Milestones & Rituals with Katrina Hale
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The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 50: Milestones & Rituals with Katrina Hale

Altruistic surrogacy, Birth and beyond, Counselling, Katrina Hale, Motherhood, Parentage Order, Parenthood, Preparing for a surrogacy birth, Surrogacy Podcast, Surrogate

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 50: Milestones & Rituals with Katrina Hale

Sarah Jefford2021-06-11T18:53:03+11:00

This is episode 50 of the Surrogacy Podcast, another Khale series episode with Katrina Hale, and [...]

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 50: Milestones & Rituals with Katrina HaleSarah Jefford2021-06-11T18:53:03+11:00

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 62: The Third Trimester with Katrina Hale
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The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 62: The Third Trimester with Katrina Hale

Birth and beyond, Counselling, Katrina Hale, Pregnancy, Relationships, Surrogacy, Surrogacy Podcast

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 62: The Third Trimester with Katrina Hale

Sarah Jefford2021-06-06T18:54:39+11:00

The Australian Surrogacy Podcast Episode 62: The Third Trimester with Katrina Hale. The third trimester, or [...]

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 62: The Third Trimester with Katrina HaleSarah Jefford2021-06-06T18:54:39+11:00

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 66: The Fourth Trimester with Katrina Hale
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The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 66: The Fourth Trimester with Katrina Hale

Altruistic surrogacy, Birth and beyond, Counselling, Katrina Hale, Preparing for a surrogacy birth, Surrogacy, Surrogacy Podcast

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 66: The Fourth Trimester with Katrina Hale

Sarah Jefford2021-07-03T19:58:13+11:00

The Australian Surrogacy Podcast Episode 66: The Fourth Trimester with Katrina Hale. You might like to [...]

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 66: The Fourth Trimester with Katrina HaleSarah Jefford2021-07-03T19:58:13+11:00

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 68: Jessica
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The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 68: Jessica

Birth and beyond, Counselling, Surrogacy Podcast, Surrogate, Surrogate episodes, Victoria

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 68: Jessica

Sarah Jefford2021-07-26T11:06:08+11:00

The Australian Surrogacy Podcast Episode 68: Jessica. Jessica was a gestational surrogate for friends living nearby [...]

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 68: JessicaSarah Jefford2021-07-26T11:06:08+11:00

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 69: Henry and Lisa
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The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 69: Henry and Lisa

Counselling, Intended parent, Intended Parent episodes, Surrogacy, Surrogacy Podcast

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 69: Henry and Lisa

Sarah Jefford2021-06-11T18:00:01+11:00

You may remember Henry and Lisa from episode 14, when they were patiently waiting on the [...]

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 69: Henry and LisaSarah Jefford2021-06-11T18:00:01+11:00

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 83: Sarah-Jayne
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The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 83: Sarah-Jayne

Altruistic surrogacy, Australia, Counselling, Intended parent, Parenthood, Relationships, Surrogacy Podcast

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 83: Sarah-Jayne

Sarah Jefford2021-07-26T11:05:55+11:00

The Australian Surrogacy Podcast Episode 83: Sarah-Jayne. Sarah-Jayne is a Perinatal and Family Psychologist, who provides [...]

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 83: Sarah-JayneSarah Jefford2021-07-26T11:05:55+11:00

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 97: Katie
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The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 97: Katie

Cancer survivor, Coronavirus, Counselling, Gestational surrogacy, International surrogacy, Sister, Surrogacy, Surrogacy laws, Surrogacy Podcast, Surrogate episodes

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 97: Katie

Sarah Jefford2021-07-03T19:59:05+11:00

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 97: Katie. Katie is a surrogate in New Zealand, who carried for [...]

The Surrogacy Podcast Episode 97: KatieSarah Jefford2021-07-03T19:59:05+11:00