Stop. Sit. Surrogate.

Kenedi & Ellen Smith
  • 4.9(13개의 평가)
  • 가족
  • 주 2회 업데이트

A mother and daughter podcast educating others on surrogacy from a surrogates point of view. And the point of view from the intended parents, children born from surrogacy, the agency, legal professionals and IVF doctors for the science behind it all. Together we have brought 8 beautiful children into this world and it’s been an insane rollercoaster ride! Good and bad, the sweet and the sour, all coming to light about the truths behind the best and worst surrogacy journeys. Stop. Sit. Surrogate. Is a podcast that is able to give well rounded information about surrogacy from every point of view. We hope to give as much education as we can provide, to those who want to learn and know more about surrogacy. 

  1. 23시간 전

    What Makes A Surrogacy Journey Feel Like Family

    #surrogacy #ivf #surrogate  Tayler’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taytate6?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== She was 17 when a doctor told her she might never carry a child and the fear followed her for years. Then Tayler finds herself on the other side of the table: a first-time gestational surrogate, one month postpartum, telling the kind of surrogacy story that feels almost scripted because everything lines up. We sit down with Tayler to trace the full surrogacy process from the beginning, starting with her endometriosis diagnosis, the second opinion that changed everything, and how two easy pregnancies still didn’t erase the anxiety. When she and her husband decide their family is complete, she admits a surprising truth: she doesn’t want another baby, but she wants pregnancy again and she needs closure. That honesty leads her into research, an advocacy community, and eventually choosing a surrogacy agency that supports her through matching, clinic travel, and the long list of IVF medications. Tayler also shares what made her match so special: two intended dads in Los Angeles who wanted a real relationship, not a transactional arrangement. We talk embryo timelines, ERA testing, progesterone in oil shots, and the reality of coordinating care across time zones, including a coworker helping with injections at school. From the 12-week ultrasound to the baby shower and a redo 3D scan after a disappointing OB visit, Tayler shows how trust and communication can carry a journey. Then comes an induced labor, a delivery room playlist with perfect timing, and a fast birth that ends with everyone getting exactly what they hoped for: a healthy baby girl and a bond that feels like family. If you’re a potential surrogate, intended parent, or just want a true surrogacy success story with real details, hit play, then subscribe, share, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. What question about surrogacy do you want us to tackle next? Send us Fan Mail https://stopsitsurrogate.com

    1시간

  2. 4월 19일

    Match Meeting Basics

    #surrogacy #ivf #surrogate  US Surrogacy LLC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/us_surrogacy/ Match calls can feel like a first date, a job interview, and a medical consult all rolled into one and that mix is exactly why people dread them. We wanted to take the mystery out of the surrogacy match meeting, so we brought on Kimberly Hennessy, program director at US Surrogacy LLC, to walk us through how thoughtful agencies actually build a match that can last from first call to delivery day.  We get specific about what’s inside a surrogate profile (pregnancy history, recovery, medications, prior complications) and what intended parents share on their side, including the letter to the surrogate, clinic details, embryo creation, genetic testing, and what kind of relationship they hope to have. Kimberly explains why some agencies match one surrogate at a time, how records review and psychology screening reduce surprises, and why state by state surrogacy laws can affect whether a match is truly safe and doable.  Then we break down the match call itself: the icebreakers that calm nerves, the questions that actually matter, and the topics people are often afraid to say out loud. We talk diet and lifestyle requests, how often updates should happen, when parents should travel for appointments like the anatomy scan, and how to discuss delivery room boundaries honestly without making promises you cannot guarantee. We also cover the big hard conversations, like embryo splitting risk, termination decision making, and what to do when a surprise request pops up mid call.  If you’re a surrogate, an intended parent, or just trying to understand the surrogacy matching process, this one is a practical roadmap with real world language. Subscribe, share this with someone preparing for a match meeting, and leave us a review with the one question you think every match call should include.  Website: https://us-surrogacy.com/become-a-surrogate-today/  Send us Fan Mail https://stopsitsurrogate.com

    56분

  3. 4월 12일

    How To Screen A Surrogate Without An Agency

    #surrogacy #ivf #surrogateSurrogate  Screening Solutions’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surrogate.screening.solutions?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==  Surrogacy can feel like an all-or-nothing choice: pay full agency fees or try an independent match and hope nothing goes wrong. We wanted to explore the missing middle and what it looks like when intended parents and surrogates get real professional support without the full-service price tag.  We’re joined by Molly, founder and executive director of Surrogate Screening Solutions, who’s spent a decade in the surrogacy space on both the clinic and agency sides and has completed four and a half surrogate journeys herself. She walks us through what “surrogate screening” really means in practice: HIPAA releases, medical record collection, clinic approval, psychological evaluations, background checks, and insurance review. We also talk about case management for independent surrogacy, including help with attorneys, escrow, and the many details that have to be right before transfer can even happen. If you’re searching for independent surrogacy guidance, affordable surrogacy support, or how to screen a surrogate you found through a friend or Facebook group, this conversation lays out the steps clearly.  A big thread running through our chat is mental health in surrogacy. Molly shares why social work check-ins and support groups can change the tone of a journey, especially when timelines run long, transfers fail, or emotions get sharp on both sides. We also tackle myths that still scare people off, including the fear that a surrogate will want to keep the baby, and we explain how screening and communication reduce that anxiety.  If this helped you, subscribe, share with someone considering surrogacy, and leave a review so more families and surrogates can find these conversations.  Website: https://surrogatescreeningsolutions.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092664109600&mibextid=wwXIfr  Send us Fan Mail https://stopsitsurrogate.com

    47분

  4. 4월 3일

    Pelvic Floor Power For Surrogates

    #surrogacy  #ivf  #surrogate Jessica’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vibrantcoastpt?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Surrogate Wellness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surrogatewellness?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Leaking when you laugh. Back pain you’re told to “accept.” A recovery window that feels like a mystery. We wanted better answers, so we brought on Jessica, a Doctor of Physical Therapy who specializes in pelvic floor health and works with surrogates across the US through virtual coaching. She breaks down what pelvic floor physical therapy really looks like today, how it connects to your core and glutes, and why “common” pregnancy symptoms are not automatically “normal.” We dig into the practical stuff surrogates and intended parents care about: when to start pelvic floor support during a surrogacy journey, how virtual assessment works, and what changes actually reduce prolapse risk. Jessica also shares how postpartum recovery can begin with breath work and gentle mobility well before the classic six-week clearance, plus what to consider after a vaginal birth versus a C-section, including scar support and abdominal rehab. Then we zoom out to the data behind prenatal exercise and pelvic health. We talk research-linked outcomes like lower risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, prenatal depression, and C-section, along with benefits that support baby outcomes and placental health. If you’re a surrogate building your support team, an agency updating benefits, or an intended parent who wants the healthiest possible journey, this conversation is full of actionable, evidence-based takeaways. Sponsored by U.S. Surrogacy LLC. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a surrogate or intended parent, and leave us a review so more families can find these resources. Links: The website: vibrantcoastpt.com The App: vibrantcoastpt.com/vibrantstrength The Surrogate Wellness Program: vibrantcoastpt.com/surrogate-wellness-program Surrogate Wellness: https://surrogatewellness.com/meet-jessica/ Send us Fan Mail https://stopsitsurrogate.com

    55분

  5. 3월 29일

    My Surrogacy Journey: A Safer, Smarter Path

    #surrogacy  #ivf  #surrogate  My Surrogacy Journey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialmysurrogacyjourney?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Mexico City surrogacy gets talked about like it’s a gamble, but the details tell a very different story. We sat down with Michael Johnson Ellis, a dad of three through surrogacy and the co-founder of My Surrogacy Journey, to unpack what’s actually happening on the ground and why so many intended parents are rethinking where and how they build their families. We walk through how My Surrogacy Journey was created after a bumpy early experience in the UK, and why their mission is to make the journey feel equal for everyone involved. Michael explains their “membership” approach and what full support looks like in practice: clinical coordination, legal guidance, counseling, and real continuity of care so you’re not bounced between clinics, lawyers, and third parties. We also get into the problem he calls financial infertility, where the cost of surrogacy forces people to delay parenthood or give up completely, and why accessibility matters just as much as ethics. Then we go deep on Mexico City. Michael breaks down the legal framework, including procreational will and a pre-birth order pathway, along with the safeguards they use to prevent exploitation. We also cover what strong surrogate screening looks like, how matching timelines can be shortened when clearance happens upfront, and why their milestone-based payment structure is designed to reduce risk and increase transparency. If you’re researching ethical surrogacy, the cost of surrogacy, LGBTQ family building, or international surrogacy options, this conversation gives you better questions to ask and clearer signals to look for. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share the episode with someone exploring surrogacy, and leave a review so more intended parents and surrogates can find these stories. What’s the biggest surrogacy myth you want us to tackle next? MSJ Website: https://us.mysurrogacyjourney.com LINKTREE: https://linktr.ee/MySurrogacyJourney?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZnRzaAQ2O7NleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAadzJCJgYWwb8mIXmIexfkeU6vh8QusssKYGF2T6-w5wFoSjlmXrZoWrqE5taA_aem_oSUVgoBOYDuZJLUI8zn_2g Send us Fan Mail https://stopsitsurrogate.com

    59분

  6. 3월 22일

    When An Embryo Transfer Turns Into A Medical Mystery

    #surrogacy #ivf #surrogate  Brittany’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pavinourway?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==  A surrogacy journey can look “simple” from the outside, right up until it doesn’t. Brittany joins us to share what it’s like to be a gestational carrier who knows the fertility world firsthand, from years of trying to conceive to building her own family and then stepping back in to help someone else grow theirs. Her story is honest, detailed, and packed with the kind of real-life context you wish you could get before starting the surrogacy process.  We talk through how she decided on surrogacy over egg donation, what mental health and family history can mean for eligibility, and how she weighed an agency path against an independent journey. Then things get wild: a literal website glitch leads her to the intended parents she ends up carrying for, and the match moves fast into medical clearance, psych screening, legal, and transfer prep. Brittany also explains transfer meds, travel logistics, working with a large IVF clinic, and why they were comfortable transferring untested embryos based on values and medical history.  The biggest curveball comes after the first transfer, when her betas rise but no pregnancy can be located, leading to a diagnosis of pregnancy of unknown origin and methotrexate treatment. After the required waiting period, a second transfer sticks and results in a healthy baby, but not without heightened monitoring shaped by the parents’ prior late-term losses. We also get into weekly BPPs, a breech baby who keeps flipping, and a planned induction that turns into a C-section where Brittany’s self-advocacy (and knowing who makes decisions in the OR) changes everything.  If you’re considering becoming a surrogate, navigating IVF and embryo transfer, or just want a true surrogacy podcast story that doesn’t skip the hard parts, this conversation will stay with you. Subscribe, share this with someone researching surrogacy, and leave a review so more families and surrogates can find these stories. Send us Fan Mail https://stopsitsurrogate.com

    1시간 8분

  7. 3월 15일

    From Transfer To Postpartum: A Dietitian’s Guide For Surrogates

    #surrogacy #ivf #surrogate  Ginger’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gestational.diabetes.diet?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==  What if one small change could tilt a surrogacy journey toward better energy, steadier blood sugar, and a smoother delivery? We sit down with Ginger Cochran—registered dietitian, board‑certified diabetes care and education specialist, and exercise physiologist—to unpack a realistic blueprint from pre‑transfer to postpartum. Ginger shares how targeted nutrition can reduce inflammation, support implantation, and shape fetal taste exposure after 14 weeks, while also boosting a surrogate’s confidence through evidence‑based, budget‑friendly choices. We get candid about gestational diabetes. Ginger explains why GD can affect anyone, how risk changes with age and prior pregnancies, and which strategies—like Mediterranean‑style eating, pairing carbs with protein, and short walks after meals—make the biggest difference. She tackles myths head‑on, including the belief that GD becomes lifelong diabetes, and breaks down newborn hypoglycemia risk without fear or jargon. Her approach is hands‑on: fast scheduling, weekly follow‑ups until numbers are controlled, and steady education that calms intended parents as much as it equips surrogates. Sleep and stress take center stage too. Less than seven hours of sleep can spike cravings and nudge blood sugar up, so Ginger offers simple sleep hygiene tactics that actually stick—dimming lights, keeping phones out of the bedroom, and using consistent routines to encourage melatonin. We round out the plan with sustainable movement, from prenatal‑aware yoga to ten‑minute post‑meal walks that open muscle cells to glucose and ease daily stress. You’ll walk away with practical swaps—frozen veggies that rival fresh, BPA‑free canned options, choline‑rich eggs for brain development, and high‑fiber grains that steady energy—plus a grounded mindset: start with one change, build to two, and lean on an 80–20 approach for real life. Ready to design a safer, saner surrogacy journey with tools that last well past delivery? Follow, share with a friend who needs this, and leave a review to help more families find evidence‑based support. Send us Fan Mail https://stopsitsurrogate.com

    59분

  8. 3월 13일

    Attachment In Surrogacy

    #surrogacy #ivf #surrogate  Amanda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandas.progression?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==  Amber’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambereshleman?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==  People love to ask surrogates one dramatic question: “How could you give up the baby?” We get why it sounds shocking from the outside, but it also skips the most important part of gestational surrogacy: we’re carrying a baby for the intended parents, with a clear purpose and a clear plan for birth, legal parentage, and what comes after. We sit down with Amber and Amanda to talk honestly about attachment in surrogacy, including the part nobody prepares you for. Amanda shares how pumping breast milk, bringing milk to the NICU, and even nannying the newborn for a full month changed the emotional texture of postpartum. Amber explains the mindset many gestational carriers hold from day one, plus what it’s like when closure doesn’t happen the way you expected and how support can show up later in surprising ways. We also dig into the real-world moments that shape a surrogacy journey: judgment from strangers, explaining the science and the “not biologically related to me” reality, and how kids process “mom has a baby in her belly, but it’s not ours.” We talk boundaries, too, including why being labeled “mom” can feel wrong even when it’s meant as praise, and how intended parents and surrogates can set expectations early to protect the relationship. If you care about surrogacy education, intended parent support, and the mental health side of the postpartum experience, this conversation will give you language you can actually use. Subscribe, share with someone who still thinks surrogacy means “giving up a baby,” and leave a review telling us what question you want answered next. Send us Fan Mail https://stopsitsurrogate.com

    1시간 1분
모두 보기(164개)

4.9
최고 5점
13개의 평가

소개

A mother and daughter podcast educating others on surrogacy from a surrogates point of view. And the point of view from the intended parents, children born from surrogacy, the agency, legal professionals and IVF doctors for the science behind it all. Together we have brought 8 beautiful children into this world and it’s been an insane rollercoaster ride! Good and bad, the sweet and the sour, all coming to light about the truths behind the best and worst surrogacy journeys. Stop. Sit. Surrogate. Is a podcast that is able to give well rounded information about surrogacy from every point of view. We hope to give as much education as we can provide, to those who want to learn and know more about surrogacy. 

정보

  • 제작진
    Kenedi & Ellen Smith
  • 방송 연도
    2021년 - 2026년
  • 에피소드
    164
  • 등급
    전체 연령 사용가
  • 저작권
    © 2026 Stop. Sit. Surrogate.
  • 웹사이트 보기
    Stop. Sit. Surrogate.

좋아할 만한 다른 항목