Surrogate Stories: Two Journeys, One Family

What does a surrogacy journey actually look like from the surrogate’s side, including the parts nobody warns you about? This episode is part of the Surrogate Stories, where we hand the mic to the women who make this whole thing possible. These are their journeys, their stories, in their own voices. Eloise Drane sits down with surrogates and lets them tell it start to finish: why they said yes, what carrying for another family really asked of them, and what they carried home afterward. This week, our surrogate is Ashley, a two-time gestational surrogate who carried both babies for the same family through Family Inceptions. Ashley walks through all of it: why she chose surrogacy, the agency that made her feel like a number, the couple who flew to Charleston just to have lunch with her, and the pregnancies that made her sicker than she has ever been in her life. This conversation covers what drew Ashley to surrogacy after her own family was complete, why she left one agency before finding the right one, what matching and screening actually involved, and how she got through hyperemesis in both pregnancies. She also talks about the things surrogates rarely say out loud: a panic attack on the operating table, postpartum depression that did not hit until six weeks out, and what going home to an empty house felt like when the family flew back to London. If you are considering becoming a surrogate and want an honest account from someone who has done it twice, this is the episode to listen to before you take the next step. "Surrogacy is not scary. Surrogacy is amazing." -- Ashley What You’ll Learn ● Why Ashley chose surrogacy after deciding she was done growing her own family ● What made her walk away from a large agency before her journey ever started ● What matching actually involved, from the intro video to the first video call ● What the screening process looked like and how much an advocate handles for you ● What hyperemesis was like in both pregnancies and what did not work to treat it ● Why she decided mid-C-section that she would do it all over again Guest Bio Ashley is a two-time gestational surrogate who carried both of her surrogate babies for the same intended parents through Family Inceptions. She lives in the Charleston area with her husband and their three children, works remotely full time, and remains close with the family she carried for. She speaks openly about the physical and emotional realities of surrogacy so that other women can make informed decisions before they begin. This episode is for women who are considering becoming a surrogate and want a full, first-hand account from someone who has been through two journeys and stayed close with the family she helped build. Episode Resources Family Inceptions: familyinceptions.com (https://familyinceptions.com/) Fertility Café: thefertilitycafe.com (https://thefertilitycafe.com/) Related Episodes What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Surrogate https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/... How To Talk To Your Family, Friends & Employer About Becoming a Surrogate https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/... Surrogate Stories: A loss, a Rematch, and a Fresh Start https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/... Thinking About Becoming a Surrogate? If you’re thinking about becoming a surrogate and want to talk with a team that’s been doing this for over two decades, apply at https://familyinceptionssurrogacy.egg... Stay Connected Instagram   / fertilitycafe   Facebook   / fertilitycafe   LinkedIn   / fertility-cafe   Pinterest   / fertilitycafepodcast   TikTok   / fertilitycafepodcast   YouTube    / @fertilitycafe   More Resources Learn more about surrogacy https://familyinceptions.com/ Listen to past episodes    / @fertilitycafe