Jen Jewell: Mom via Surrogacy in New Zealand

I’m currently soaking up every moment of maternity leave, but I couldn’t wait any longer to share the story of how our sweet Lila Madeline Lehman came into the world. And who better to join me than the incredible woman who carried her—our gestational carrier (and my sister-in-law!), Maddy. In this episode, Maddy and I relive Lila’s birth story—from the days leading up to delivery after Trav and I arrived in the U.S., to the surprise of her being eight days overdue (!), to how labor and delivery unfolded, and everything that followed. It’s an emotional, full-circle conversation now that we’re on the other side and Lila is finally here. This episode gives me all the feels, and I’m so excited for you to listen… and selfishly, to have this as a keepsake that we’ll treasure forever. ---- Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@surrotales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: [email protected]

In this episode, I chat with Dominique as she shares her deeply personal journey through infertility. From enduring multiple rounds of IVF in both New Zealand and the USA to navigating devastating miscarriages, Dominique takes us through the emotional and physical toll of her experience. After years of trying, her doctor eventually encouraged her to explore surrogacy—an idea she initially struggled to embrace. She opens up about the courage it took to share her story on social media and later with the NZ Herald, leading to an overwhelming response from generous women willing to help. One of the most unexpected yet beautiful moments? A childhood friend stepping forward to offer the ultimate gift. As she moves through the approval process while preparing for another IVF cycle, Dominique reflects on the challenges of control—or lack thereof—throughout infertility and surrogacy. We also discuss her motivation to start two businesses, Lullabuy and Redroom, which have given her a sense of purpose and control outside of her fertility journey. Throughout it all, Dominique has learned invaluable lessons about resilience, partnership, and the power of empathy. Her story is one of strength, hope, and the incredible kindness of others. ---- Episode Info: Cryoport⁠

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Victoria, who shares her remarkable journey of navigating life with a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis—one that came unexpectedly as an adult during her medical training. We dive into how this life-changing event influenced many aspects of her life, including her career, her fertility and her family planning decisions...ultimately leading her to pursue surrogacy.

In this episode, I chat to Margaret Casey KC, a leading barrister specializing in surrogacy and reproductive law based in Auckland, New Zealand. Margaret shares her inspiring journey into this field, shaped in part by her own personal fertility story. She offers a detailed look at how New Zealand's surrogacy laws were developed, the legal processes currently in place, and the specific steps intended parents and surrogates must navigate throughout their surrogacy experience.

In this heartfelt episode, I chat with Tessa, an intended mother in the midst of her surrogacy journey. Tessa shares her extraordinary story, from the joy of welcoming her first son to the devastating discovery of a rare cancer during delivery, which ultimately led to a hysterectomy. Despite this, Tessa held onto hope, knowing her ovaries and eggs could make surrogacy an option when the time was right.