As I hold my precious newborn in my arms, I’m filled with gratitude. Welcoming my second child through surrogacy in Georgia has been a profound experience. It’s a journey that’s deeply personal, yet so closely tied to the work I do every day at Growing Families. I want to share this experience in the hope that it might offer insight and encouragement to those on their own family-building paths.
Deciding on Georgia
When my husband and I first contemplated a second surrogacy journey, I was doubtful. It wasn’t an easy decision, but everything changed after a conversation with my good friend Sam Everingham —yes, I’m fortunate to call such a trusted figure in the surrogacy world a friend! Sam shared a simple yet powerful thought that stuck with me: “Everyone needs a sibling.” Those words gave me the clarity I needed and a renewed sense of purpose.
With that encouragement, Georgia quickly became the obvious choice, given we had embryos still there from our first journey (resulting in Annabelle!) Georgia’s well-defined legal framework, combined with the support we received the first time, made it feel like the perfect place to grow our family. But, like any journey, this one came with its highs, lows and unexpected moments.
One of the most stressful came early on when the agency could not reach our original donor. We had a batch of A-grade embryos from our first journey and so we just needed our original donor to sign a new Power of Attorney. We would have had to terminate this entire batch if she didn’t sign it, so I was quite anxious when the agency admitted they couldn’t get a hold of her.
It was a huge relief when we heard from her a few weeks later, agreeing to sign and renew the documents. We were able to move forward with embryo transfer! Everything else went smoothly, and the pregnancy progressed to 39 weeks without complications.
What Was Different This Time?
Our second journey had some notable differences. For one, agencies are now handling more clients, and the costs are higher. In fact, some of the maternity houses in Georgia are delivering up to 15 babies a day now.
The country has also evolved with the rise of tourism and international business, and it’s quite exciting to see how much the customer service has improved, with more focus on English-speaking clients.
During our time in Georgia, I was not only focused on the birth of our second child, but I also had the opportunity to travel for work. As part of Growing Families, I’ve seen first-hand the importance of partnering with the right surrogacy providers. This experience gave me even deeper insights into what makes a surrogacy provider truly exceptional.
In my upcoming blog, I’ll share my reflections on the surrogacy landscape in Georgia, including the key factors we look for when vetting providers, and how we ensure that our intended parents can feel confident in their choices.
Meeting Our Surrogate
We met our surrogate a few days after arriving in Georgia. At first, I worried we hadn’t had enough time to build a strong connection, but those concerns quickly faded. Our surrogate – a Kazakh woman fluent in English – and I bonded immediately. Throughout her pregnancy, I was also completing my Doula course and we spent hours together preparing for the delivery. This allowed me to fully embrace and enjoy the birth phase in a way I hadn’t been able to during our first journey.
At the birth, I stayed by her side. Afterwards, she told me she couldn’t have done it without me there. To be thanked by the woman who gave me everything is something I’ll never forget.
Meeting Madison Rose
The moment Madison was born was indescribable. I quickly saw the similarities between her and our first daughter, Annabelle, which gave me an unexpected sense of completeness. Holding Madison for the first time was different. With Annabelle, we felt so much joy, but at the same time, we were overwhelmed with anxiety, especially with the uncertainties of COVID and the complexities of getting her home. We had no idea what we were doing! But this time, there was a profound sense of confidence. I looked at Madison and thought, “I’ve got this.”
How Did My Role at Growing Families Help?
Being a Concierge Support Specialist at Growing Families and going through the Georgia process for my clients many times definitely helped me stay calm and grounded throughout this journey. I was already very familiar with the agency in Georgia, and that familiarity gave me a sense of trust and confidence. Honestly, I probably became a little too relaxed, not asking as many questions because I felt so secure in the process. But that’s the advice I always give to my own clients: trust your agency (but only if it’s a Growing Families-vetted ethical agency).
Coming Home
I’ve been to Georgia three times now, and each trip has been unique. We’re currently waiting for our Australian documents to be processed, and there are moments when the anticipation and excitement of getting home as a family of four make the wait unbearable. But with experience navigating the bureaucratic processes, extensive preparation, and a lot of patience, I know that everything will fall into place.
And this time, my partner and I aren’t waiting like we’re watching paint dry—we’re here with our two beautiful daughters – a family. Watching Annabelle bond with Madison is one of the most heartwarming moments of my life. It truly feels like a family experience—something I hadn’t anticipated during our first journey, when so much of my focus was on getting everything right.
This journey has shown me just how crucial knowledge and support are. This time, I felt more confident because I understood the process and knew what to expect. I truly wish every family could go through this with that same confidence, because the unknowns can be incredibly stressful.
If you need help navigating your surrogacy journey, whether you’re just starting or preparing to bring your baby home, we’re here to support you. Let’s make this process as smooth and stress-free as possible. Contact us if you need help.
