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Stop. Sit. Surrogate.

Kenedi & Ellen Smith
Stop. Sit. Surrogate.
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  • What Happens When Science, Hope, and Heartbreak Collide?
     #surrogacy#ivf #surrogate Liz’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizzzlooobes?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==Dive into the raw, unfiltered journey of Liz, a three-time surrogate who brings a unique perspective as both a surrogate mother and a fertility clinic medical assistant. Her story takes us through the highs of creating families for others and the lows of failed transfers and loss, all while maintaining remarkable positivity and resilience. Liz's path to surrogacy began unexpectedly while working in fertility medicine, where she gained invaluable knowledge about the process before embarking on her own surrogate journey. She shares candid insights about agency selection, describing how finding the right support system made all the difference after a disappointing first experience. What makes this conversation particularly powerful is Liz's willingness to discuss the aspects of surrogacy rarely talked about in public forums. From the dramatic moments during delivery when her surrogate baby wasn't immediately breathing, to the emotional devastation of a miscarriage while on vacation, to the hurt when an intended parent failed to check in after a loss. These honest revelations provide a window into the complex emotional landscape surrogates navigate. Despite experiencing seven medical cycles in three years and multiple setbacks, Liz's enthusiasm for surrogacy remains undiminished. Her advice to those considering becoming surrogates is beautifully simple yet profound: "Just do it." This episode captures the essence of surrogacy as not just a medical process but a deeply human connection requiring communication, empathy, and resilience from all involved. Whether you're considering surrogacy, are an intended parent, or simply curious about alternative family-building paths, this conversation offers authentic insights into what the journey truly entails beyond the medical procedures and legal agreements. Connect with us on Instagram @stop.sit.surrogate or email [email protected] to share your own stories or questions. Instagram: Stop.Sit.Surrogate TikTok: Stop.Sit.Surrogate Send us a texthttps://stopsitsurrogate.com
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  • Mark Surrogacy Scandal: New Developments
    The harrowing journey of surrogates caught in the Mark surrogacy scandal continues to unfold with stunning new revelations. One surrogate, now 38 weeks pregnant and days away from delivery, finds herself navigating treacherous legal waters without proper representation after her attorney abruptly switched sides to represent the intended parents instead.What started as a beautiful journey of helping create families has transformed into a nightmare of legal manipulation, with the surrogate now facing pressure to sign 16 pages containing 59 amendments to her contract just before giving birth. The intended parents, currently under investigation with their existing children removed from their care, are making dubious claims about regaining custody while attempting to secure rights to this new baby.Most shocking is the revelation that approximately 20 surrogates are connected to these same intended parents, with babies that may all be biological siblings. These women have formed their own remarkable support network, sharing information, resources, and even baby supplies as they prepare for the possibility of bringing these children home themselves rather than surrendering them to a questionable situation.The emotional toll is palpable as our surrogate reveals she and her husband have named the baby Sophia Ray, torn between preparing a nursery and protecting herself from heartbreak. Meanwhile, attorneys seem compromised or inaccessible, leaving these women without adequate representation during their most vulnerable moment. One surrogate in another state has already been granted temporary custody of her baby pending further investigation, offering a glimmer of hope.This episode serves as a powerful reminder of the critical importance of proper legal protection in surrogacy arrangements and the extraordinary resilience of women supporting each other through unprecedented circumstances. Whether you're considering surrogacy or simply care about reproductive rights and child welfare, this conversation offers crucial insights into what happens when the system fails those it should protect.https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgofund.me%2F656d32bc&e=AT3rbLR03sVjTSaI1zlEDcuVaTmBwBQLmxPnme_NFuaaYB3KJoiCTCfE-WpVRCFH3NcJVLHZBQC3O4IbQ7nprTXouAwZXxInlPqa0NtvxOkuL3xSjvOvUL8IFFmIJLTSOTjJ5noFI08_Send us a texthttps://stopsitsurrogate.com
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  • (Ashleigh Part 2) This Surrogate Mother Survived a Medical Nightmare to Deliver Joy
     #surrogacy #ivf #surrogate Ashleigh’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surro_ashleigh?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==://www.instagram.com/surrornsara?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== In this gripping continuation of Ashleigh's surrogate story, we witness a journey that defied medical odds and revealed the profound resilience of human connection. After two successful surrogate pregnancies, Ashleigh' embarks on a third journey with the same intended parents, carrying their final embryo and last hope for completing their family.What begins as a routine pregnancy quickly spirals into a medical nightmare when genetic testing yields a false positive for trisomy 13, followed by ruptured membranes at just 16 weeks gestation. Doctors deliver the devastating news: prepare for imminent loss. Yet somehow, against all medical expectations, the pregnancy continues.Ashleigh's candid account takes us through six weeks of home bedrest, three weeks hospitalized an hour from her family, and the heart-wrenching reality of being unable to care for her own children while fighting to save someone else's baby. The story beautifully highlights the village that forms around her – a devoted mother-in-law stepping in as full-time caregiver, an intended mother providing unwavering support, and medical professionals navigating uncharted waters alongside them.The dramatic birth story itself – complete with a failed induction, a baby who flips breech during labor, and an unplanned unmedicated delivery – serves as the climactic final challenge before the miracle arrives: a healthy 7-pound baby boy born at 36 weeks.Perhaps most touching is the deep bond formed through shared adversity, culminating in the intended parents naming their son after Ashleigh– Asher, meaning "blessed" or "lucky one" in Hebrew. This powerful testament to human connection reminds us that surrogacy isn't simply a clinical arrangement but a profound journey of trust, vulnerability, and love.Ready to hear more extraordinary surrogacy stories? Subscribe to Stop Sit Surrogate wherever you get your podcasts, and join our community on Instagram @stop.sit.surrogate to continue the conversation about the beautiful complexity of creating families through surrogacy. Instagram: Stop.Sit.Surrogate TikTok: Stop.Sit.Surrogate Send us a texthttps://stopsitsurrogate.com
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  • (Ashleigh Part 1) Beyond the Womb: When Strangers Become Family
     #surrogacy #ivf #surrogate Ashleigh’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surro_ashleigh?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==://www.instagram.com/surrornsara?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Ashleigh’s path began with an unexpected source of inspiration – the TV show "Friends" – and quickly evolved into a calling that would change multiple lives forever. With remarkable candor, she shares how her first surrogate pregnancy unfolded during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring creativity and flexibility from everyone involved. Despite the challenges, this experience only strengthened her resolve to help more families.The most powerful moments come when Ashleigh describes her second and third journeys for a family with a devastating backstory. After the intended mother suffered life-threatening complications and lost her baby during the pandemic, she found Ashleigh through social media in what can only be described as a destined connection. Their relationship transcended the typical surrogate arrangement, culminating in a breathtaking birth where the intended mother herself delivered her baby from Ashleigh’s body – a moment of profound healing and redemption.Throughout her story, Ashleigh offers invaluable insights about the medical, emotional, and practical aspects of surrogacy. From navigating clinic requirements to advocating for appropriate care during pregnancy complications, her experiences highlight both the challenges and the tremendous rewards of this path. Now working as a perinatal mental health therapist, Ashleigh brings professional expertise alongside her personal journey to this conversation.Whether you're considering surrogacy, supporting someone through this process, or simply curious about this path to parenthood, Ashleigh’s story will move you with its raw honesty and beautiful moments of human connection. Listen as she demonstrates how strangers can become family through one of life's most profound gifts. Instagram: Stop.Sit.Surrogate TikTok: Stop.Sit.Surrogate Send us a texthttps://stopsitsurrogate.com
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  • Paying It Forward: When Surrogacy Becomes Your Life's Mission
     #surrogacy #ivf #surrogate Paying It Forward Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/payingitforward_surrogacy?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==Beth Moskowicz journey through surrogacy began over a decade ago when she and her husband faced fertility challenges. After failed IVF transfers and a heartbreaking miscarriage, they turned to surrogacy—a path that would not only build their family but eventually shape Beth's career and life purpose.What started as her personal quest for parenthood evolved into a profound mission to help others. Beth candidly shares the dramatic birth of her daughter, where a rare umbilical cord complication led to moments of terror before joy. Three years later, after unsuccessful transfer attempts with their first surrogate, they matched with another surrogate who carried their son to term. These experiences gave Beth unique insight into both the emotional rollercoaster and practical realities of surrogacy journeys.The technological advancements Beth witnessed between her children's births—just three years apart—highlight how rapidly the field evolves. Genetic testing of embryos, unavailable during her daughter's journey, became standard practice by the time her son was conceived, fundamentally changing success rates and risk factors.Today, as founder of Paying it Forward Surrogacy, Beth deliberately maintains a boutique approach, personally managing no more than seven cases at once. This allows her to provide the kind of attentive support she valued during her own surrogacy experiences. Her background as both a newspaper reporter and law school graduate equips her with exceptional communication skills and legal understanding—though she's quick to clarify she doesn't write contracts herself.Beth offers valuable perspective on the changing landscape of surrogacy compensation and state legislation, particularly regarding pregnancy termination rights. Her balanced approach acknowledges both surrogate worth and the financial realities faced by intended parents. Above all, she emphasizes the critical importance of thorough research, clear communication, and addressing concerns promptly rather than letting them fester.Connect with Beth at payingitforwardsurrogacy.com to learn how her uniquely personal approach might support your surrogacy journey. Instagram: Stop.Sit.Surrogate TikTok: Stop.Sit.Surrogate Send us a texthttps://stopsitsurrogate.com
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About Stop. Sit. Surrogate.

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.
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