Please note that Meriel was a surrogate in the US and rules in each country are very different – to find out more about surrogacy rules in the UK you can find them here and more information on surrogacy in the UK here.  Meriel is a three times surrogate from the United States. She was blessed to help two families achieve the dream of completing their families through surrogacy. She currently works for an agency as a surrogacy journey coordinator, where she is passionate about helping to create families and supporting other women who wish to embark on the amazing and fulfilling journey of becoming surrogates.   We spoke to Meriel about:  What made her decide to become a surrogate and how her family and others reacted (including some funny stories!). What surrogacy is, who might use a surrogate and why that might be. Some terminology and the process for both the family and the surrogate. The contact that the surrogate has with the family throughout the pregnancy and beyond. The labour experience and who shared the labour room with Meriel when she had the babies and how special she tried to make it for everyone involved. What being a surrogate means to Meriel, the joy she took from it and how it has shaped her and her life as it is now as a surrogacy journey coordinator. Some of the rules around surrogacy and being a surrogate as well as the support that there is for surrogates. Keeping in touch with the families after the birth of their baby and whether that happens. Who is on the birth certificate and legalities (spoiler it can be quite complicated – especially in the US!). How research into the best surrogacy path is SO vital!  https://www.collectivesurrogacy.com/ - the agency where Meriel works and where you can find her blogs  Meriel on LinkedIn  Read our blog where we talked to Simon Berney Edwards about his experience of surrogacy here.  Instagram - @bespokefamily / Facebook - @bespokefamily   For information about a Bespoke Family Parent Consultation click here: https://www.bespokefamily.co.uk/parent-consultations     ‘Your Guide to...’ (our downloadable webinars including behaviour, toilet training, sleep and more) - get 25% off any guide with the code ‘PODCAST’      This podcast is produced by Decibelle Creative