More Than Just a Baby: A guide to surrogacy for intended parents and surrogates

A surrogate and specialist lawyer's guide to creating families through surrogacy.

Sarah Jefford stood in the hospital the day after delivering her surrogacy baby feeling fulfilled and happy, having just handed the baby to her dads. Alongside feelings of joy came confusion - was it okay that she wasn't grieving? Was this a normal feeling for a surrogate?

In that moment, Sarah decided to write a book to help others navigate the Australian surrogacy experience.

Surrogacy is complex, amazing and deeply emotional for everyone involved. It can cause challenges when things go wrong but also bring the greatest of happiness for the families involved. This book empowers intended parents and surrogate mothers to make informed decisions that protect everyone's interests and, most importantly, act in the best interests of the children - those here now and those in the future.

Whether you are exploring surrogacy or already beginning the journey, this book is your best place to start. Keep it close as you navigate the surrogacy process, understand your roles and work together to create a family.

Sarah Jefford draws on her unique experience as both a surrogate and specialist surrogacy lawyer to offer a practical, compassionate guide to the legal, emotional and ethical realities of surrogacy. Awarded the medal of the Order of Australia in 2023 and a Churchill Fellowship in 2024, Sarah is widely recognised for her research and leadership in developing best practice surrogacy legal frameworks to support law reform in Australia.

Why this book is different:

• Written by both a surrogate and a specialist surrogacy lawyer
• Combines legal expertise with real-world experience
• Practical, compassionate, and easy to understand
• Designed for intended parents, surrogates, and professionals alike
• Focuses on the Australian surrogacy environment and experience