In this Mother's Day special of All Things Conceivable, Lara Herzer shares her personal path to parenthood—navigating egg donation, surrogacy, and the emotions that came with those decisions—and how that journey inspired the children’s book Me the Great.

The conversation explores how intended parents and surrogates build trust, offers guidance for prospective donors and carriers, and aims to normalize and celebrate modern paths to family building.

Learn more about becoming a surrogate and helping another woman like Lara become a mom at How to Become a Surrogate.

Learn more about building your family through surrogacy at ConceiveAbilities.com.

Weaning is one of the most emotional—and often confusing—transitions in the breastfeeding or pumping journey, and no two experiences are alike.

In this episode of All Things Conceivable: A Surrogacy Podcast, host Nazca Fontes is joined by Abby Theuring, founder of the Badass Breastfeeder community, to unpack everything moms (and surrogates) need to know about weaning.

They discuss:

• How to know when the right time to wean is
• Gentle and safe ways to reduce milk supply
• Physical and emotional changes, including post-weaning depression
• Practical guidance for pumping parents, breastfeeding parents, or those choosing to suppress lactation

Abby emphasizes the importance of community support and working with a lactation consultant, while exploring topics relevant to women preparing for a surrogacy journey, from milk donation to advocacy, autonomy, and self-care.

Whether you’re weaning by choice, necessity, or in preparation for surrogacy, this episode offers expert insight, reassurance, and guidance to help you feel informed, supported, and less alone.

Loved the episode? Explore our blog for even more tips:

• Weaning from Breastfeeding or Pumping: Expert Tips from Abby Theuring.
• The Ultimate Guide to Weaning: How to Stop Breastfeeding Gently, Safely, and Without Guilt

If you’re considering surrogacy while still breastfeeding, we can help you plan a journey that fits your weaning timeline and supports both you and your baby every step of the way. Learn more about how to become a surrogate here.

How do you bring up the idea of becoming a surrogate with your spouse or partner—especially when it’s something you’ve been considering for a long time? Starting this conversation can feel overwhelming, emotional, and deeply personal.

Joining us are two experienced surrogates and trusted surrogacy experts: Lori Jurecko, MA, LSW, a ConceiveAbilities mental health professional and experienced surrogate, and Allyson Meadows, a surrogacy legal assistant and current surrogate. Together, they break down how to talk to your partner about becoming a surrogate with clarity, honesty, and confidence—sharing real-life insight, emotional guidance, and practical advice from both a professional and personal perspective.

Whether you’re just exploring surrogacy or looking for the right words to say, this episode offers thoughtful guidance, reassurance, and practical tips to help you approach the conversation with confidence and care.

Learn more about becoming a surrogate at ConceiveAbilities.