Work

Intrapartum experiences of gestational surrogates and intended parents in Australia: A qualitative study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Gestational surrogacy is an increasingly visible, though tightly regulated, pathway to parenthood in Australia, yet intrapartum care remains under-examined. Existing maternity models are grounded in woman-centred care and offer limited guidance for births involving surrogates and intended parents within a triadic care relationship. OBJECTIVES: To describe the intrapartum experiences of gestational surrogates and intended parents in Australia and to identify care processes that support or hinder respectful, inclusive practice. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted with purposive sampling. Seventeen participants took part between December 2024 and May 2025, comprising nine gestational surrogates and eight intended parents who had experienced a surrogacy birth in Australia within the previous five years. Semi-structured online interviews (60-90 min) were audio-recorded, transcribed, de-identified, and verified. Data were managed in NVivo 12 and analysed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis. Credibility was enhanced through independent coding, coding comparisons, analytic memos, and team review. FINDINGS: Birth was described as a shared, yet distinct experience shaped by ritual, recognition, and institutional preparedness. Three themes, each comprising interrelated subthemes, emerged: (1) rituals of handover marking the transition of parenthood, (2) recognition and misrecognition in clinical settings, and (3) institutional variability and inequity leading to inconsistent inclusion and added advocacy burdens. CONCLUSION: Intrapartum surrogacy care requires attention to relational and clinical processes beyond conventional care. Findings support extending woman-centred care to a relationship-centred model recognising surrogates, intended parents, and infants. Clear guidelines, inclusive language, and surrogacy-aware documentation are essential for consistent, equitable, and respectful intrapartum care.

Source: Women and Birth

DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102154