After years of heartache, disappointment, and countless tears, Kirsten McLennan discovered her endometrial lining was too thin to nurture a pregnancy—a devastating revelation after multiple failed IVF attempts. When specialists suggested surrogacy might be her path to parenthood, Kirsten and her husband Ryan embarked on an emotional international journey filled with both crushing setbacks and beautiful moments of hope.

In today's touching episode, Kirsten vulnerably shares her difficult path to becoming a mother—from the moment when transported embryos went missing in Canada to when they finally connected with their surrogate Leigha in Utah, they found not just a carrier for their precious baby, but a compassionate friend who opened her heart and home to help create their miracle.

Kirsten reflects on the beautiful complexity of surrogacy—the profound joy of those first skin-to-skin moments with Spencer, the deep bond formed while living with Leigha's family, and the overwhelming emotions they all shared in the delivery room. 

Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send a voice note here.

THE END BITS:
Support independent women's media
Follow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram

Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit www.fentonandfenton.com.au

Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood.

Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens.
If you’re pregnant, listen to The Delivery Room and Hello Bump.
And if you’re trying or preg-curious, Get Me Pregnant and Before The Bump are for you.

CREDITS:

Host: Ksenija Lukich

Birth Story: Kirsten McLennan 

Obstetrician & Gynaecologist:Dr Bronwyn Devine

Producers: Ksenija Lukich & Ella Maitland

Audio Producer: Tina Matolov

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

After years of heartache, disappointment, and countless tears, Kirsten McLennan discovered her endometrial lining was too thin to nurture a pregnancy&mdash;a devastating revelation after multiple failed IVF attempts. When specialists suggested surrogacy might be her path to parenthood, Kirsten and her husband Ryan embarked on an emotional international journey filled with both crushing setbacks and beautiful moments of hope.
In today's touching episode, Kirsten vulnerably shares her difficult path to becoming a mother&mdash;from the moment when transported embryos went missing in Canada to when they finally connected with their surrogate Leigha in Utah, they found not just a carrier for their precious baby, but a compassionate friend who opened her heart and home to help create their miracle.
Kirsten reflects on the beautiful complexity of surrogacy&mdash;the profound joy of those first skin-to-skin moments with Spencer, the deep bond formed while living with Leigha's family, and the overwhelming emotions they all shared in the delivery room.&nbsp;
Diary Of A Birth features mums sharing their heartfelt stories of bringing life into the world. Share your birth story at podcast@mamamia.com.au or send a voice note<a href="https://help.mamamia.com.au/en-US/send-a-podcast-voice-note-467960"> here</a>.
THE END BITS: <a href="https://mamamia.com.au/subscribe/?utm_source=shownotes&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=quicky&amp;utm_content=mm-birthday&amp;code=TQBIRTHDAY" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://mamamia.com.au/subscribe/?utm_source%3Dshownotes%26utm_medium%3Dpodcast%26utm_campaign%3Dquicky%26utm_content%3Dmm-birthday%26code%3DTQBIRTHDAY&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1742335785488000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1QmYCj2XoKZIak4TzggWhi">Support independent women's media </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/diaryofabirthbymamamia?igsh=MnZrbXJ3ZzRvbTht" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/diaryofabirthbymamamia?igsh%3DMnZrbXJ3ZzRvbTht&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1742335785488000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2KGvsMl7W7r4A-48yR2a-G">Follow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram</a>
Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton visit <a href="https://www.fentonandfenton.com.au">www.fentonandfenton.com.au</a>
Mamamia has a podcast for every stage of parenthood.
Check out our hilarious and seriously unhelpful podcast <a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/the-baby-bubble/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/the-baby-bubble/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1742335785488000&amp;usg=AOvVaw10HtaL00ewX3-nUnuA1feg">The Baby Bubble hosted by Clare and Jessie Stephens. </a>If you&rsquo;re pregnant, listen to<a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/the-delivery-room/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/the-delivery-room/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1742335785488000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3zsoVIVlpGncRIs6fl5E-X">&nbsp;The Delivery Room</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/hello-bump/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/hello-bump/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1742335785488000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0Mg01rYum90ZK8oNoNXDpV">&nbsp;Hello Bump</a>. And if you&rsquo;re trying or preg-curious,<a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/get-me-pregnant/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/get-me-pregnant/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1742335785488000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3G5_9wgg3jjczlquxVLshz">&nbsp;Get Me Pregnant</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/before-the-bump/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/before-the-bump/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1742335785488000&amp;usg=AOvVaw13nESHIngbP2X-13Jix5bi">&nbsp;Before The Bump</a>&nbsp;are for you. CREDITS:
Host:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ksenijalukich?igsh=MWszeGl2ejczeTl6NA==" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/ksenijalukich?igsh%3DMWszeGl2ejczeTl6NA%3D%3D&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1742335785489000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2QQwe_vOXF_jQCq51Q6RdT">&nbsp;Ksenija Lukich</a>
Birth Story: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/straight.up.infertility/?hl=en">Kirsten McLennan</a>&nbsp;
Obstetrician &amp; Gynaecologist: <a href="https://www.drbronwyndevine.com.au/">Dr Bronwyn Devine</a><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-kick-pregnancy-podcast/id1469497070"></a>
Producers:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/ksenijalukich?igsh=MWszeGl2ejczeTl6NA==" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/ksenijalukich?igsh%3DMWszeGl2ejczeTl6NA%3D%3D&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1742335785489000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2QQwe_vOXF_jQCq51Q6RdT">Ksenija Lukich</a> &amp; Ella Maitland
Audio Producer: Tina Matolov
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Giving birth is a transformative experience. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s miraculous. And no two stories are the same.

Diary Of A Birth brings you inside the delivery room to hear an extraordinary birth story every week.

Hosted by Ksenija Lukich, with expert advice from Dr. Golly, you’ll hear the real life birth stories that are everything you don’t expect when you’re expecting. 

Giving birth is a transformative experience. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s miraculous. And no two stories are the same.
Diary Of A Birth brings you inside the delivery room to hear an extraordinary birth story every week.
Hosted by Ksenija Lukich, with expert advice from Dr. Golly, you’ll hear the real life birth stories that are everything you don’t expect when you’re expecting.

Diary Of A Birth

The Mum Whose Embryos Went Missing on her Surrogacy Journey

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/3ea926be-9be7-482a-8ac3-a44f016e43d1/clips/2428c954-8e39-45a6-8541-b2f2000793fd/transcript