This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth.

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. 

THE END BITS:
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Follow Diary Of A Birth on Instagram

Listen to more Diary Of A Birth here

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.

This summer we've curated your Delivery Room playlist with even more birth stories from our friends at Diary Of A Birth.
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;
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>
<a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/diary-of-a-birth/">Listen to more Diary Of A Birth here</a> 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.

Jessie Stephens is terrified of birth, but one day she’d like to have a baby. That’s why she’s hosting The Delivery Room. Over eight weeks join Jessie as she speaks to eight different women about eight very different births. Will her new friends make her more comfortable with the experience? Or will this experiment have the opposite effect?

Jessie Stephens is terrified of birth, but one day she&rsquo;d like to have a baby. That&rsquo;s why she&rsquo;s hosting The Delivery Room. Over eight weeks join Jessie as she speaks to eight different women about eight very different births. Will her new friends make her more comfortable with the experience? Or will this experiment have the opposite effect?

The Delivery Room

SUMMER LISTENING: The Mum Whose Embryos Went Missing on her Surrogacy Journey

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/3ea926be-9be7-482a-8ac3-a44f016e43d1/clips/35a505b9-a92c-479c-9a28-b3a7017cc4df/transcript