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.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
2-1-2026
Volume
39
Issue
1
Publication Title
Women and Birth
Publisher
Elsevier
School
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Funders
Swinburne University of Technology
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Attawet, J., Ng, L., Kendal, E., Qiu, Y., Ojabo, M., Jefford, S., & Peters, M. D. (2025). Intrapartum experiences of gestational surrogates and intended parents in Australia: A qualitative study. Women and Birth, 39(1), 102154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102154