Mexico City Edition - My Surrogacy Journey - The Podcast

Wes and Jess are pleased to be joined in this episode by attorney Tifany Markee and Rijon Charne as they discuss the steps needed post-birth to confirm your child's US citizenship, bring them home, and whether any additional legal steps are needed once you are back in the US.Tifany MarkeeTifany is an immigration attorney based in San Diego, founding parter at Milner & Markee, LLP, and specializes in immigration law specifically for foreign-born children. Over 20 years ago, Tifany expanded her practice to include International Adoption and surrogacy, and has become one of only a handful of attorneys in the US with this specialized focus. She has represented clients before USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services), the US State Department, and the United States Federal District Courts among others. Tifany is the current co-chair of the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys’ International Committee, and is also the proud mom of two international adopted children herself. Rijon CharneRijon is a fertility attorney and the founder of Sunray Fertility Law. She obtained a dual degree in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin, later earning her Juris Doctorate from the University of San Diego Law School. After being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Rijon underwent fertility preservation treatments, and this life-changing experience introduced her to the field of fertility law and Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). Rijon now specializes in ART and fertility law, supporting both domestic and international journeys.This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's Mexico City offices in Polanco, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode hosted by Jess, we're very happy to introduce you to Carly Dalgliesh, our Global Membership Director, as they discuss what to expect during your time in Mexico - particularly following the birth of your baby.Carly has been heavily involved in developing our program in Mexico City. During this episode we discuss what you need to do to prepare for your time in Mexico City and the support we've put in place for you and your baby while you're there - which includes the incredible MSJ Mexico City team. This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's UK office in Birmingham, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Jess and Dra Roberta Gomez, Consultant Pediatrician, as they take you through the examinations your baby will have after birth and the typical appointments you'll have after getting discharged from hospital.They also discuss the vaccinations that are available in Mexico, whether they are required, and how they compare to the standard American childhood vaccination program. Dra Roberta GomezDr. Roberta Gómez Díaz Barreiro, a physician at ABC Medical Center, trained as a surgeon at La Salle University. She completed her specialty in pediatrics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's Mexico City offices in Polanco, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we talk to Dr Covarrubias Haiek about Las Pedregal hospital, birthing plans and what a typical birth looks like in Mexico City. In short, we cover all the questions you’ll want to know, about you, your surrogate and your baby during birth and the days after. Another great opportunity to hear more about her wonderful and experienced team and be reassured that you’re in the best possible hands.Dr. Florencia Covarrubias HaiekDr Covarrubias is a Mexican board-certified obstetrics and gynecology specialist. Born in Mexico City, she went through medical school and residency here, gaining two certifications in clinical sexology and now also works as a teacher in Anahuac University. She runs a private practice in one of Mexico´s City most important hospitals, Hospital Angeles Pedregal. Dr. Covarrubias and her team specialize in respectful/ humanized childbirth, taking care of surrogate and baby from the first weeks of pregnancy. Not only this, but she believes that the IP’s are involved in the pregnancy and works with everyone to ensure this happens.This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's Mexico City offices in Polanco, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So you have a successful pregnancy. Great news, but how can you be sure your surrogate is given the best care? We’re proud to welcome Dr. Florencia Covarrubias Haiek to this episode as we discuss how pregnancy generally works in Mexico City and all about Dr Covarrubias Haiek’s team. She’ll be able to reassure you that your surrogate will be well cared for and receive the best support possible.Dr. Florencia Covarrubias HaiekDr Covarrubias is a Mexican board-certified obstetrics and gynaecology specialist. Born in Mexico City, she went through medical school and residency here, gaining two certifications in clinical sexology and now also works as a teacher in Anahuac University.She runs a private practice in one of Mexico´s City most important hospitals, Hospital Angeles Pedregal. Dr. Covarrubias and her team specialize in respectful/ humanized childbirth, taking care of surrogate and baby from the first weeks of pregnancy. Not only this, but she believes that the IP’s are involved in the pregnancy and works with everyone to ensure this happens.This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's Mexico City offices in Polanco, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, host Jess is joined by Carly Dalgliesh, MSJ's Global Membership Director. Carly was instrumental in the development of our Mexico City program and continues to oversee it. During this episode, they'll discuss everything from when the matching process starts to viewing profiles. They'll take you through matching step-by-steps, and talk about how MSJ decides which surrogate and intended parents will work together well. Carly DalglieshCarly is very experienced in managing all aspects of a member's journey and, as Global Membership Director, leads the whole membership team. She has worked across several areas of My Surrogacy Journey since she joined the organization in April 2022, has been involved in our Mexico City program since the very beginning. Carly This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's UK offices in Birmingham, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Jess and Wes are joined by Debbie Evans, Clinical and Compliance Director, and Dr Natalia De La Maza, from the MSJ Clinical team as they discuss the screening provided to Mexican surrogates.Ensuring that our surrogates are fit and healthy to carry a pregnancy is crucial and something we take very seriously. In this episode the team discuss when screening starts, what's involved and what happens if the results aren't as expected.Dr Natalia De La MazaNatalia joined the Mexico City operation in November 2024 and supports our clinical function on a full-time basis. Natalia is a qualified Doctor with special interests in General Medicine and has a real passion for improving efficiencies within healthcare settings. Natalia works with other members of the clinical team to look after the health of our surrogates.Debbie EvansDebbie joined My Surrogacy Journey in early 2023, and is MSJ's Clinical and Compliance Director. Debbie is a Fertility Nurse and was the Clinical Services Director at Herts & Essex Fertility Centre from 2007 to November 2023. Debbie qualified as an RGN in 1985 and she specialized for 20+ years in fertility management. Debbie takes ownership of the day-to-day clinical management and compliance for My Surrogacy Journey and ensures our global operation has a seamless integration with all the clinical aspects. This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's Mexico City offices in Polanco, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Michael and Jess answer everything you might be wanting to ask about Mexican surrogates. They discuss what their motivations are for becoming a surrogate, how we look after them and what a relationship with your surrogate can looks like when you live in different countries.This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's Mexico City offices in Polanco, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Jess and Wes are joined by JiJi and Charlie Jiron, Co-founders of CryoLogistics, our cryogenic transportation partner.During this episode you will be able to learn all about what Cryoshipping is, how they keep your precious embryos safe through meticulous preparation, and how they hand carry them across borders! They also discuss the requirements and paperwork to ensure a smooth journey, and timelines of how long different parts of the process can take. CryoLogistics A family run business with expertise in international cryogenic transport, they manage complex documents, oversee security checks, and navigate customs, even in the most challenging countries. They treat your samples as if they were their own, ensuring they arrive safely and securely within 24 to 72 hours at your destination laboratory.This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's Mexico City offices in Polanco, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Wes and Jess are joined by Jocelyn Hill, Managing Director for Ethica Donation and Debbie Evans, Clinical and Compliance Director at My Surrogacy Journey.During this episode you'll learn all about choosing an egg donor if needed during your journey, about our egg donor agency, Ethica Donation, screening, contact, the process and much more!Jocelyn Hill Jocelyn in the Managing Director for Ethica Donation and has led the organization since its inception. A mother of two and also Global Surrogate Manager for MSJ, Jocelyn brings her unique skill set to this role to provide the best service to our egg donors and intended parents. Jocelyn personally speaks to all of our potential egg donors, supported by a team in the UK, US and Mexico City.Debbie EvansDebbie is a Fertility Nurse, and was the Clinical Services Director at Herts & Essex Fertility Centre from 2007 to November 2023. Debbie qualified as an RGN in 1985 and she specialized for 20+ years in fertility management. Debbie takes ownership of the day-to-day clinical management and compliance for My Surrogacy Journey and ensures both our global operation has a seamless integration with all the clinical aspects. This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's Mexico City offices in Polanco, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wes and Jess are joined in this episode by the wonderful Dra Mayella Fernandez, Gynecologist, Obstetrician and Reproductive Biologist.Dra Mayella talks us through her background, IVF, pre embryo creation testing and how this all works on a cross border program. We also look at how intended parents can prepare themselves for this stage of the journey.Dr. Mayella Fernandez del CampoMayella trained at the Monterrey Institute of Technology, where she specialized in Genecology and Obstetrics with a sub-specialization in Human Reproductive Biology from UNAM. She believes that fertility care goes hand in hand with building trust in relationships and so never loses sight of the importance of a warm, close and human connection.Mayella views fertility treatment holistically and applies this to the overall treatment she offers. She often uses the values of yoga and medication to support patients at each step with calm, flexibility and the certainty that you and your journey is treated individually.This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's Mexico City offices in Polanco, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cross border surrogacy costs less than a US journey, but that doesn't mean it's not a financial investment!In this episode, Jess and Mike are joined by Bryan Rubeo from Sunfish - an organization dedicated to helping intended parents ease the financial strain. Sunfish provides clear pricing, bundled savings, administrative support, and data-driven guidance from start to finish, including a financial planning tool to help intended parents find the best solutions to fund their journey. Bryan, Mike and Jess discuss what might already be covered by health insurance or workplace benefits, what intended parents should consider before choosing a lender and of course, why you might choose Sunfish!This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's Mexico City offices in Polanco, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the podcast, Mike, Wes and Jess join you from our office in Mexico City to discuss what information you can (and can't) rely on when choosing an agency to support you on your journey, as well as what questions you should be asking.Whether you're thinking of signing up with MSJ or not, this episode will help you to explore the right organization for you.This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's Mexico City offices in Polanco, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode, Mike and Jess come to you from our Mexico City office in the gorgeous neighborhood of Polanco, with the incredible Dr Brent Monseur. They are a reproductive endocrinologist and the Director of Q+ Family Building Clinic and Research Program at Stanford university School of Medicine. We explore Brent's research to outbound IPs, why there hasn't been enough research done previously, what trends they see and what's the next area to explore.Dr Brent MonseurBrent is a fertility specialist, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, and the Medical Director of the Q+ Family Building Clinic at Stanford. Q+ is the US’s first fertility and reproductive clinic entirely dedicated to providing comprehensive LGBTQ+ family building care. This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's Mexico City offices in Polanco, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Wes and Jess during this episode to explore family and immigration law for American Intended Parents doing a cross border surrogacy journey in Mexico City. In this episode, they're joined by one of the foremost legal experts in family and immigration law, attorney Tifany Markee, of Milner & Markee LLP, to discuss what the legal framework is and legal elements Intended Parents should consider at the start of their journey.Tifany MarkeeTifany is an immigration attorney based in San Diego and specializes in immigration law specifically for foreign-born children. Over 20 years ago, Tifany expanded her practice to include International Adoption and surrogacy, and has become one of only a handful of attorneys in the US with this specialized focus. She has represented clients before USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services), the US State Department, and the United States Federal District Courts among others. Tifany is the current co-chair of the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys’ International Committee, and is also the proud mom of two international adopted children herself.  This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's Mexico City offices in Polanco, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Mike, Wes and Jess as they explore everything American Intended Parents should explore when considering a cross border surrogacy journey. They also discuss the timelines to this specific type of journey.Throughout this special season of the podcast we'll explore all the topics that you have questions about doing surrogacy, and specifically doing surrogacy in Mexico City. Jess is American and is a mom through surrogacy - in addition being our North America Membership Operations manager. Who better to understand what the pathway looks like!This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's Mexico City offices in Polanco, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to a new season of My Surrogacy Journey The Podcast - Mexico City Edition! A season dedicated to American Intended Parents exploring cross border surrogacy. During this episode, Mike and Wes, Co-Founders and CEO's of My Surrogacy Journey (MSJ) are joined by the incredible Jess Williams - North America Operations Membership Manager.We are so excited to have recently launched our tailored US – Mexico City pathway specifically for American IPs who would like to, or need to, do surrogacy outside of the USA. Have a listen to find out all about MSJ's surrogacy program and how we remove a lot of the complication and stress for intended parents compared to a typical US journey.This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's Mexico City offices in Birmingham, UK, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we speak with JiJi Giron and Charlie Hedley of CRYOLOGISTICS about everything involved in hand-carrying embryos. From the logistics of safely transporting embryos to the expertise of their team, we cover all the key details you need to know. Whether you're navigating an international journey or just curious about the process, you'll get insight into how CRYOLOGISTICS ensures your embryos are in the best hands. A great opportunity to hear from the experts and gain peace of mind.JiJi Giron - Co-Founder , COO & CMO of CRYOLOGISTICSJiJi Giron, Co-Founder of CRYOLOGISTICS , brings years of experience as a medical courier and a passion for IVF to her role. Alongside her husband Charlie, she founded the company to revolutionize hand-carried cryo transport.As COO and CMO, JiJi ensures operations align with the company’s mission of excellence, while creating a personalized, family-focused experience for clients. With a background in brand strategy, she is dedicated to helping individuals and couples—both heterosexual and LGBTQ+—navigate their journey to parenthood, no matter the distance.Charlie Hedley - Giron - Co-Founder & CEO of CRYOLOGISTICS Charlie Hedley, Co-Founder and CEO of CRYOLOGISTICS has travelled over a million miles as a medical courier, hand-carrying hundreds of cryogenic transports to help families in 70+ countries achieve their IVF or surrogacy dreams. Co-founding CRYOLOGISTICS with his wife JiJi, Charlie set out to revolutionise cryo transportation with personalised, secure services for families worldwide.With his extensive experience in medical couriering and as a multicultural entrepreneur, Charlie is committed to providing the most advanced and reliable cryo transport solutions, ensuring families can pursue parenthood without boundaries.This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's UK offices in Birmingham, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Victory and Nurse Manager Lisa Hogan to discuss the unique pathway created by MSJ for Intended Parents (IPs) in Canada travelling to Mexico City. We explore why many families choose to work with VRC, the current state of surrogacy in Canada, and the reasons behind MSJ’s partnership with them. Dr. Victory and Lisa share insights into why Mexico City is an ideal surrogacy destination, with Lisa reflecting on her own trip and how the reality differed from her expectations. We also cover the options available for IPs considering the Mexico City pathway, including surrogate travel for embryo transfer and the logistics of transporting embryos. Tune in for a deeper look at how MSJ is helping families navigate international surrogacy with ease.Lisa Hogan - Nurse ManagerLisa Hogan is a registered nurse with over 20 years of experience in high-risk labor and delivery at Windsor Regional Hospital. In 2020, she transitioned from delivering babies to helping families create them, joining Victory Reproductive Care (VRC) as Nurse Manager. Lisa has been instrumental in developing VRC’s Third Party Program and securing key accreditations, including OHP and Health Canada AHRA certifications. With a deep understanding of Canadian regulations, her focus is on ensuring every family’s journey toward parenthood is safe, personalized, and supported. She is also dedicated to growing the business and improving patient flow at VRC.Dr Victory - BSc, MD, FRCSC, FACOGDr. Rahi Victory is a board-certified Obstetrician, Gynaecologist, and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Specialist, licensed in both Canada and the U.S. With a passion for improving reproductive health, he is dedicated to helping men and women achieve their family-building goals. Dr. Victory is deeply involved in fertility research and has created a patient-centred, multidisciplinary clinic that focuses on holistic care. As a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, he is committed to providing the highest standard of care to patients from all backgrounds.This podcast was recorded at Ella House - Dublin, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of this season, we’re so pleased to be joined by the wonderful Georgia and Duncan, intended parents and members of My Surrogacy Journey. Georgia and Duncan have been members with MSJ for a while now. After navigating through a UK surrogacy journey, which sadly didn't quite get there they decided to try a surrogacy journey in Mexico City with MSJ.As we recorded this episode, just 2 weeks from embryo transfer in Mexico City, Georgia and Duncan share openly why they chose Mexico City, how MSJ looked after them in country and meeting and managing their relationship with their Mexican surrogate. As well as this, we discuss how they’ve supported each other over the years and how they’ve grown individually and together – talking helps!They’ve chosen to share their story to help others going through the same – follow www.instagram.com/wellbeing_withgeorgia to find out more.This podcast was recorded at My Surrogacy Journey's UK offices in Birmingham, edited by Steve Randall and brought to you by Talulah and The Duke Productions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.