Ten days later the pregnancy was confirmed
and all indications were for a strong and healthy
pregnancy. Twelve weeks after implantation they
were discharged from the fertility clinic and into
the care of Pindara’s Dr Gary Swift who looked
after Samantha through to and after birth.
Other than a severe case of morning sickness
the pregnancy went smoothly, and Samantha was
still able to work and carry on life as usual with
three young children.
Samantha and Rhiannon were in constant
contact, with Samantha keeping a photo record
of how the pregnancy was progressing and
Rhiannon and Chris travelling up to the Gold
Coast regularly to attend scans.
Before they knew it the day of the birth had
arrived. “It was a surreal day. It had pretty much
been business as usual for us over the last nine
months and all of a sudden it dawned on me
that we were really having a baby,” Rhiannon’s
husband Chris said.
The couples presented at Pindara for
Samantha’s induction and once her waters were
broken labour progressed fairly quickly.
Within the space of a little over two hours
Addison Emma Semmens had been born.
“The moment was so emotional. Everyone was
crying. Chris was crying, I was crying. I leapt
from where I was standing over to Sam and
kissed her. I just couldn’t believe Addison was
here and she was perfect,” Rhiannon said.
“Everyone in the room was crying – even
the midwives and I can just remember feeling
so amazed. I kept saying I did it! I did it!”
Samantha recounts.
For Rhiannon and Chris their dream had been
realised and five days after Addison was born
they journeyed home to NSW where they would
begin life together as three.
“Having a family is everything I dreamed of
and more. Being a mum is super hard work,
harder than I ever imagined, but it is also so
enjoyable. Addison is a really chilled baby and
sleeps well (most of the time). Chris is a great
father and has been a real support to me when
things get tough,” Rhiannon said. “I hope in
the future, our journey can be a real example to
Addison - to never give up on your dreams. If I
had, she would never have come into our lives.”
For Sam, things have been a little different
post-birth. She has been quite emotional at times,
especially with all the pregnancy hormones still
racing around her body and has been a little at a
loss given how all-encompassing the surrogacy
journey was; but hopes that now she is back
at work and life is getting back to routine that
everything will settle down once again.
“Our family is in a beautiful place and I am
enjoying every moment with them. We have
been through something special together and we
are closer for it. In the next year we are looking
forward to spending some special family time
together,” Samantha said.
Samantha hopes to put pen to paper soon to
write about her surrogacy experience.
One thing is for certain; the surrogacy journey
for them all has been a powerful experience and
one that attests that dreams really do come true.
TOP LEFT: SAMANTHA WITH ADDISON
POST-BIRTH.
BOTTOM LEFT: CELEBRATING TOGETHER:
RHIANNON AND CHRIS WITH SAM, HER
PARTNER DAVE AND THEIR CHILDREN
MAX, NOAH AND LILAH.
ABOVE: BABY ADDISON.
HAVING A FAMILY
IS EVERYTHING
I DREAMED OF
AND MORE. BEING
A MUM IS SUPER
HARD WORK,
HARDER THAN I
EVER IMAGINED,
BUT IT IS ALSO SO
ENJOYABLE.
pindaramagazine.com.au Pindara Magazine | 61