By Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Principal Psychologist | Happy Minds Psychology The end of a surrogate pregnancy marks both an arrival and a departure — the arrival of a new life and the beginning of a profound change for you, the surrogate....
Happy Minds blog
The postpartum journey for surrogates: what to expect and how to support it
Read More
Healing After Surrogacy: Reclaiming Identity and Emotional Balance Post-Birth
Read MoreThe weeks and months following a surrogacy birth are often described as bittersweet. There is joy, gratitude, and relief — but also hormonal shifts, fatigue, and emotional recalibration. For surrogates, this can be a moment of pride mixed with unexpected...
Being a Surrogate with Neurodiversity: Embracing Difference in the Journey
Read MoreBy Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Principal Psychologist | Happy Minds Psychology Surrogacy is a profound act of generosity, connection, and trust. It asks one person to carry another’s hopes, to share her body and emotions, and to navigate a unique web...
Preparing for Parenthood: A Guide to Perinatal Mental Health
Read MoreThe journey to parenthood is an extraordinary time filled with a range of emotions, from excitement and joy to apprehension and anxiety. Perinatal mental health, which encompasses the emotional wellbeing of parents both during pregnancy and after childbirth, plays a...
Navigating Perinatal Anxiety: A Comprehensive Guide for Australian Parents
Read MorePerinatal anxiety is a significant mental health concern affecting a considerable number of Australian parents. While pregnancy and the first year after childbirth are often depicted as joyful times, many parents find themselves grappling with heightened levels of anxiety and...
Emotional cushioning: the anxiety of pregnancy after perinatal loss
Read MoreHoping for the best, but expecting (and preparing for) the worst? When it comes to contemplating a healthy pregnancy after prior perinatal loss, or after multiple rounds of IVF, one coping strategy is to distance yourself from any feelings of...
Pregnancy After IVF – Coping with Post-IVF Anxiety
Read MoreWhen you’re on the rollercoaster ride of IVF, the endpoint seems quite simple: conception. Unfortunately, what can come as a surprise for some women and couples who have reached that wonderful marker is the unexpected tumult on the other side...
Self-Identity – Where did I go?
Read MoreBeing a brand-new (or second-time or third-time…) parent is hard. All of a sudden we need to get to know a tiny new person and try to work out exactly what they need and want. Add in sleepless nights and...
The Lead up to Birth – Prenatal Anxiety
Read MoreHaving a baby can be a joyful experience and even the birth itself can be full of amazing moments, but for many soon-to-be mums, the perinatal period can be layered with prenatal anxiety and fear. How will I get through...
Anxiety in pregnancy: what are the effects on my baby?
Read MorePregnancy: a time for skipping through a field of daisies in the sunshine – right? For many pregnant women, the experience of being pregnant is no trip to the Lindt D’or factory. Let’s be honest here. The early symptoms in...
