Jacqui McKeering, a 48-year-old real estate agent from Brisbane, Australia, served as a surrogate for her friends Mark Fullerton and Aaron McGillivray, overcoming her own health concerns and doctor's warnings about age-related risks.
McKeering offered to be a surrogate for the couple, whom she had known for ten years, at an Australia Day barbecue. Despite initial reservations about her age and managing menopause symptoms, she decided to proceed after researching the process. Her obstetrician had cautioned that her age might present health risks during pregnancy.
"I had no doubts about doing it. I am a person who likes a bit of an adventure in life and that was just one adventure and a challenge," McKeering told the Daily Mail. "It was a good challenge. I was gifting something."
Surrogacy in Queensland, Australia, is altruistic, meaning the surrogate does not receive financial compensation beyond the reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses by the intended parents. McKeering described the pregnancy as biologically not her child, using another woman's egg and Mark Fullerton's sperm. She was successful on her third embryo transfer attempt, with nearly 40% of such transfers resulting in a live birth.
McKeering gave birth to baby Oliver four weeks early and did not receive an epidural. She stated that the birth went well and she has since fully recovered. This was her first pregnancy in 18 years, and her positive past experiences with childbirth contributed to her confidence in undertaking the surrogacy.
Fullerton and McGillivray, who have been together for over 15 years, expressed that McKeering will have a role in Oliver's life. "Aunty Jacqui is always at hand to offer her advice. She will always be in Ollie's life - it feels like a big extended family," said McGillivray.
McKeering visits Oliver daily, assisting with tasks such as delivering milk. She noted that the baby did not resemble her own children, which helped in navigating her relationship with the infant and his fathers. "I don't feel the need to take the baby but I feel a special connection to the baby," she said.
