You’ve waited, hoped, and dreamed—and now your baby is coming home. But what happens next?
In this episode, Dr. Alyssa Small Layne sits down with postpartum coach and doula Jaquie Dason to talk about the emotional, physical, and mental transition that happens after surrogacy. From bonding fears and sleep anxiety to preparing your home (and heart) for life with a newborn, Jaquie shares the practical tools and emotional truths every intended parent should know—especially those feeling nervous, unsure, or overwhelmed by the “what now?”
Jaquie also shares her own unique connection to the surrogacy world—she was born through traditional surrogacy herself—and what that means for the way she supports families today.
What You’ll Learn:
00:50 — Why bonding fears are normal for parents through surrogacy
02:28 — What postpartum advice isn’t being passed down anymore
04:13 — Safe sleep myths from older generations (and how to update them)
06:17 — Why surrogacy parents may struggle more with sleep loss
08:07 — Creating a surrogacy-specific parenting course
09:31 — How to build secure attachment even without pregnancy
11:15 — What “secure attachment” means—and how to create it
13:06 — Understanding newborn cues: hunger, overstimulation, and more
14:07 — Dunstan Baby Language and how sounds reveal baby needs
15:08 — Why confidence grows when you understand your baby
17:27 — Why instinct alone isn’t enough—you need tools
19:01 — The #1 thing parents over-prepare for (hint: it’s not knowledge)
21:06 — Jaquie’s birth story as a child of traditional surrogacy
23:51 — On bonding without breastfeeding: “My mom didn’t, and we were incredibly close”
26:33 — What it felt like to meet her birth mom
30:40 — How to talk to your child about their surrogacy story
32:23 — The best book for toddlers learning how babies are made
33:50 — Why traditional surrogacy still deserves clarity and respect
34:44 — The truth about spoiling your newborn (you can’t!)
35:43 — Sleep strategies that work—within 24-hour cycles
36:39 — How to ask for help (and why you absolutely should)
37:42 — Final advice for anxious intended parents preparing to bring home baby
Resources Mentioned:
Jaquie Dason
Instagram: @jaquiepostpartumcoach
Key Takeaways:
Secure attachment is created through compassion, response, and connection—not pregnancy
Bonding is possible and powerful, no matter how your baby arrives
Tools like newborn cue recognition and postpartum support reduce fear and increase confidence
You don’t have to do this alone—and you were never meant to
If you're preparing to bring home your baby, give yourself permission to get support. Explore Jaquie’s surrogacy-specific parenting course. Use BloomBridge to build your fourth-trimester toolkit.
“You can’t spoil a newborn. They need love, holding, and support—just like you do.”
Dr. Alyssa Small Layne is a board-certified OB/GYN and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon with extensive experience in surrogate requirements and gestational carrier support. After navigating her own surrogacy journey as an intended parent, she founded JUNIE to provide comprehensive surrogacy guidance and support.
On Surrogacy Made Simple, Dr. Layne combines her medical expertise with personal experience to help intended parents and surrogates navigate the surrogacy process with confidence and clarity.
Get notified about new episodes and exclusive content.