Have you ever wondered why some Australian families travel overseas for surrogacy? Or been confused by headlines about proposed payments for surrogates and whether that crosses a line?

Australia's surrogacy laws have been called "confusing, restrictive, and not fit for purpose." Now there's talk of reform, including monthly payments to surrogates. But it raises questions about whether we're finally acknowledging the labour involved, or creating new problems.

In this episode, Dr Renee White explores Australia's proposed surrogacy law reforms and sits with some uncomfortable questions that don't have simple answers. Like whether it's more exploitative to pay someone for nine months of physical and emotional labour, or to expect them to do it for free while the doctors, lawyers and agencies all get paid.

This isn't about having all the answers. It's about creating space to think about what fair support and real protection actually look like.

You'll hear about:

1. Why 369 families a year go offshore for surrogacy and whether our current laws are protecting anyone
2. The thinking behind altruistic surrogacy and why surrogates are the only ones not compensated
3. What the proposed reforms actually include and why people are so divided
4. Whether we can put a price on pregnancy and who gets to decide what counts as exploitation
5. How this connects to bigger questions about valuing reproductive labour and care work

Whether you've considered surrogacy, know someone who has, or you're just trying to understand this complex issue, this episode offers space to think critically about what we owe to surrogates, children and families navigating this path.

Resources & Links

📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_

🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services

🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies

✨ This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village.

If this episode sparked something for you, share it with someone who'd value the conversation. And don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.

Disclaimer

The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.

You've heard breastfeeding protects against allergies and asthma. But have you ever wondered what's actually happening inside your baby's body to make that possible?

It's one of those things people say all the time, but rarely explain. And when you're in the thick of feeding, you deserve more than soundbites.

In this episode, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Toby Mansell, a researcher from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute here in Australia. His team studied nearly 900 babies from pregnancy through childhood, and what they found is genuinely fascinating.

Together they talk about what happens at the molecular level when babies breastfeed, why certain fats in breast milk seem to reduce inflammation, and what this might mean for immune health down the track.

It's science, yes. But it's also context. And hopefully, it helps things make a bit more sense.

You'll hear about:

1. How the Barwon Infant Study tracked 900 babies to understand what influences health from early life
2. Plasmalogens, lipids abundant in breast milk but absent in formula, and why they reduce inflammation
3. What chronic inflammation in infancy means for allergies, asthma, and metabolic health later
4. How breastfeeding changes infant metabolism at the cellular level
5. What this could mean for formula composition and supplements for all babies

Whether you're breastfeeding, formula feeding, or somewhere in between, this episode helps you understand what's happening biologically. It's research-based clarity without pressure or judgment.

Resources & Links:

📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_

🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services

🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies

🔗 Connect with Dr Toby Mansell: Murdoch Children's Research Institute - Inflammatory Origins Group

🌐 Resources mentioned:

1. Barwon Infant Study
2. Murdoch Children's Research Institute
3. Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne

This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village.

If this episode helped you feel more informed or less alone, share it with a mum who needs a steadier perspective. And don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Disclaimer

The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not...

If you’re staring at a breast pump late at night and wondering how this is meant to work once you’re back at work, you’re not alone.

Returning to work while breastfeeding is one of the most common and least supported transitions in early motherhood. It’s practical, emotional and deeply personal. Many mums feel caught between feeding their baby, returning to their role at work and trying to hold onto a sense of themselves in the process.

In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White offers a calm, evidence-informed conversation about what this transition really looks like. Not the Instagram version. The real one. With practical guidance, emotional reassurance and permission to do this in a way that works for you and your family.

Renee explores the realities of combining breastfeeding and paid work, including the systemic gaps that make it harder than it needs to be. She shares practical strategies to prepare before you return, alongside gentle reminders that there is no single right way to feed or work.

This episode is about clarity, choice and giving yourself room to adapt as your needs change.

You’ll hear about:

1. How to talk to your workplace about expressing, your rights and the space you need
2. When to introduce bottles, and what to try if your baby won’t take one
3. Setting up a pumping and feeding rhythm that actually fits your workday
4. What usually happens to supply when you go back, and why small dips are common
5. The emotional load of this season, and why guilt, grief and relief can all show up at once

Success isn’t about how long you breastfeed or how often you pump. It’s finding what works for your body, your baby, your work and your mind, and letting that be enough. You don’t have to nail it on day one. You’re allowed to tweak, change your mind and ask for support as you go.

Resources & Links

📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_

🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services

🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies

✨ This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia’s first doula village.

If this episode helped, share it with a mum who needs a break but doesn’t want the chaos. And don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood. 💛

Disclaimer

The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.