Emma Grede

Like they had different things going on. And I looked around and I knew I was the only one of all five of us that knew everybody's thing. And I was like, we could be having such a good conversation now. It would be so rich and so useful because, again, there was somebody that had kids by IVF. There was someone who had just come from somewhere.

Like they had different things going on. And I looked around and I knew I was the only one of all five of us that knew everybody's thing. And I was like, we could be having such a good conversation now. It would be so rich and so useful because, again, there was somebody that had kids by IVF. There was someone who had just come from somewhere.

There was somebody that was in the middle of diagnosing endometriosis. And there was somebody who was pregnant but not telling everyone she was pregnant because it was IVF and she'd had all the problems. But anyway, everybody had their own unique circumstances. And I was like, in a group of women where we discuss – I won't even say what we discuss, but we discuss every single thing –

There was somebody that was in the middle of diagnosing endometriosis. And there was somebody who was pregnant but not telling everyone she was pregnant because it was IVF and she'd had all the problems. But anyway, everybody had their own unique circumstances. And I was like, in a group of women where we discuss – I won't even say what we discuss, but we discuss every single thing –

that that is like the last taboo. It says something about your womanhood, that it would be such a deeply held secret and something that you just can't discuss is such a shame. And I'm not saying that that's what it is for all women and all groups of friends, but it's definitely something that people really, really struggle with talking about.

that that is like the last taboo. It says something about your womanhood, that it would be such a deeply held secret and something that you just can't discuss is such a shame. And I'm not saying that that's what it is for all women and all groups of friends, but it's definitely something that people really, really struggle with talking about.

And certainly for me, going down the surrogacy route, I really felt an element of... I wouldn't say shame, but it was like, I was willing to do this myself. Like, why couldn't I? You know, I should have just been able to do it. I was ready, you know, at 38 to, like, have to, like, go back on the workouts and, you know, like, you know, figure myself out again.

And certainly for me, going down the surrogacy route, I really felt an element of... I wouldn't say shame, but it was like, I was willing to do this myself. Like, why couldn't I? You know, I should have just been able to do it. I was ready, you know, at 38 to, like, have to, like, go back on the workouts and, you know, like, you know, figure myself out again.

And so I felt like I'd been robbed of an opportunity to do something. And then, you know, coming out of it, I was like, wow, that was such a profound experience that I would never have had, had all of these things not happened. And so in a weird way, I was just kind of grateful for the opportunity to have been... you know, to have been able to see how selfless like another human being could be.

And so I felt like I'd been robbed of an opportunity to do something. And then, you know, coming out of it, I was like, wow, that was such a profound experience that I would never have had, had all of these things not happened. And so in a weird way, I was just kind of grateful for the opportunity to have been... you know, to have been able to see how selfless like another human being could be.

Yeah, I was, although I have to tell you that there's nothing, you know... For most women, we spend all of our time thinking about how to not get pregnant. It's just like, you know, I just want to like not get pregnant forever until it's your moment that you want to get pregnant. And then there's this second moment where it's like, it's no longer your choice.

Yeah, I was, although I have to tell you that there's nothing, you know... For most women, we spend all of our time thinking about how to not get pregnant. It's just like, you know, I just want to like not get pregnant forever until it's your moment that you want to get pregnant. And then there's this second moment where it's like, it's no longer your choice.

And the window's really, really narrow. And so I, you know, again, I have hundreds of women in my office. And I mentioned to you at the start of this conversation, you know, there was some fertility seminar yesterday. I think that there's still so many myths around it. You know, there is no good time. You can freeze eggs, but it's not like freezing embryos. It's very different, right? And so...

And the window's really, really narrow. And so I, you know, again, I have hundreds of women in my office. And I mentioned to you at the start of this conversation, you know, there was some fertility seminar yesterday. I think that there's still so many myths around it. You know, there is no good time. You can freeze eggs, but it's not like freezing embryos. It's very different, right? And so...

The idea that the decision is all ours is just not realistic and that there is a window and it is narrow and it is something that you have to think about. And I think there are a lot of women that know that they don't want children. That's fine. But if you do, it's really something that you ought to be more planful of because it's bloody difficult and it's not how you think.

The idea that the decision is all ours is just not realistic and that there is a window and it is narrow and it is something that you have to think about. And I think there are a lot of women that know that they don't want children. That's fine. But if you do, it's really something that you ought to be more planful of because it's bloody difficult and it's not how you think.

The clock is ticking.

The clock is ticking.

Stephen, whatever you say, I will do. It's a great idea. Let's go. What should it be called?

Stephen, whatever you say, I will do. It's a great idea. Let's go. What should it be called?