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Their Dreams of Parenthood
Baby Number Three is a poignant story that chronicles one mother’s unyielding determination to overcome heartbreaking obstacles and complete her family through the challenging journey of surrogacy. Were there any specific moments or chapters that were particularly hard for you to write about?
The hardest part of writing the second part of Tabitha’s journey was the knowledge that I may never actually be able to live out this part of the story myself.
The surrogacy laws in Australia play a significant role in your story. What changes would you advocate for to make the process easier for parents like you?
I wholeheartedly believe that the surrogacy laws in Australia need to change to allow commercial surrogacy. There are so many wonderful families who deserve the chance to realise their dreams of parenthood, many of whom I have interacted with personally throughout my own fertility journey. The current laws in Australia are so prohibitive, especially with the lack of conversation or air-time that surrogacy currently gets here.
What advice would you give to other women navigating similar challenges with infertility or surrogacy?
Find your village! Of course family and friends are always those we go to for support and advice at first but the fertility journey can be so lonely and I know that families searching for a surrogate can go through the same things. We are lucky to live in an age where there are all sorts of online support groups full of other people going through the same challenges.
If there’s one message you hope readers take away from Baby Number Three, what would it be?
The love and determination that a parent, whether actual or intended feels towards their, truly knows no bounds, regardless of how their child, or indeed children, entered the world.
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That was until traumatic injuries sustained during her labour left Tabitha facing the fact that she would no longer carry another baby.
In the sequel to the novel But Baby, You’re Worth It, Tabitha must navigate the complicated laws of surrogacy in Australia. And she is forced to evaluate her relationships with the women closest to her, testing some to their limits and building stronger bonds with others.
Will Tabitha feel the joy of her baby growing inside of her once more or will she be given the ultimate, selfless gift from someone she holds dear?
How will she cope with the heartbreak of rejection? Somehow, she is determined to meet baby number three.
Baby Number Three
Tamara Chavalle’s Baby Number Three, the sequel to But Baby, You’re Worth It, offers an engaging continuation of Tabitha Powell’s journey as a single mother. Tabitha is raising her thirteen-year-old daughter, Rose, and seven-month-old son, Max, in a small apartment in her mother’s home in suburban Sydney, Australia. Determined to expand her family, Tabitha faces a challenge: a traumatic birth experience with Max has left her unable to carry another child. Undeterred, she shifts her focus toward finding a surrogate and navigating the complex and emotionally charged path that follows.
Chavalle’s writing is both captivating and emotionally resonant, making Tabitha’s struggles and triumphs compelling from start to finish. A central theme is Tabitha’s belief in the idea that everything happens for a reason, even when the reasons remain elusive. This perspective provides her with the strength to confront life’s many obstacles, resonating deeply with readers. Unexpected twists and turns in the narrative kept me invested, eager to uncover how Tabitha’s journey would unfold for herself and her family.
I found the exploration of Australian surrogacy laws intriguing. In Australia, commercial surrogacy is illegal, meaning that surrogates must act out of altruism rather than for monetary compensation. This legal and cultural distinction added depth to the story, as Tabitha’s quest to find someone willing to carry her baby took on a unique and heartfelt dimension. The emotional and ethical complexities of altruistic surrogacy were woven seamlessly into the plot, enriching the reading experience.
One element of the story that I liked was Tabitha’s approach to seeking a surrogate. She wrote emails to close friends and family members, asking if they would consider helping her. While this method may have felt natural to Tabitha, it struck me as impersonal for such a monumental request. Asking someone to carry a child is deeply significant, and I felt such a conversation warranted an in-person discussion. This disconnect added an interesting layer to Tabitha’s character but also left me questioning her choices.
At times, the narrative felt slightly repetitive, especially when detailing the endless hurdles in Tabitha’s path. However, that may also be the point. It mirrors the cyclical nature of her struggles and triumphs. Moments of humor, like her interactions with other parents or her wry commentary on modern dating, provided welcome relief and added texture to the story.
Baby Number Three is a heartfelt exploration of resilience, family, and the lengths one woman will go to fulfill her dreams of motherhood. Tamara Chavalle skillfully balances emotional depth with cultural insight, crafting a story that is thought-provoking. The novel’s charm and complexity make it a memorable read.
Pages: 226 | ASIN: B0DR56JK2H
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