We went around the globe to get breast milk for our baby.

Stuart and Francis always wanted to start a family, but didn't think it was possible in the early days. This week, we catch up with the married couple from Beaconsfield, who used a surrogate to have their son, Rio, now two.

The pair wanted their son to drink breastmilk, and went to great lengths to ensure he had a steady supply. "We managed to give him only donated breast milk for the first four months of his life," Stuart tells The Agency.

The couple met at drama school in 2010 and instantly knew they were meant to be together. "Gay marriage wasn't even legal then when we met back in 2010," Stuart shares. "We didn't grow up in a world where having kids as a gay man felt possible."

Stuart and Francis started to look into options in 2018, but it was very overwhelming. "We didn't know where to begin or how much it would cost," Stuart says. Then, when the pandemic hit in 2020, the pair had time to look into things more seriously.

Their good friend, Sam, got in touch offering to help. After some initial hesitation, Stuart and Francis accepted her generous offer and their first embryo transfer worked.

Before Rio was born, they met breastfeeding specialist Amanda Marks. Amanda shared the benefits of breastmilk for newborns, and the pair were determined to ensure their son had his own supply. They joined a breast milk Facebook group and were overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of the women who offered to donate.

In the early days of parenthood, Stuart and Francis both found their own style of parenting. "We both knew we wanted to be very hands-on with our kids and feel fortunate that our career allows us to work from home most of the time," Stuart says.

The couple started documenting their family life on TikTok and were overwhelmed by the love and support they received. But they also had to navigate through some negative feedback. "Occasionally we get the odd negative comment but that’s to be expected when you put yourself out there," Stuart notes.

Stuart and Francis are now expecting their second baby, and Rio will become a big brother very shortly. They say it's a privilege to have been able to have children, and that their son has completely changed their life in every way.

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