Belinda Nuske and husband Keiron go through surrogacy to have their baby Emmett

Belinda Nuske had given birth to two stillborn children and had 13 miscarriages before she was faced with news that changed her and her husband’s lives.

Belinda Nuske, holding baby Emmett, with husband Keiron Nuske (right) and surrogate mother Helina Michalski (left). Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Belinda Nuske has had two stillborn babies and 13 miscarriages.

Her friends witnessing her devastation couldn’t stand to sit by and watch.

One donated her eggs, another carried the baby and on Thursday Belinda and her husband Keiron Nuske stood beside their surrogate Halina Michalski as baby Emmett Vernon Nuske became legally theirs.

“The final piece of the puzzle has been completed now,” Belinda, 45, told The Advertiser.

Emmett Nuske was born on November 20, 2023 at 4.49pm. Picture: Supplied by family

Belinda and Keiron Nuske announcing news of their pregnancy via surrogate. Picture: Supplied by family

Belinda and her husband had been trying for a baby since they were 22.

“I was ready to do whatever I needed to do to create a child and have a child of my own,” the Cambrai mum said.

While trying for a baby, Belinda gave birth to two sleeping babies, a boy Asher and a girl Averill, and miscarried 13 times.

Eventually, when aged 40, doctors diagnosed Belinda with antiphospholipid syndrome – an auto-immune condition which Belinda said means her body “rejects the babies” because her blood is too thick.

“It was a bit of a relief because … it wasn’t anything I was doing anything wrong it was just my body failing me so it was outside of my control,” she said.

Belinda was diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome – an auto-immune condition which Belinda said means her body “rejects the babies”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

The couple decided to go down the surrogacy route, a journey that would take them five years.

“Sometimes it takes more people to create a child than just two people,” Belinda said.

Finding an egg donor was simple – Belinda’s friend had been wanting to donate her eggs for the last 15 years.

Belinda posted on social media searching for a carrier after their original surrogate pulled out.

A friend connected her to Halina Michalski, who had posted a status announcing her desire to carry.

“I learnt about egg donation and surrogacy in high school and I just knew it was something I wanted to do,” Ms Michalski, 25, told The Advertiser.

“I’ve been very lucky and had easy pregnancies and I wanted to be able to give someone the chance to be a parent.”

Belinda found her surrogate after posting on social media. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

For Belinda, she thought she’d struggle having a surrogate but discovered it was an incredible experience.

“There were certain milestones that were a little bit daunting but outside of that I was quite happy for Halina to carry the baby,” she said.

“A lot of people were like ‘I can’t believe you’re doing this, will she even hand the baby over, maybe you shouldn’t be a mother’.

“Sometimes it takes a village to raise a child and we’ll do whatever way it needs to be done.”

Emmett was born on November 20, 2023 at 4.49pm.

“I actually delivered him … I got to catch him coming out,” Belinda said.

“It was the most magical experience of my whole entire life … I would do it 1000 times again.”

Their surrogate Ms Michalski, who has four children of her own, said the birth experience was “amazing”.

“Getting to see Bell and Keiron hold Emmett for the first time was incredible, especially knowing how hard the journey had been to get to that moment,” she said.

Emmett Nuske when he was an embryo. Picture: Supplied by family

For Ms Michalski, not returning home with the child she carried was something she prepared for.

“We had multiple counselling sessions and you go into the whole process knowing the baby isn’t going home with you,” she said.

“I was really excited for him and his parents to get to take him home and be a family.”

Belinda and Keiron, who have six embryos on ice, want to have more children but right now are focused on Emmett who just turned three months old.

Originally published as Belinda Nuske and husband Keiron go through surrogacy to have their baby Emmett