Shaun Resnik Makes History in Victoria, Becomes First Single Man to be a Dad Through Surrogacy

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By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald Apr 05, 08:42 am

Photo: (Photo : Anastasia Vlasova/Getty Images)

History was made in Australia with Shaun Resnik becoming the first single man to be accepted under the state of Victoria's strict surrogacy laws after welcoming his newborn son Eli into the world.

Resnik, a Victorian man in his 40s, had to wait a long time for his dream of becoming a father to turn into a reality, with the entire surrogacy process spanning three and a half years. Surrogacy in Victoria has been notoriously difficult for single people, but the long wait finally ended for Resnik when the surrogate mother, Carla Pincombe, gave birth to his baby boy.

The new father can't stop gushing about the latest addition to his family, telling 7News that it is a love like he has never experienced before. Pincombe, who has now carried two egg donations to other families, said she felt pure joy and relief that the entire surrogacy process was over.

Fertility specialist hails Resnik's surrogacy news

In the state of Victoria, around 100 babies are born to surrogates each year. They first need federal government approval, though, for the process to go ahead. Resnik said in the interview that he had found love since the federal government approved his surrogacy application, but he made it clear that any choices he makes in the future regarding further extending his family will come with the best interests of baby Eli at heart.

Fertility specialist Dr. Lyn Burmeister was delighted with the news of Resnik becoming a father via surrogate in Australia, saying, "We shouldn't be sending people overseas for surrogacy or egg donation."

When Resnik found out that his application to become a dad through a surrogate was approved last year, he hailed the decision. Resnik said it is time society got to see single gay men as dads. Resnik added that he has always wanted to be a dad, but he did not know how he would make it possible.

According to a report by The Australian, the answer that Resnik sought was through the surrogacy program with the Melbourne native establishing a connection with Pincombe. Resnik was an intended parent at the time, while Pincombe was pregnant with a same-sex couple's child.

Besties Pincombe and Resnik share surrogacy journey

Pincombe said that she never intended to become a part of Resnik's personal surrogacy path. The two of them were partnered to support each other through their separate journeys in the surrogacy process.

Pincombe and Resnik hit it off instantly during their first meeting, with the latter believing they were long-lost "besties." Pincombe watched Resnik endure endless roadblocks in his quest to become a father through surrogacy for two and a half years.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that after Resnik failed in his three previous surrogacy journeys, Pincombe offered her services to her friend to become his baby's surrogate. The process went full steam ahead when Resnik met Bree, who agreed to donate her eggs to him a year ago for surrogacy.