When Amanda Lewis gave birth to a surrogate baby girl, her role did not end when she handed her over to her biological parents.
Ms Lewis, who has two teenage daughters, has continued to occasionally breastfeed baby Evangeline and has spent hours expressing milk for her since she was born on August 3.
The little girl was delivered after a seven-hour labour at the Ipswich Hospital, west of Brisbane, where Ms Lewis worked with the baby's biological mother Bec Vallee for years as nurses.
Known as Eva, she weighed 3 kilograms after being born almost three weeks early.
Ms Vallee was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, a kidney disorder, at age 12.
She has had two kidney transplants — one donated by her mum at 17 and another about three years ago.
The second kidney came from a living, altruistic donor — a stranger who willingly gave up a kidney — as part of the Australian and New Zealand Paired Kidney Exchange Program.
Growing up, doctors warned her about the high risks to her of pregnancy with her medical condition.
After Bec married Ryan Vallee, they talked about adoption and becoming foster parents.
But about eight years ago, her older sister Sarah offered to be a surrogate for the couple and gave birth to their first daughter Ambrosia — who they…