Testimonials

Kansas Surrogate Spotlight: Bailee’s Journey as a First-Time Surrogate

Introducing Bailee – A First-Time Surrogate in Kansas

Pathways To Parenthood Surrogacy Agency is excited to feature Bailee in our surrogate spotlight series. Currently 26 weeks pregnant, Bailee describes her first surrogacy journey as an “incredible experience” and encourages other women considering surrogacy to take the next step.

For women that are considering surrogacy, hearing firsthand experiences can be invaluable. Just as Bailee once researched and read others’ stories, she now hopes her own journey will inspire new surrogates to help intended parents fulfill their dream of having a baby.

Bailee’s Motivation to Become a Surrogate

When Bailee first contacted Pathways To Parenthood to learn more about our surrogacy program, we asked her why she wanted to become a surrogate and what motivated her to consider surrogacy. Her answer was simple:

“It was a great way for me to be able to help a family with their dreams of having a child, and I could enjoy the experience of being pregnant again.”

After her pregnancy with her daughter in 2024, Bailee and her husband decided their family was complete. Though she knew this was the best choice for them, Bailee loved being pregnant and wanted to experience it again. She had heard about surrogacy and began doing research to learn more about the process. Surrogacy offered the perfect balance — allowing her to carry another pregnancy while giving the gift of parenthood to someone else. Bailee saw surrogacy as a win-win for everyone involved!

Researching the Surrogacy Process and Requirements

Reading about others’ surrogacy stories sparked Bailee’s interest further and she thought about how it would be a good way for her to experience pregnancy again AND help someone else. She was motivated to take the next steps and began researching surrogate requirements to see if she would qualify.

Bailee’s first step was to learn about surrogate qualifications. She was relieved to discover that she met the necessary requirements, though she was initially puzzled by why some women are disqualified from becoming surrogates when they are so willing to something as meaningful and kind as carry a baby for someone else.

Now that she has progressed further along in her surrogacy experience, Bailee understands that strict criteria are in place to protect both the surrogate and the baby, by reducing risks and complications and ensuring a safe delivery. Going through the screening process with Pathways To Parenthood, and the medical evaluation at the fertility clinic gave her confidence that her health and the baby’s health were why requirements for surrogacy are so essential.

Bailee’s Favorite Part of Surrogacy So Far

Bailee is in the pregnancy stage of the surrogacy process and looks forward to the culmination of her exciting journey to the birth of the baby and handing the baby over into the loving arms of their parents. While Bailee has enjoyed almost every step of the surrogacy process, her favorite part has been building a strong relationship with her intended parents:

“My favorite part so far has been building a relationship with the amazing couple that I am working with. They are absolutely fantastic people and are going to make the best parents. They have been supportive, caring and compassionate towards me through everything which has made this journey not only easier but also enjoyable and fulfilling.”

As rewarding as being a surrogate mother can be, there are oftentimes hiccups and challenges along the way.  For Bailee, she expressed feeling so fortunate to have avoided anything terribly challenging up to this point.  Except for morning sickness!

The Importance of a Strong Support System

In addition to her intended parents, Bailee credits her husband and Pathways To Parenthood for making her journey so smooth:

“I credit the ease of mine to Pathways To Parenthood being so incredible with their support, communication, and always checking in on me to see if I need anything. My husband has also been a HUGE support through everything. He has jumped in and helped with everything I have needed. He has been my rock through it all.”

As Bailee highlighted, one very important reason surrogates are able to manage the unexpected events and challenges that can be part of being a surrogate is their support system.  Having the support of family and friends is essential to making the amazing journey of being a surrogate the best possible experience for everyone.

Advice for Women Considering Surrogacy

If you are considering becoming a surrogate mother, there are many things to consider and decide before you begin your surrogacy journey.  Making the decision to become a surrogate is the first step in the amazing and remarkable journey of surrogacy.  Bailee encourages women thinking about becoming surrogates to:

• Thoroughly research the surrogacy process and requirements.
• Consider their motivations carefully.
• Ensure they have the right support system in place.

She emphasizes that while there may be challenges along the way, the rewards — both personal and emotional — far outweigh them.

Why Choose Pathways To Parenthood?

Pathways To Parenthood Surrogacy Agency is proud to support surrogates like Bailee in Kansas City and throughout the Midwest. We provide education, guidance, and support every step of the way — from answering your first questions to celebrating the day you place a baby into the arms of their parents.

If you are ready to begin your surrogacy journey, contact us today. We can connect you with current and past surrogates like Bailee, who can share their own experiences of working with Pathways To Parenthood.

FAQs About Becoming a Surrogate in Kansas City and the Midwest

Q: What are the requirements to become a surrogate in Kansas or Missouri?
A: Most fertility clinics and agencies follow ASRM guidelines. You must be between 21–40 years old, have at least one healthy pregnancy, and be in good health with no major medical complications.

Q: How long does the surrogacy process take?
A: The average journey lasts 18–24 months from application to delivery, though timelines vary depending on matching and medical steps. 

Q: How much do first-time surrogates get paid in Kansas City?
A: Compensation varies by individual circumstances. Pathways To Parenthood ensures surrogates are fairly compensated with transparency and honesty.

Q: Do I need to live in Kansas City to become a surrogate with Pathways To Parenthood?
A: No. We are based in Kansas City but work with surrogates across the Midwest, including Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and more.

Q: What kind of support will I have during my journey?
A: Pathways To Parenthood provides guidance through every step, plus ongoing support for surrogates and their families.

Happy Father’s Day!

Pathways To Parenthood Surrogacy Agency wishes all fathers a wonderful time on their special day.  But we are especially excited to be able to wish Happy Father’s Day to our clients Dominik and Dennis. This is a special Father’s Day for first time Dads Dominik & Dennis.  Dominik and Dennis welcomed their first-born child earlier this year.

Becoming a first-time Dad is an exciting, life-changing, and somewhat scary life experience! For Dominik and Dennis, their journey to becoming parents through egg donation and surrogacy gave them lots of time to get prepared. The egg donation process and surrogacy process gave them an extended “pre-natal” period of time, which was also filled with excitement, anticipation, and a bit of fear of the unknown!

Dominik and Dennis share their experience on their egg donation process with San Diego Fertility Center and their surrogacy process with Pathways To Parenthood Surrogacy Agency. They also share their thoughts and emotions on meeting their son for the first time and adjusting to their new life.

1.How long did it take to go through the egg donation process and surrogacy process before you became pregnant?

We started selecting an egg donor with San Diego Fertility Center early April 2020.  The embryo transfer was in June 2021 as we had to wait for our surrogacy process to complete.  Our first embryo transfer was successful, and we received a positive pregnancy in July! 

2. Were there any surprises or unexpected events (COVID!!!) or unexpected feelings during the egg donation process and/or the surrogacy process?

What really made the whole process difficult for us, was the Covid pandemic and the travel ban that made it impossible for us to come to the United States from Germany. We always had imagined meeting all parties in person prior to starting the process, but that was not possible. It felt odd to put that much trust into people you haven’t met in person. Yet we were surprised how well everything worked out meeting virtually and how much trust we gained virtually in the people involved. Once pregnancy was confirmed, it felt unreal, that a person across the Atlantic was pregnant with our baby. We were able to meet our surrogate early in pregnancy when she traveled to Europe and then were able to travel to the United states on a National Interest Exception for the 20 week ultrasound.  We were also able to meet our contacts at our surrogacy agency, Pathways To Parenthood, and our attorney Joni Franklin.

3. What was the relationship with your surrogate like?

From the moment we were introduced to begin the matching process we were in daily contact getting to know each other. When we first met our surrogate in person, it felt like meeting a good friend. We really enjoyed the time with her when we came to the United States for the birth of our son. We met often for dinner and other fun activities both before and after birth. Our wishes were to have a good relationship during pregnancy (we did!)  and also in the years to come.  So far it is going well!

4. What was it like/what were your initial feelings seeing your son for the first time?

It was a very emotional moment for all of us, including our surrogate and her support person. We were so overwhelmed during skin-to-skin bonding with our son.  We had tears of joy because for the longest time of our lives we thought that as gay men we would never be able to experience this moment. It still amazes us how powerful the bonds and relationships are that were created during this long journey of planning, trust, love and much more.

5. What has been the biggest adjustment in your lives being first time parents?

The biggest adjustment is probably an obvious one: getting up every two to three hours at night to feed the baby :-). Not much sleep!  We also learned quickly that even the smallest trip takes a lot of planning.  Having to consider whether plans fit into the baby’s feeding, sleeping and diaper schedule is a big adjustment, but a welcome one! Another big adjustment is for our relationship to not be able to find much quiet time to just enjoy a glass of wine or watch a movie. Life is especially busy now, so we need to divide chores to be able to get everything done whereas before the birth of our son, we used to do most of them together.

6. What are your plans for your first Father’s Day?

In Germany Father’s Day is celebrated on Ascension Day in May. On this day it is tradition to go on a hike with many friends and take a handcart that is stocked with beer. However, for our first Father’s Day, we spent the day sleeping in, taking naps, and enjoying time with our son.

7. What advice do you have for men just starting their journey to parenthood through egg donation and surrogacy?

Trust your instincts! Take your time and choose a surrogacy agency that fits your style. It is important to form a strong connection to your surrogate. In our opinion, it is important to be able to tell your kid in the future openly and age-appropriately how they came into the world. Also, we think it is important that they have the chance to meet their surrogate and egg donor if they wish to do so in the future.

Surviving the Holidays When Everyone But You Has A Baby!

The holiday season is kicking into full swing, and it can be stressful, even in the best of circumstances. The holidays are a time for family, which can mean it’s a time riddled with all kinds of unpleasant feelings, especially if you’re trying to start your own family. Thanksgiving dinner is where we all take a moment to reflect and count our blessings, even though many have yet to receive the only blessing they’re hoping for. And then there are Christmas and Hanukkah where stories of miracles are abundant. Finally, New Year’s Eve has everyone casting their wishes for the upcoming year. If you are going to be seeing your family member that can’t help but constantly ask when you are going to have a baby, your holiday can be even more challenging. The good news is that there are some things you can do to help enjoy the holidays and make them a bit less stressful. So, instead of hiding under your covers from Thanksgiving until New Years, we’ve got some tips to help navigate one of the most wonderful times of the year.

1. Have your response ready. The chances of somebody asking you an inappropriate question about when you’re going to have kids is high over the holidays. Instead of being caught off-guard, have your answer ready so you don’t have to stress about what to say. If you find yourself in the middle of an uncomfortable conversation, don’t be afraid to switch the subject. Be direct if that doesn’t work. Say you really don’t want to talk about this right now. It helps if you say it all with a smile on your face. It will make you feel less stressed, and not come across as angry or defensive.  But however you can do it is okay.  Just be ready!
2. Know that you can say no. Don’t feel like you have to attend every event. If a holiday party that includes babies and young children feels like more than you can handle, politely decline the invitation. Give yourself permission to say no to events if you don’t feel comfortable attending or are just not up for it. If you don’t want to go, more than likely you won’t end up having a good time.
3. Do something for yourself. Find time to do something you truly enjoy. Book a massage, plan a night or two away with a lot of pampering, set aside time to read a book you enjoy, go on a few long walks, have lunch with a friend, or go to a movie. There are so many holiday commitments – office parties and family gatherings – that take up our free time during the holidays, and we can forget to do activities that we enjoy for ourselves. Take time out for yourself during this busy time of year.
4. Do something for others. Volunteering and helping others in need can help you reflect on what you are thankful for in your own life. Volunteer to serve dinner at a shelter, or host a can food drive.
5. Start a new family tradition with your partner. You and your partner are a family. Choose activities and create traditions that center on you two as a couple. Consider taking a trip and getting away together. Approaching the holiday in a new way on your own terms can make it a lot more enjoyable.

The holidays can be tough on a lot of people, but they can be especially challenging when you are trying to start a family. Remember that there is no perfect way to navigate the holidays, and only you will know what will work best for your own needs. Hopefully the tips above help you survive the holidays with a little less stress and a little more cheer. If you’re considering surrogacy as a means to grow your family, the team at Pathways To Parenthood is happy to speak with you and answer all your questions. You can learn more about surrogacy on our website.

Surrogate Bonus – Pathways to Parenthood

Many women enjoy being pregnant. From the glowing skin to the baby bump, there’s a lot to love about the pregnancy journey. Many people who enjoy being pregnant, but aren’t looking to expand their family, choose to give the gift of parenthood to those who can’t conceive on their own through surrogacy. Pathways to Parenthood is offering a $500 bonus payment to anyone that completes the screening process and joins our program. Since we’re always in the market for incredible women who have the heart to help create families, this program is our way of saying “thank you.”

Why Are We Offering a Bonus?

Surrogacy is extremely important. The more surrogates that we find, the more families that we can help have children – and we think that deserves a bonus! We have many intended parents waiting to be matched with a surrogate to grow their families.

To learn more about our surrogacy process, please click here!

*Your $500 bonus will be paid out once the screening process has been completed.