Testimonials

Surrogate vs. Gestational Carrier: What’s the Difference?

The terms surrogate mother, gestational surrogate, and gestational carrier are often intermixed, and sometimes confused.  It is important to understand the differences so that you can make the best decisions about your family building options.

The term gestational carrier is most often used by medical professionals and attorneys, to describe a woman who carries a baby that she is NOT genetically connected to.  When a gestational carrier conceives, it is via in vitro fertilization by using either the intended mother’s eggs, or an egg donor’s eggs, the intended father’s sperm or a sperm donor’s sperm.  Embryos created are then transferred to the gestational carrier’s uterus with the hope that a pregnancy ensues. The term gestational surrogate is used interchangeably, and is the same as a gestational carrier.

A traditional surrogate is a woman who is inseminated by the intended father’s sperm, or donor sperm.  If she conceives and gives birth, the baby, or babies are then given to the intended parents to raise as their child.  In traditional surrogacy, the carrier is also the genetic mother of any children conceived.

In either scenario, the intent is for the carrier to give any children to intended parents to raise and care for as their own. There are different legal, social and ethical considerations for each of the options, so talking with professionals who are knowledgeable about all options is essential to making the best family-building decisions.  Pathways To Parenthood: An Egg Donor and Surrogacy Agency can help you with clarifying and understanding your options.  Contact us today!

Pathways To Parenthood Egg Donor in Kansas City makes dreams come true

I was thrilled recently to learn that a couple that utilized a Pathways To Parenthood Egg Donor is pregnant!!!  Although it is early in the pregnancy, and we all must still remain cautiously optimistic, the fact that they have experienced positive results in their journey to become parents is such wonderful news.  Sharing in their joy makes all of the hard work that we do more than worth it.  Sharing in their joy reminded me why I got this crazy idea to start an egg donor and surrogacy agency in the first place.  : )

Technology, Egg Donation and Gestational Surrogacy for Family Building in Kansas City

The internet gives future parents an opportunity to quickly access a plethora of information about third-party reproduction.  The ability to access information about egg donation or gestational surrogacy gives people information and options for building and growing their family.  Many times, information overload happens and people start to feel overwhelmed and alone on their journey to build their family utilizing an egg donor or gestational surrogate.

Pathways To Parenthood, LLC gives intended parents a place and a person they can turn to and meet with face to face to sort out all of the information, or lack thereof.  We understand the challenges that individuals and couples face when starting down the path of egg donation or gestational surrogacy.  Call us or email us today and let us help you get started on your journey to parenthood!

The Financial Burden of Using An Egg Donor or Gestational Surrogate in Kansas City

Building a family through the use of an egg donor, gestational surrogate, or sometimes both, can be an emotionally exhausting journey.  The realization of the dream of having a baby is worth the journey for those that reflect back on their journey after their baby (or babies) are born.

Most are able to recover quickly and enjoy the family they worked so hard to build.  However, there is one aspect of the journey that is much more difficult to recover from, and that is the financial burden that third-party reproduction brings.

Many individuals and couples cannot even consider the options because they simply cannot afford it.  And even if they figure out a way, it leaves them with starting the journey of parenthood, which is quite an expensive endeavor itself, financially strained.

If you are considering family building through third-party reproduction, know that there are companies and clinics that offer fertility financing programs and options.  Although these programs do not eliminate the financial burden of third-party reproduction, they can help you afford more options, and allow you to budget for your treatment.  Resolve, The National Infertility Association, offers a list of products and programs that offer infertility financing programs.  You can learn more about these programs here.