Testimonials

Kansas City’s Only Egg Donor and Surrogacy Agency Is One Year Old!

Happy Anniversary Pathways To Parenthood!

One year ago, in May 2013 Pathways To Parenthood started the amazing journey of serving families, egg donors, and surrogates.  The journey actually started long before with a dream of providing intended parents, egg donors, and gestational surrogates with a local agency that was professional, compassionate, and hands-on.  It was important to me that all people we would work with felt valued and important.

My passion for helping others build and grow their family continues to grow when I see the joy that others feel when realizing their dream come true.  It is also amazing to see how our egg donors and gestational surrogates feel after helping others in such a special and unique way.

I look forward to continuing to provide top-notch service and compassion to our clients, egg donors, and surrogates in the years to come!

Kerry Christifano

M.A., LCPC

Founder of Pathways To Parenthood

The Motivation Behind Gestational Surrogacy in Kansas City

There are many reasons women have for wanting to be a gestational surrogate.  Most assume that the strongest motivating factor for gestational surrogates is the financial compensation they receive.  Although the compensation that gestational surrogates receive for their generous gift can be a large sum, it is not what initially drives most women to pursue surrogacy.

Some people are critical that women accept financial compensation for being a gestational surrogate.  My question to those critics would be -“What is the appropriate compensation to somebody who is willing to give up a year of their life (and body), to help a family  build and grow their family?”.  Another question would be-“Who should make those types of decisions?”.  I do not believe those are easy questions to answer.  I also believe that it is a personal and private matter that should be respected by others that oftentimes really do not know what they are talking about!  But that is a whole other blog post!

What motivates most women that are interested in being a gestational surrogate is the feeling that they are called to help others in such a way.  Potential gestational surrogates typically have had easy pregnancies, love being pregnant, and want to help others in a meaningful way.  Whether they receive financial compensation or not does not detract from the generous gift that they give others by helping them build and grow their family.   To learn more about gestational surrogacy, visit our website at www.pathwaystoparenthood.com.

How Much Money Can You Earn Being a Gestational Surrogate in Kansas City?

For women that are considering the generous gift of being a gestational surrogate to help others build and grow their family, being informed about potential earnings is an important factor.  The total amount you can earn being a gestational surrogate depends on several factors.

There is typically a base fee of $54,000 for first time gestational surrogates.  If a candidate has health insurance that covers surrogacy pregnancies, it is possible to receive a higher base fee.  The base fee is typically paid out over the course of the pregnancy, with partial payment for the treatment process.  There is also additional compensation for travel, maternity clothes, lost wages, and bed rest.  The final fees are determined under a contract with the intended parents.

If you are considering being a gestational surrogate, know that the real reward is not financial.  It is the opportunity to help a couple or individual build and grow their family. 

Required Counseling When Using An Egg Donor To Build Your Family In Kansas City

Depending on where you are on your journey to build your family using egg donation, you may or may not know that your clinic may require you to meet with a mental health professional before moving forward with treatment.  Why?

The main reason that some clinics make it a requirement is that the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), which is a world-renowned professional organization in the field of reproductive medicine, recommends it.  The ASRM publishes treatment guidelines for the field of reproductive medicine that are followed by fertility professionals all over the world.  According to the ASRM guidelines, all persons who wish to use a third-party, or an anonymous party, for reproductive purposes, meet with a mental health professional to discuss all of the special circumstances and future implications.

Even if your clinic does not require it, Pathways To Parenthood recommends it for all future parents using an egg donor to build their family.  Contact us today for more information about using egg donation to build your family.