Testimonials

The Topic of Disclosure: To Tell Or Not To Tell When Conceiving A Child Through Egg Donation

The decision to have a child with donor eggs is an emotional journey. The path up to making the decision is one that has been rocky and laden with obstacles and hurdles. Fortunately most couples that decide to use an egg donor to build their family eventually feel relief and hope that they have an alternative way to build their family. Unfortunately, along with that relief and hope usually comes fear and uncertainty about answering the questions, “Do we tell our child?” and “How do we tell our child?”

Most mental health professionals support disclosing to children the origins of their conception. The belief is based in part on the notion that people have a right to know their genetic origins. Deciding to disclose or not is a personal choice, and one that can only be made by mom and dad. It is an extremely important and impactful decision that will have lifelong implications. It is important to be well informed of consequences of disclosing or not. One excellent article that offers such information can be found here on the Resolve website at www.resolve.org. You can find the article “Disclosure Issues Fact Sheet” on the downloads/factsheets page of their website.

For information on using egg donation to build your family, contact us today!

Finding A Gestational Surrogate On Your Own In Kansas City: Is it worth it?

Building your family through gestational surrogacy is expensive, and the idea of eliminating the expense of using an agency seems like a good idea.  But is it?  Of course the answer to that question is not an easy one, and you may not know until you actually give it a try.  Sometimes it does work out, but many times it does not.  I have heard countless stories of couples that have not only wasted their money on gestational surrogate candidates that did not work out, but more importantly, they wasted TIME!  If you are relying on an advertisement that a candidate posts on a site that is written to entice you to contact them, PROCEED WITH CAUTION!  Many women who post advertisements offering their services to be a gestational surrogate are not good candidates in general, or they may not be the right candidate for you.  A reputable agency like Pathways To Parenthood offers intended parents and gestational surrogates a layer of protection and expertise that greatly increases the chances of a successful outcome for all parties.  Contact us today to learn how we can help you find your gestational surrogate.

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!

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!