Becoming A Surrogate: Sharing Your Whole Story
If you have been considering becoming a surrogate, you might be wondering,
“What do I need to share with others during the surrogacy process?” You likely
assume, and it is correct, that your reproductive story will be told and shared with
many throughout the surrogacy process.
If you decide to work with a surrogacy agency, then the agency screening process
will include your reproductive story. Then you will share your reproductive story
with intended parents. And the fertility clinic you will work with. And perhaps
even your surrogacy attorney that will represent you throughout the process. But
there is so much more to your story! And the stories of the amazing and
generous women that become surrogates.
It can certainly be scary and intimidating to think about having your life story
shared with others. Others who you currently do not know! However, a
surrogacy agency will be understanding that you, as a potential surrogate, are a
human being with a rich life history that includes ups and downs, triumphs and
struggles, good times and not so good times. And if any surrogacy agency that
you are considering working with does not show understanding or compassion for
your whole life story, run for the hills!
It is important to share your whole story with the surrogacy agency that you
decide to work with. They will be able to tell you if anything in your history will
get in the way of you moving forward in the surrogacy process and/or impact the
surrogacy journey in any way at any point in the future. This is important for a
couple of reasons. First, if there is something in your history that would prevent
you from being medically approved during the surrogacy medical evaluation, then
it is better to know that sooner rather than later. As disappointing as that may be
at the time, it is not nearly as disappointing as it would be after matching with
intended parents who you really like, and that really like you, and not be able to
move forward.
Also, there may be something in your past that may be a less than ideal history,
but if it is discussed with your surrogacy agency, they can help figure out how to
best manage the information so that it does not become a problem later. Being a
surrogate is a very special life experience. You will have a close and intimate
relationship with your intended parents, and with your surrogacy agency. Your
surrogacy agency wants the best outcome for all parties, including you. And they
will want to know your whole story. Nobody expects perfection, but everyone
expects and deserves honesty, including you! Trust in the process, and tell your
whole story knowing that you will be accepted, appreciated and respected fully
for who you are, and what you are willing to do for someone else.
We are here to hear your story! If you have dreamed of helping a
family become parents by becoming a surrogate, contact Pathways To
Parenthood today and get started. If having a baby through surrogacy
and/or egg donation is an option you are considering to make your
dreams of becoming a parent come true, we want to hear your story!
Contact Pathways To Parenthood today! We have helped surrogates
and intended parents come together in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado,
Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois, and Arkansas. If you live in the Midwest, we
are the surrogacy agency for you! You can contact us at 913-469-5500
or at www.pathwaystoparenthood.com.
Pathways To Parenthood: An Egg Donor & Surrogacy Agency Celebrates Eight Years!
Wow! It has been an amazing eight years! Helping others build their families
through surrogacy and egg donation has been full of joy and awe. Joy for the
happy ending for dreams coming true for our intended parents and surrogates.
Awe for the incredible people we have had a chance to work with. We have
witnessed strength and resilience, perseverance and commitment in the face of
what can seem like insurmountable hurdles. Being a part of each and every
journey has been a privilege and an honor!
When we started our surrogacy agency and egg donor agency, we did not fully
realize the challenges families faced when utilizing a surrogate and/or egg donor
to grow their family. Although we were prepared, knowledgeable, and of course
very excited to embark upon our journey to help others through surrogacy and
egg donation, we have learned so much more from our experiences these past
eight years. We are so grateful to all the intended parents, surrogates, and egg
donors that have trusted us to be a part of something so unique and special.
We understand now more than ever how important our job is and we take it very
seriously. We continue to strive daily to provide exceptional service and care.
We are here to help make your dreams come true. If you have dreamed
of helping a family become parents by becoming a surrogate or egg
donor, contact Pathways To Parenthood today and get started. If
having a baby through surrogacy and/or egg donation is an option you
are considering to make your dreams of becoming a parent come true,
take the first step and contact Pathways To Parenthood today! We have
helped surrogates and intended parents come together in Kansas,
Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois, and Arkansas. If you live in
the Midwest, we are the surrogacy agency for you! You can contact us
at 913-469-5500 or at www.pathwaystoparenthood.com.
Considering Surrogacy? Independent Surrogacy Process or Surrogacy Agency?
Deciding to embark upon surrogacy to build your family is a really big decision! The surrogacy process that comes after making that decision will vary depending in part whether you decide to do an independent surrogacy process, or work with a surrogacy agency.
What is Independent Surrogacy?
Independent surrogacy means surrogates and intended parents find and screen each other as well as handle all other aspects of the surrogacy process without the assistance of a surrogacy agency. These aspects include the medical processes, the legal process for the surrogacy legal agreement and parentage, the financial costs of the surrogacy process. And everything in between and thereafter!
The independent surrogacy process can take place between intended parents and surrogate that did not know each other previously. Sometimes it occurs between intended parents and surrogate that have some type of personal relationship or connection. They may be relatives, or good friends. They may be friends of friends, or friends of relatives. This type of independent surrogacy process may be a little less stressful than working with what is initially a complete stranger. However, they can also add layers of stress that are not part of the surrogacy process that involves intended parents and surrogates that have no personal connection.
Surrogacy Agency
Working with a surrogacy agency is the other option for building your family through surrogacy. Most people know what a surrogacy agency is, but many don’t realize all that a surrogacy agency does. A full-service surrogacy agency provides services related to all aspects of the surrogacy process. This begins with continuous screening of potential surrogate candidates. This is very time consuming as most women that apply to become surrogates do not complete the screening process for one reason or another. A surrogacy agency will manage the matching process bringing together intended parents and surrogates that are a good fit with respect to each parties’ requirements and special wishes. A surrogacy agency will provide case management for all steps in the surrogacy process after matching. The medical evaluation of your surrogate candidate, the treatment process, the legal process, preparation for the birth of the baby, and post-birth related processes. All of the steps related to each of these categories are too numerous to mention here! However, they are all managed by a full-service surrogacy agency.
Most intended parents and surrogates that decide to work with a surrogacy agency rather than going the independent surrogacy route decide to do so for a variety of reasons. The top reasons given by intended parents and women who decide to become a surrogate are: risk reduction, quicker process, and accessing expertise in a highly specialized type of family building.
If you are in the beginning stages of building your family through surrogacy, or becoming a surrogate, do your research and consult with a surrogacy agency. It doesn’t cost anything to gather information from a surrogacy agency, so at the very least you can consider it part of your research. What you very likely may find is that working with a surrogacy agency is the right fit for you!
If it is in your heart to help a family become parents by becoming a surrogate, contact Pathways To Parenthood today and get started. If having a baby through surrogacy is an option you are considering, take the first step and contact Pathways To Parenthood today! They have helped surrogates and intended parents come together in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois, and Arkansas. If you live in the Midwest, they are the surrogacy agency for you! You can reach them at 913-469-5500 or at www.pathwaystoparenthood.com
I Love My Surrogate!
I don’t mean that in a figurative way, or as a way to express my overall joy of becoming a parent through surrogacy. I literally mean I love my surrogate! I realize that for most people the month of February elicits thoughts of romantic love. But for me, the love of my wonderful, amazing, miracle baby, is coupled with an overwhelming feeling of love for my surrogate!
As we all know, there are many types of love that we experience in our lives. The ancient Greeks had several words for love enabling them to distinguish more clearly between different types of love. The love I feel for my surrogate is in a category all by itself, and I feel compelled to share with others! I hope that my words can help someone that is contemplating embarking upon the surrogacy process to become a parent. I think they may also be helpful for any woman that is considering becoming a surrogate to help others.
I had no idea that my journey would culminate (hopefully) with my long-awaited child, but also experiencing a type of love that I did not realize existed. It has enriched my life and reinforced my belief that most humans are good, kind, and want to help others. If I had known that when I started, it would have helped me greatly as I trudged through all of the steps in the surrogacy process. It is not because my surrogacy process and journey was especially difficult compared to others. It is that at the very beginning stages, there were so many steps in the surrogacy process that it felt daunting. Especially after all the years of disappointments and losses that had come before.
Now that I have crossed over to the other side so to speak, it was of course worth it! So now, along with enjoying my newly expanded family, I want to share how it feels to be on the other side! And the love for my surrogate is not something I expected to be feeling and writing about now! But as love oftentimes does, it makes me want to shout from the rooftops and tell everyone what an amazing woman my surrogate is, and tell the world I love her! Happy Valentine’s Day to all! For those of you that may step into the surrogacy world, I hope you experience the unique and amazing love that I have shared with you today!
J.M. (aka Owen’s mom)
If it is in your heart to help a family become parents by becoming a surrogate, contact Pathways To Parenthood today and get started. If having a baby through surrogacy is an option you are considering, take the first step and contact Pathways To Parenthood today! They have helped surrogates and intended parents come together in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois, and Arkansas. If you live in the Midwest, they are the surrogacy agency for you! You can reach them at 913-469-5500 or at www.pathwaystoparenthood.com.