Pathways to Parenthood Surrogate Feature: Veronica
You can read all about what it’s like to be a surrogate. Online you can find what one might be able to expect and what the process is like but the best way to learn about a journey as a surrogate mother is through firsthand experience from someone who knows.
For our first Surrogate feature of 2021, we sat down (virtually) with Surrogate Veronica. Veronica is in her second trimester of her first surrogacy journey.
1) What first brought you to surrogacy? What made you interested in becoming a surrogate?
It’s something I always thought about doing after my first pregnancy. All of my pregnancies have been super easy and I love being pregnant but we don’t want any more kids for ourselves. I figure this way I can do something I love for someone else. I know not everyone has as easy a time getting and being pregnant as I did so it’s nice to help someone else when you are able.
2) During the matching process, were you interested in helping a specific type of family or were you open to any match?
I was open to any match. I originally thought I would match with a gay couple but then that’s not how it worked out. Regardless, I absolutely adore my IPs and I’m so glad to be working with them.
3) How did you build the relationship with your IPs during your first journey?
We text every now and then. If I have important questions or information then we will set up a time for a call or FaceTime— we both have young kids so usually after the bed time circus is a good time to chat. My IPs are semi local to me so they are able to come to some appointments and that has been really nice!
4) Do you have any advice to share with prospective surrogates?
It took me a long time from thinking about being a surrogate to being pregnant so plan for a lot of twists and turns. It has all definitely been worth it in the end.
If you are inspired by Veronica’s surrogate mother story, apply now to see if you qualify to be a surrogate. We have intended families waiting to be matched with a surrogate to grow their families. Pathways to Parenthood is offering a $500 bonus payment to anyone that completes the screening process and joins our program.
7 Tips For Preparation To Become A Surrogate
The surrogacy process can and should be an exciting and joyful experience for surrogates and intended parents. There are many steps in the surrogacy process and therefore many potential opportunities for disappointment, frustration, and stress. Knowing what to expect and being prepared for the surrogacy journey can help reduce the likelihood of any negative emotions and experiences. The following tips can help you have a great start to a wonderful opportunity to help others in such a special way.
Know The Requirements
There are many surrogacy agencies and fertility clinics that list the requirements/criteria to become a surrogate. If you search the topic, you will find a plethora of information. You will also find that the requirements/criteria are consistent for any surrogacy agency or fertility clinic. You can view as many websites and resources as you have time for, but you really don’t need to. Looking at a few websites will give you reliable information for the requirements to become a surrogate.
Consult Your Doctor
Becoming a surrogate requires that you are healthy reproductively and in overall good health. It is essential to have your OB’s approval before moving forward in the surrogacy process. Written approval from your OB/GYN is a requirement before moving forward as a surrogate.
Be Up To Date On Medical Care
This will be different for every potential surrogate candidate as it is dependent on health history. Examples include being up to date on your Pap Smear, and also all screening/monitoring tests applicable to your age group and health history.
Be Flexible!
As with many things in life, the surrogacy process does not always go as planned. It is important to have plans and timelines in place, however there is a good chance that you will have to adjust those plans and timelines throughout the surrogacy process. Your surrogacy agency can help you anticipate and prepare for any unexpected occurrences that may pop up. Oftentimes, the surrogacy process will go smoothly and without any hiccups so be prepared for that too!
Establish Your Support System
If you are married or have a partner that you share your life with, it is essential that you have their support for your plans to be a surrogate mother! If you move forward in the process to become a surrogate, you will likely find someone in your circle of life that may express negative feelings about you being a surrogate. But your spouse/partner cannot be one of them! Your experience as a surrogate can be an amazing journey for you and your family as you share a unique way of helping others. So be sure that everyone in your immediate family is on board. It is a bonus if parents, siblings and other family members and close friends are supportive. Get feedback from those closest to you as you are gathering information about becoming a surrogate.
Learn From Experienced Surrogates
Many experienced surrogates will share their surrogacy journey stories in a variety of ways. Some will post about their surrogacy process, pregnancy, birth, and post-birth experience on social media platforms and blogs. Most are willing to engage with prospective surrogate mothers and answer questions and give advice. Be sure to gather information from at least 3-4 experienced surrogates to get different perspectives and experiences.
Be Patient!
Every part of the surrogacy process might take weeks, months, or even longer. It is surprising how long certain steps in the surrogacy process can take! Although frustrating, it helps to consider that rushing anything of such magnitude as surrogacy could have negative consequences later. There are many providers involved; surrogacy agency, fertility clinic, reproductive attorneys for intended parents and surrogate, insurance specialists, and OB/GYN. Any of these providers may discover unknown information that causes delays and disappointments. These can be overcome of course, but not without patience, flexibility, and persistence.
It takes a special woman to be a surrogate mother! To even consider the possibility of becoming a surrogate is amazing. As with any important life experience, being prepared can help make the experience all that you want it to be. If you are considering becoming a surrogate, thank you!
Demystifying the Surrogacy Process
For those who have not experienced surrogacy it can seem like a foreign concept, so it is no surprise people have a lot of questions related to the surrogacy process. Hopefully by better understanding the common terms, processes and procedures used during a surrogacy journey, you will feel more comfortable discussing the topic. Women who make this incredibly generous choice to become a surrogate are inspired by various circumstances. Oftentimes they have seen people close to them struggle with fertility. Whatever your reason may be for considering it, remember to have confidence in knowing that surrogacy is a beautiful way for people and science to come together in helping create or add to families.
What is a surrogate? People often do not know the difference between traditional versus gestational surrogates. As your surrogacy agency, Pathways To Parenthood’s journeys are always with a Gestational Carrier. This means the carrier does not share any genetic connection to the baby she carries. Rather, embryos are created with the parents’ genetic material. Sometimes donor sperm and/or eggs are needed. In these cases, the surrogate will not be the egg donor.
How does a surrogate get pregnant? With a surrogate pregnancy, intended parents go through in vitro fertilization (IVF) to create embryos. The surrogate takes medication to prepare her body for a pregnancy, a high-quality embryo is chosen and transferred to the surrogate’s uterus for her to carry.
How are surrogates chosen? The women that come to Pathways To Parenthood come to us with a desire to help and our surrogacy agency takes pride in a thorough screening process. This involves learning the motivation for becoming a surrogate. Furthermore, we evaluate each applicant’s physical health, mental health, obstetric history, background, financial situation and insurance coverage. There are many steps that take place between thinking about becoming a surrogate and actually matching with intended parents. We help our surrogates gain as much information as possible so that they can make the right decision for them when it comes time to match with intended parents.
We realize there are many different journeys to parenthood. If you have considered 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 from you! 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
A Beautiful Surrogacy Story
Recently, Kristen Welker, NBC News chief White House correspondent, and her
husband, shared their good news! They are expecting their first child, a baby girl,
with the help of a surrogate.
Her story is like so many others. It is truly awe inspiring that Kristen would be
willing to share such a personal and difficult life experience so that she can help
others. There are so many emotions that come up for people when they begin to
explore building their family through surrogacy and/or egg donation. It is very
helpful to read about other people’s stories and journeys, like Kristen’s. Read her
story below at link that is provided.
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 are a
surrogacy agency that has 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.
Link to Kristen’s story:
https://www.today.com/parents/kristen-welker-expecting-first-baby-surrogate-t215562