Ever since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to do something big to help another family. My parents were foster parents who took in around 50 children throughout my childhood. I thought perhaps this would be my calling too, but it just didn’t seem right for my family.
The idea of being a surrogate popped into my head when talking to some friends who knew from the start that they wouldn’t be able to carry a child due to some medical issues. Being newlyweds, they weren’t ready for the commitment of a child, so I began to research agencies and what it entailed to be a surrogate.
Family Source was the first agency I contacted, and from the start, I knew they were the right fit for me. The process was absolutely seamless and very quick. I was matched within the first month with some super cool dads from California. We got along great from the beginning. They had one daughter already who was also born through surrogacy, and they were hoping for another child using the embryo that was left from the genetics of the other dad. Thank goodness our first transfer worked so that their two children could be genetic siblings through the common egg donor!
My pregnancy was uneventful in the best way possible all the way throughout. We found out that I was carrying a boy which was perfect for them since they had a daughter already. The delivery was beautiful! He was bigger than I had imagined he would be and healthy as could be. The dads were so incredibly happy! I too felt incredibly fulfilled and that I was right where I should be.
I was able to provide the baby with colostrum and a small amount of milk before he left at the end of the week. I have been able to continue pumping breast milk, first sharing it with my niece and nephew and most recently with a local premature baby whose parents and family I know from church. This also has left me feeling so fulfilled in life.
I can’t help but look back at this past year and feel so blessed to have been able to help these families. What an incredible year I have had!
Staci Swiderski, CEO and owner of Family Source Consultants has been involved in the field of reproductive medicine since 2002. Staci has vigorously grown the comprehensive egg donation and gestational surrogacy agency to become a worldwide leader in the third-party reproduction field. Staci is a former intended parent herself. She and her husband welcomed their son via gestational surrogacy in 2005. Additionally, Staci had the experience of assisting an infertile couple (AKA Recipient Parents) build their family through her efforts as an egg donor, with her donation resulting in the births of their son and daughter.
