Meet Stacie!
“Working with Family Source was the easiest decision of the process. They are with you throughout the entire journey and beyond. They offer support, answers, guidance, and a shoulder to lean on if needed!”
Q: What led you to become a Surrogate?
Many years ago, a friend was having difficulties conceiving. She was told she may need to use a surrogate, and I told her I would love to be that person for her. I have also enjoyed and had easy pregnancies, so it just felt natural. They ended up not doing surrogacy, but the thought stuck with me. When I stumbled on an ad for Family Source many years later, I couldn’t help but feel an urge to apply!
Q. Who was your greatest support person throughout your journey?
My husband for sure. He steps in to assist with shots, heavy lifting, and standing by my side during delivery. He is truly my biggest fan. I was blessed to have support from afar from all my family as well as in my office by coworkers that wanted to protect me at all costs (during covid)
Q. What made you decide to choose your Intended Parents?
I was given a couple of profiles to look over and loved them both. I never felt like I should be picky about whom I could help, so when I saw the Intended Dad and read about how long he had been on his journey to becoming a parent…I wanted to do all I could to help!
Q. What are some of the highlights of your journey?
With my IP living in Italy, I didn’t get to meet face to face until delivery. So the moment I saw him nervously watching from the corner I the room, it all came full circle and the reason we do this became so clear! It’s a feeling you just can’t explain. The day they left to start the trip home, we both cried. His in gratitude, mine in happiness!
Q. Do you have advice for women who are interested in becoming a gestational surrogate?
Make sure you have a strong support system around you. You will need them with the flow of emotions that come throughout the journey of waiting and then feeling like it is flying by! Be proud of yourself! It’s ok to be proud of what your body can do. You’re creating a family!!
Q. How was this pregnancy different from your other pregnancies?
I have been blessed to have (4 now total) easy pregnancies. My 2 daughters that are now grown, and 2 boy surro journeys. I don’t know if it’s the difference between carrying boys vs. girls, but I feel like my body responded to the surro babies (boys) even better. I felt amazing and full of energy (mostly).
The excitement is different because it’s so much more. It’s an excitement for the parents to be and the life you are about to bring to the world, the family that is becoming a reality!
Q. What did you do to prepare yourself for separating from the baby after it was born?
It’s really a mindset that you have to get very early on. Explaining it to others when they ask that it’s not your baby, so it’s not giving a baby up, but delivering the most precious gift that they have entrusted you to nourish and grow helps instill it in your mind also.
It’s almost impossible not to feel attached in a way, and if you’re lucky, you get to always be a part of their life through photos/videos, and maybe even visits. But having that mindset that you are just the stork and not the momma helps!
Learn more about becoming a surrogate by submitting a request for information, or start your surrogate application today!
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.
