Meet Kristi!
“It was special carrying a sibling for my first intended parents.“
Kristi is an amazing surrogate that delivered an adorable baby girl for a loving family, and she previously carried their oldest daughter.
Q: What led you to become a Surrogate?
Becoming a surrogate was always something that I knew I wanted to do. My brother and his husband used FSC to bring beautiful twins into this world. Hearing all about their journey, and knowing that a woman was able to help them create their family, was just purely amazing to me. I knew from that moment I would eventually look into it for myself. After having my own kids (3 children of my own), I felt more and more that I was destined to try surrogacy. My own pregnancies and deliveries were uncomplicated, quick, and easy. I enjoyed every minute of being pregnant, and I was as eager as ever to help someone else start their own family as well.
Q. Who was the most significant support person throughout your journey?
My husband, Scott, by far was the most important person throughout both of my journeys. He was extremely supportive from the very beginning, and very understanding and helpful through each and every step of the process. He for sure was (and always will be) my rock and there’s no way I could’ve done any of it without him there by my side.
Q. What made you decide to choose your Intended Parents?
I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to help a couple who had not yet started their family yet. When I came across my IPs, I just knew we were meant to be a match. One of the things that really helped with us matching is their love of video games. My husband and I are big into video games, and my IPs sharing that same interest really hit home (specifically my husband’s and my IP’s shared love of World of Warcraft). This last surrogacy journey (my 2nd journey) was a sibling journey for the same IP’s. We had already talked about doing a 2nd journey together shortly after ending the 1st journey, so I already knew going into this one that I would have the same IP’s.
Q. What are some of the highlights of your journey?
One of the highlights of my journey is definitely getting together with my IP’s. Since my 2nd journey was a sibling journey with the same IP’s, it was extra special to see how big my first belly buddy has gotten and get to spend some time with her. My IP’s are amazing people and I always love seeing them whenever I get the chance.
Another highlight of the journey, and this is the most important one, is seeing my IP’s with their lovely new bundle of joy. Seeing the love they have for their baby at the end of the journey makes everything worth it all in the end.
Q. Do you have advice for women who are interested in becoming a gestational surrogate?
Biggest advice I would give to someone is do your research. There is so much more involved in being a surrogate than people think. You may get put on a pelvic rest for months at a time, you may get pulled out of work, you may have multiple transfer attempts before one sticks, you may have to miss out on events happening in your personal life, you may have an awful delivery experience, etc. Do your research. Know what you’re getting into. Ask lots and lots of questions and gather as much information as you can. Being a surrogate for someone is an amazing thing to do, but it’s definitely not easy.
Q. What did you find was the biggest misconception people had about surrogacy?
The biggest misconception people always have is that I am related to the baby I’m carrying. People don’t understand right away that gestational surrogacy doesn’t use the surrogate’s egg, so a lot of people immediately say “wow I could never give up my baby.” But the thing is, it’s not my baby. I’m only growing it.
Q. How has becoming a surrogate impacted your life?
Becoming a surrogate has definitely opened my eyes more into the struggles that some people face trying to start a family. For some, starting a family can be a very experience and lengthy process, and even then they may still come across struggle after struggle. I would say I have so much more compassion and understanding now for anyone going through a process similar to this.
Q. Was this pregnancy different than your other pregnancies? If so, how?
This last pregnancy and delivery was different than all of my other ones in the past. In short, this one was way more difficult. During the beginning, I had such bad nausea and heartburn (something I never had with any other pregnancy) and struggled to finish any meals for awhile. Then I ended up being put on pelvic rest for a couple months. Later throughout the pregnancy I got diagnosed with IUGR and my appointments went from every two weeks to twice a week, including NSTs, ultrasounds, and doctor visits. The delivery for this last pregnancy was my longest and most painful delivery as well. A 14-hour labor, and I ended up getting my first epidural. Every pregnancy is different, and you never know what you’re going to get with each one.
Q. How did you prepare yourself for separating from the baby after birth?
For me, I don’t feel like any preparing was needed to separate from baby after birth. I go into every surrogacy with the mindset of this baby belongs to my IP’s. At no point during my surrogacy have I ever felt saddened by the thought of separating from baby. The end goal for me is to be able to give my IP’s the wonderful gift of their baby at the end.
Q. What would you like someone who is considering working with a surrogate to know?
Being a surrogate takes a huge toll on your life. It’s not only the physical aspect of pregnancy, but also the emotional ups and downs you go through, as well as the limitations that you’re put through not only during pregnancy but also before and after pregnancy. Before pregnancy even begins there are limitations put on caffeine intake, sexual intimacy with your spouse, travel limits due to frequent appointments, plus all the many meds you’re taking. Then you go through pregnancy, which is difficult all on it’s own. And after delivery, you have all sorts of limitations all over again- no strenuous activity, no sex, no swimming, time off work, etc. It’s a very time-consuming process, and if you go through a failed transfer or have to start the process over for whatever other reason, then all those timelines start all over again. Having grace and understanding with each other is so important during the entire process.
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 a prominent leader in reproductive medicine for over two decades. Through her strategic vision and dedication, she has developed Family Source Consultants into a globally recognized agency specializing in comprehensive egg donation and gestational surrogacy services. Under Staci’s leadership, the agency has become a trusted partner for intended parents, surrogates, and egg donors worldwide, known for its rigorous standards, compassionate support, and commitment to excellence in third-party reproduction.
Her professional insight is uniquely informed by her own family-building experiences. As an intended parent, Staci welcomed her son via gestational surrogacy in 2005, and as a known egg donor, she assisted an infertile couple in expanding their family. These experiences lend a rare depth to her leadership and have fueled her ongoing dedication to ethical, empathetic, and professional support within the field of reproductive medicine.
