Nowadays mothers have it harder than ever compared to those in the years gone by. There is the home, the kids, the job, and more to juggle, day in and day out.
And sometimes the mother is doing this all on her own, as is single-mother Beth Andrews, of Wilmington. But, it’s the “and more” that is really astonishing for this super mom. Andrews was also a surrogate mother this past year, on top of the run-of-the-mill duties that every mom balances.
Andrews carried and gave birth to a child for a couple who could not, for medical reasons, do so on their own. She gave the ultimate gift – a new life – to those who felt it was unattainable.
About three years ago Andrews came to the decision, after years of debate, that she would like to learn more about being a gestational surrogate.
“I always thought about doing it. I love kids and always knew that I was going to be a mom,” Andrews said. “Being a surrogate mother was something that was always in the back of my mind, as far back as I can remember.”
Her research led her to Family Source Consultants, an Illinois surrogacy agency established in 2007, that specializes in the facilitation of surrogacy and egg donation arrangements. With personal experience from the company’s CEO, Staci Swiderski, Andrews knew she had found her guide for this process.
Swiderski has been down this road herself but from the other end. Swiderski was an egg donor as well as the mother of a child born through surrogacy. “I had extremely positive experiences that I realized I could use to help others.”
The number one task of the company is to make sure that the surrogate carrier and the intended parents are an ideal fit. Matching their personalities, wants, and desires for the pregnancy and aftermath is imperative for everyone involved.
“The couple is so loving and deserving. And that’s why I love this agency because they did a wonderful job matching us,” Andrews says of her experience.
Before agreeing to be a surrogate, Andrews considered her own three children and how they felt about this life-altering choice, which would indeed affect them all. Surprisingly enough, that was the easiest part of the decision. From day one, Jimmy, 16; Jacob, 15; and Kassidy, 14, were on board with Mom and her decision to help.
“I have three amazing children. If I could teach my kids anything in life, it is exactly what I did. Me teaching my kids that I can help someone and give, I think that that is the main goal that I got out of this situation. That’s why we’re here, to help each other,” Andrews said as tears of pride ran down both cheeks.
Andrews would agree to surrogacy again.
“It was such a very positive experience overall, all the way around, for all of us,” she said.
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.
