Meet Sarah!
“Gestational surrogacy is quite the rewarding experience. I do believe it is most selfless and one of the greatest gifts that can be delivered.”
Q: What led you to become a Surrogate?
I started researching surrogacy after a close family member shared she was struggling with infertility. I was interested in seeing the path she was taking with IVF and wanted to relate After lots of research and filling out some forms, knowing I had a good pregnancy with my own child, next thing I knew I was matched with a wonderful couple and my journey had begun!
Q. Who was/is your greatest support person/s throughout your journey?
My largest support person was my husband. He cared for me throughout the pregnancy and was very understanding of the sacrifices made. I also have to acknowledge my 2 year old daughter for falling in love with my belly buddy and being understanding that sometimes Mommy couldn’t play with her and hold her towards the end of the pregnancy. She was a trooper!
Q. What made you decide to choose your Intended Parents?
I got the perfect profile straight from the beginning. With this being my first journey, I asked for another to compare, but couldn’t move past the original! The parents were only 2.5 hours away and had all the same visions I had for a journey together. It seemed too good to be true, but ended up being the perfect match!
Q. What are some of the highlights of your journey?
My journey was memorable from start to finish. With the parents only being 2.5 hours away, we were able to get together for the majority of appointments and even holiday celebrations. We met each others extended families and originally met for the first time while both on vacation! The birth was a surprise induction due to pre-eclampsia and it worked in everyone’s favor though gave us quite a shock at first!
Q. How was this pregnancy different from your other pregnancies?
My gestational pregnancy was completely different from my own. I had never been pregnant with a boy and the testosterone took it’s toll! I had different symptoms such as acne, weight gain, stretch marks and an upper respiratory infection that seemed to last the entire pregnancy. I will admit, this pregnancy was not as glamorous as my own, but worth every minute to grow the life inside me.
Q. What did you find was the biggest misconception people had about surrogacy?
I never bonded with my own child while pregnant. It wasn’t until day 4 of life that I felt myself bond with my daughter. I think if this were different, surrogacy would not have been for me. I had the same emotions with my belly buddy. We did not bond in the womb and afterwards I simply wanted the best for baby and parents alike. I did find myself struggle slightly once home, feeling empty handed a bit. Spending time with my family has helped me through and also being able to keep contact and updates with my belly buddy and his parents.
Interested in becoming a Surrogate? Click Here to get started!
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.
