Ashleigh is a two-time surrogate & she just recently delivered a beautiful surro baby boy!

Q: Tell us about yourself & what led you to surrogacy!

A: I am a mom to 2 beautiful little girls – Madelyn, 6 and Brianna, 3. I am a mental health therapist and I live in Massachusetts with my husband, kids, and mom. I have watched friends & family members struggle with infertility which made me look into surrogacy. I couldn’t imagine my life without my kids and I believe anyone who wants to be a parent should have that opportunity. I originally applied to become a surrogate in November of 2019 and have completed two journeys with my agency.

Q: We see you've completed two surrogacy journeys! Amazing! What were the biggest differences between the two journeys?

A: One of the biggest differences was COVID. With my first journey, my medical screening was scheduled for March of 2020 so that was obviously postponed as the world had just shut down. My intended parents were not able to come to as many appointments so there was a lot of utilizing technology to make sure they felt included. I was very fortunate with my second journey that COVID restrictions were much lighters and my IPs lived locally so my IM was able to make it to almost every appointment. This was so amazing because we had the opportunity to develop a really great relationship.

Q: What are your favorite and least favorite parts of a surrogacy journey?

A: My favorite parts of both journeys have been sharing positive home pregnancy tests and obviously delivery. There is something so special about getting to watch someone meet their child for the first time. I will truly never forget the reactions my intended parents had when they laid eyes on their child and it is such a treasured memory for me. I have been fortunate to have IPs that have stayed in contact after delivery so I also love getting to watch their children grow and see them as a family. I feel a huge sense of pride knowing that I was able to create joy in their lives. My least favorite part is the “hurry up and wait” that goes into surrogacy. I am not a very patient person so waiting on the next steps is really hard for me.

Q: What is your relationship like with your IPs from both journeys?

A: My relationships with my IPs have been so wonderful. My first IPs only live a few hours away so I’ve been able to visit and we stay in touch over social media. With my second IPs, because they are local, we have been able to spend a lot more time together and they truly feel like family. We will also be doing a sibling journey at some point which is super exciting!

Q: What is one thing you'd tell someone thinking about becoming a surrogate?

A: I would tell someone thinking about becoming a surrogate to make sure you have a really great support system behind you. The journey can be so beautiful but also can be stressful. Be assertive with your needs and allow people to take care of you when you need it.