Jennifer is a wife, mama, previous surrogate, & a nurse practitioner!

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

A: My name is Jennifer. I’m 34 years old. I just started a new career as a nurse practitioner in October 2022. Prior to that, I was a nurse for 13 years. My husband Jake & I have a blended family with 4 kids who range in age from 10 years to 3 months.

I had always been interested in surrogacy since I was in high school. I first saw it on “Friends” and thought it would just be the coolest thing to help grow a family. In 2016, I gave birth to my daughter. I felt in my heart that I wanted to carry a baby for another family after I was finished growing my own. I loved being a mom so much that I wanted to share that gift with someone else. In 2018, I found myself newly divorced and forced to change my plans. I knew it wasn’t the right time for me to have more kids, so I decided it might be the right time to pursue surrogacy. After doing some research, I signed up with a surrogacy agency in September 2018. I started dating my husband Jake in November of that year. When I told him I had signed up to be a surrogate, he was extremely supportive right away. It felt like a sign that it was the right time for me to be a surrogate.

Q: What is your favorite & least favorite part of a surrogacy journey?

A: I loved so much about my surrogacy journey, but my most favorite part was seeing my intended parents with their new baby and knowing that I helped make that moment possible.I think that’s the part most surrogates live for. It’s a feeling that’s so hard to describe and not matched by anything else in my life thus far. Honestly, the journey as a whole was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever experienced.

My least favorite part of my surrogacy journey was the waiting. I had to wait for the agency to review my medical records before the matching process started. For me, finding my match took 18 months, which is longer than it typically takes. Once we matched, we had to wait on the lawyers to finalize the legal documents. Then I had to wait for the fertility clinic to reopen for new patients for my medical clearance appointment (thanks to the pandemic). Waiting is a normal part of the surrogacy process, but I felt like I waited a lot! Another unpleasant part of surrogacy was the PIO injections, but seeing my IPs with their sweet babe made them more than worth the discomfort.

Q: Do you think you will ever be a surrogate again? If so, anything you would do differently?

A: Yes! I would love to do another surrogacy journey! One thing I would do differently is do an independent journey instead of signing with an agency. Honestly, I would probably want to sign up with The Biggest Ask Surrogacy Program because I’d get the support of an agency without my IPs having to pay the huge price tag.

Q: How would you describe your relationship with your IPs & surro baby?

A: I have maintained a great relationship with my IPs and surro baby! We live about an hour away from each other which makes it a little easier to meet up and see each other. My IPs send me pics and videos of my surro babe at least weekly. They are like family. My surro babe is like a nephew to me. I absolutely love receiving pics and videos and watching him grow!!

Q: What is one piece of advice you have for any woman thinking about becoming a surrogate?

A: Follow or reach out to surrogacy related instagram accounts and pages, like The Biggest Ask for any surrogacy related questions. This is an excellent resource for surrogates and IPs to learn about the process. Reach out to experienced surrogates. Most of them are willing to share their experiences or answer questions you might have. It’s a great idea to do your own research before starting your surrogacy journey.

As I said previously, surrogacy was probably the most beautiful and rewarding thing I have ever been a part of. It’s comparable to the birth of my own children. I felt so much joy and gratitude throughout my journey. It also felt amazing to be so appreciated and supported by my IPs. If you have even the slightest desire to be a surrogate, I think you should go for it!