Andrea - Why I Became a Surrogate – and How It Inspired Me to Do More!

Building families with compassion, transparency, and love.

When I first became a surrogate, I didn't know exactly what the journey would look like—I just knew that I wanted to help someone become a parent.

Over the course of two journeys, I carried two babies for two incredible families. These weren't just "intended parents." They were people who had spent years waiting, dreaming, walking through loss—but most importantly, they were unwavering in their goal of becoming parents. They became my friends and my extended family.

I was able to walk alongside them—through every high and low—sharing, learning, and being vulnerable with one another. The time we spent getting to know one another changed me in ways I'm still uncovering. It's an experience that changed the way I see love, connection, and purpose.

Both of my journeys were full of beauty, but they weren't without challenges. I faced setbacks, unexpected roadblocks, and even a late-term loss. Nothing prepares you for moments like that. But through it all, I held onto the belief that my heart had the space—space to be open, patient, strong, and willing. I always knew that this was something I could do and, more importantly, something I wanted to do.

Becoming a surrogate didn't just allow me to help people become parents—it helped entire families. I got to witness grandparents meet their grandchild for the first time, watch siblings become aunts and uncles, and see love expand in every direction. That ripple is why I believe in this work.

After my first experience as a surrogate, I took a job at a surrogacy agency. I wanted to support others going through this same life-changing process. But over time, I saw how things could be done differently—better. I saw gaps. I saw how easily things could become transactional when they should have been personal. And I knew, in my gut, that there had to be a better way.

That's why Willow Roots Fertility Consulting was born.

Together with my dear friend and now business partner—someone who shares my values, vision, and lived experience—we created Willow Roots with a mission to do things differently. We built the agency we wished had existed during our own journeys: one grounded in honesty, ethics, and deep care.

At Willow Roots, we believe in connection before contracts. In listening before planning. In showing up not just when things go smoothly, but especially when they don't. We support all families - LGBTQ+ parents, single parents, and those in traditional and non-traditional family structures—because love makes a family, and everyone deserves the chance to build theirs.

We also advocate fiercely for surrogates. I know what it feels like to carry a child for someone else. I know the emotions, the physical toll, the vulnerability. And I know how critical it is to feel respected, empowered, and supported. Willow Roots is more than a consulting agency—it's a community. A space where real stories matter, and where every journey is met with care, honesty, and respect.

This work is deeply personal to me, and I’m grateful to walk alongside others as they build the families they’ve dreamed of.