FMC Founder Stephanie Levich Talks Celebrity Surrogacy with PEOPLE
Stephanie Levich Talks Surrogacy with PEOPLE
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Family Match Consulting founder Stephanie Levich discussed some of the misconceptions that continue to surround gestational surrogacy, particularly when celebrities and other high-profile intended parents are involved.
One of the most common is the assumption that celebrities choose surrogacy simply to avoid pregnancy.
As Stephanie explained to PEOPLE, there are many reasons someone may need or choose to pursue surrogacy, including recurrent pregnancy loss, uterine conditions, medical conditions that make pregnancy unsafe, or medications that are incompatible with pregnancy. For single fathers and many LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, surrogacy may also provide a path to parenthood that otherwise would not exist.
Looking Beyond the Misconceptions
The conversation also addressed assumptions about the women who choose to become surrogates.
Stephanie emphasized the importance of recognizing surrogates as women who make informed decisions about participating in the process. Surrogates are required to meet established qualifications, including financial stability, and undergo an extensive screening process before moving forward.
She also spoke about the relationships that can develop between intended parents and their surrogates. While many intended parents understandably begin the process with questions about what that relationship will look like, finding the right match can create a level of trust and connection they may not have anticipated.
The Importance of the Right Support
Surrogacy involves far more than finding a surrogate. Intended parents may need to navigate medical care, legal agreements, insurance, escrow, psychological support, agency coordination, and countless decisions along the way.
As Stephanie shared with PEOPLE, having the right professionals in place can be especially important when unexpected challenges arise.
Family Match Consulting serves as an independent consultant and advocate for intended parents, helping clients navigate the many moving pieces of the process and bringing together the professionals and resources needed throughout their journey.
At the Core, It’s About Building a Family
High-profile intended parents may require additional layers of privacy and discretion, but their reasons for pursuing surrogacy are often no different from anyone else’s.
As Stephanie told PEOPLE, “At the core, working with celebrities isn’t fundamentally different. The reason they are pursuing surrogacy is the same as any other intended parent: they want to build a family.”
