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From Serving Her Country to Serving Families Through Surrogacy
0 Playsin 4 hours
What does it mean to live a life of service? For Bridget Romero, it began with military discipline and sacrifice — and it continues today through the selfless act of surrogacy.
In this inspiring episode of Create a Happy Family, Bridget shares how a quiet whisper became her calling. From being inspired by her cousin’s infertility journey, to balancing single motherhood, to walking through the shots, structure, and sacrifice of surrogacy — her story is one of courage, purpose, and love.
Bridget reminds us that service doesn’t end with a uniform. Sometimes, it begins again with a new mission: helping another family’s dream come true.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
✅ How Bridget’s military background prepared her for the discipline of surrogacy
✅ Why she describes her calling as “a whisper that grew louder”
✅ The role of self-advocacy and research in saying yes to surrogacy
✅ How she explained the process to her 12-year-old daughter — and her daughter’s touching response
✅ The joy and nerves of being pregnant again after more than a decade
✅ Why surrogacy is about more than just the baby — it’s about lifelong connection and purpose
Whether you’re a veteran, a single parent, or someone simply curious about surrogacy, Bridget’s story will inspire you to listen to that whisper in your own life — and maybe even discover your new mission.
Recommended
Transcript
Meet Bridget: A Veteran on a New Mission
00:00:00
Speaker
She served her country, and now she's serving families in a whole new way. This is the story of a veteran, a single mom, and a surrogate on her new mission.
00:00:11
Speaker
um So I like to think of mine as like a whisper that grew over time. That whisper turned into action, and Bridget's military discipline prepared her for the shots, schedules, and the structure of surrogacy.
00:00:25
Speaker
But what surprised her most was the bond she has formed with her intended parents. That was just something that kind of like was on my heart and just kind of like, just like I said, just kept coming up. And but eventually it was just like, this is something that is just like a calling for me. No, I totally have to answer too.
Introduction to 'Create a Happy Family' Podcast
00:00:47
Speaker
In this episode, you'll hear how Bridget's new mission proves that sometimes the greatest acts of service begin with a whisper. Who knew it could take more than two people to have a baby?
00:00:59
Speaker
I'm Whitney Hall, a two-time surrogate, now part of the team at Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions. And I've seen how life-changing this process can be when you feel informed, supported, and confident about your next step.
00:01:14
Speaker
Each week on Create a Happy Family, you'll hear real stories and expert insights from hopeful parents, surrogates, egg donors, and professionals, all to help you understand what it really takes to create a family in this way.
00:01:29
Speaker
Because at the heart of it all, we're creating happy families, one relationship at a time.
Military Discipline in Surrogacy Journey
00:01:40
Speaker
Well, Bridget, first of all, thank you so much for your service in the military and now helping of just create a happy family as a surrogate.
00:01:53
Speaker
How do you feel your kind of military experience shaped you as you walk through this surrogacy journey?
00:02:07
Speaker
I think definitely... perspective just in general because I did deploy a couple times so perspective on life in general is just different from the very first deployment um it definitely helped with structure life sure like I don't feel like I had very much structure growing up so structure and definitely discipline yes yeah I think In the beginning of in the military, like you have to show up at a certain time, like in basic training, you wake up at a certain time and you have to follow their schedule. It doesn't matter what you want to do, like it's up to them.
00:02:51
Speaker
And so I think even when you go to your, your new base, like you have to show up at a certain time. And I was a cop, I was a security forces.
00:03:02
Speaker
And so we'd have to show up earlier because you have to do guard mount and stuff before. Um, and I think after the military, um, I still, I, kept, I kept, I kept the routine cause i had my daughter towards the end of my military career and she was kept on a routine. So and think that helped like me already having the structure and the discipline and then keeping her on a routine.
00:03:32
Speaker
Um,
Inspiration from Family Struggles
00:03:33
Speaker
and so even now, like the beginning of surrogacy when you have to take the progesterone shots and the lupron shots and you have this this window you have to you know take your shots in that time frame and like waking up on the weekends and having to maintain because during the week, I have to leave my house at 6.30. So I'm waking up, taking my shot at 6.
00:04:01
Speaker
So I was even waking up at six on Saturdays and Sundays to take my shot and then go back to sleep if I can. But yeah, I think um i don't, I wasn't expecting to have such a, ah I guess a strict medicine plan at first. I didn't know I was gonna have that.
00:04:24
Speaker
um But I mean, it wasn't an issue to have it. And I think it is because I was just already, already had routines and schedules. For sure. And like you said, you, you were used to, you know, an, a authority saying, okay, you have to be here at this time doing, you know, this, it was like, okay, the doctor is telling me I need to do this at this time. And, and that's that.
00:04:46
Speaker
What just going back, what drew you to surrogacy in the first place? Why, what was your why in becoming a surrogate? I love this question.
00:04:57
Speaker
Um, so I like to think of mine as like a whisper that grew over time. Um, my cousin, she's like my sister, but my cousin, she had a hard time getting pregnant and they tried, i think a total for 11 years. So seven years. And then they started IVF and, um, I think they did four years of IVF. yeah Um, they had, I think three embryos
00:05:31
Speaker
The first one didn't take. The second one did take, which is my little cousin, Alyssa. We just celebrated her quinceañera in August. Yes. Congratulations. nice to go to And then they had a third embryo and that one didn't take.
00:05:47
Speaker
But around the time my cousin was trying, I had just joined the military and I remember her talking to me and just like telling me their story and just like how upset she wasn't like,
00:06:00
Speaker
all the different things they had gone through and like just tried just because they heard it could help. And, um, me just thinking like, I would carry a baby for my cousin, you know, like if I, if I could, I would, but I was still early in my military career. And i don't even think that surrogacy was talked about that much, you know, I don't, so it was just kind of like a thought.
00:06:26
Speaker
So then throughout my military career, like, You know, I had friends that were gay or, know, couldn't have kids and we would just have conversations like just you know, being on post and there's nothing, to just have conversations like hypothetical.
00:06:44
Speaker
And so there was always one, like, would you have a baby for someone else, family, friend? And my answer was always yes. I was never the no person. And um so then fast forward, I'm out of, out of the military. Like yeah I just moved here to Oklahoma city.
00:07:02
Speaker
um It was 2023. So yeah. um And I remember being at work one day and just thinking like, I don't know, surrogacy just popped in my head.
00:07:12
Speaker
And so i was like, hmm. It's like, okay. So I kind of started looking into it. And then I talked to a couple of my friends and they were just like, you know, you're too sensitive.
00:07:25
Speaker
You wouldn't be able to, you know, give the baby up or like, what if you get attached and like, not us, not knowing anything about surrogacy.
00:07:38
Speaker
Right. Um, and I was just like, yeah, maybe you're right. And I had just moved here. So it's like, maybe this, maybe it's not a good time. Um, so I kind of just like let it go and never looked at it again.
00:07:50
Speaker
And then last year around the same time, um i was at work again and in a different office and I was like, surrogacy popped up in my head again. And I was like, this just keeps coming up for me. Like, I don't know what it is about this, but so this time I didn't say anything to anyone. I just like looked it up on my own and I just kind of like researched a little bit and i was just like, okay. And I just was thinking about it.
00:08:22
Speaker
And then i think I had a yearly checkup at the VA and I remember her coming in and had maybe been there five, not even five minutes. And she was like, do you have any questions, concerns, anything? And I said, no, she was like, you're good to go.
00:08:38
Speaker
You're fine. was like, Okay. And the first thing I thought walking out was i could really do this for someone. Like I could really help someone. And so I was on my way to pick up my daughter and I called my cousins, my cousin,
00:08:54
Speaker
And i was, you know, asked her questions like, Hey, you know, when you were going through your process, did you ever think about surrogacy? Like, was that something that, you know, you guys even thought about? And she, she did tell me. And then, um,
The Dream and Decision to Pursue Surrogacy
00:09:11
Speaker
I was like, okay, this is what I'm thinking. And she was like, Bridget, she was like, if you did decide to do it, she was like, that'd be such an amazing thing. She's like, I know how you know, how much me and Rafa wanted a baby. And, you know, if you did this for someone, like they would just be so grateful. You'd be making their dream come true.
00:09:34
Speaker
And she was like, it would just be amazing. So ah couple of days later, i had a dream that I was sitting on a crescent moon and i was holding a baby in my left hand and it was asleep. And I just remember saying, everything's gonna be okay.
00:09:55
Speaker
And I woke up and I was just like, okay, I get it. Like, this is something I need to do. It's just, it's something I have to do. so that very next day I went to work and I started Googling like surrogacy agencies, stuff like that. And, um, that's when I found a donor surrogate solutions and I looked at the reviews, I looked at the website um,
00:10:22
Speaker
That was it. Like, that was just it. i read all the reviews. I read that everybody had been a surrogate or, you know, and I was like, I didn't even look at any other agencies. Like I found you guys and that was it.
00:10:35
Speaker
And so I applied and the next day i was like responded to and the process just like went from there. Yeah, for sure. Oh my gosh, that's so amazing. And I love your description of it was a quiet whisper that grew. And I mean, that's that's so beautiful.
00:10:55
Speaker
Do you see any connection between your service and a desire to serve as a surrogate?
00:11:06
Speaker
I mean, I know they're both very selfless, you know, but I think like, For me, joining the military for me was, you know, I had a rough childhood. So it was me trying to get out of that and just have more structure and discipline and, you know, and with surrogacy, I think it was as I got older and I grew and I healed like that was just something that kind of like was on my heart and just kind of like, just like I said, just kept coming up. And eventually it was just like, okay, like it it is a very selfless act and it's just something that I need to do
00:11:49
Speaker
um So the military, even though it is selfless thing to do, because you're fighting for your country, i think that was just more of like something that I had to do This is something that is just like,
00:12:06
Speaker
a calling for
Acts of Service: Military and Surrogacy
00:12:07
Speaker
me. No, I totally have to answer to. Yeah, no, for sure. I totally relate. It just stays in your heart and then it just kind of keeps, you know, just, just bumping at you.
00:12:17
Speaker
We'll get right back to the show in just a second, but real quick, have you ever wondered what it would be like to help create a family through surrogacy? At Egg Donor and Surrogate Solutions, we've spent 18 years walking alongside women who said yes to making a difference.
00:12:33
Speaker
And we'd love to support you as you explore if surrogacy might be the right next step. Our team includes women who have been surrogates themselves. So when we say we understand, we truly do.
00:12:45
Speaker
You can download our surrogate journey and compensation guide at createahappyfamily.com. It's a big decision and it's okay to have questions. This is your invitation to find out more.
00:12:56
Speaker
All right, let's get back to the show. Again, that relation to obviously being in the service is a, you know, it's a huge thing. You're you're fighting for your country, their sacrifice, um and you're part of something that's bigger.
00:13:13
Speaker
Do you feel surrogacy kind of taps into just that same sense of just purpose? Yes, absolutely. Yes. Um,
00:13:26
Speaker
Yes, I do. i do think that a lot because like I said, I feel like it's something
00:13:36
Speaker
i guess is my purpose, like something that I just I have to do with something that I have to go through. And like, even if I just do it this one time and it's just something that I feel like I need to do in my IPs, which I love.
00:13:51
Speaker
they're always telling me, you know, they're, they're, they're so grateful. Um, and they thank me a lot. And that's really hard for me because I'm like, thank you. Like, thank you for, you chose me too. So thank you. Like, yeah I feel like I'm,
00:14:11
Speaker
part of the bigger purpose. Yeah. Yeah. No, I totally understand. It's sort of this, that struggle between no no, no. I, I want to do this for you. It's just as much of a blessing to us as it is to you. and we're just like, let we just all love it.
00:14:25
Speaker
Yeah. With that, I mean, like whenever whenever Veterans Day rolls around, you know you hear
Balancing Single Motherhood and Surrogacy
00:14:33
Speaker
a lot of talk about courage and sacrifice and purpose and just you know so that either a call or you're part of that bigger picture.
00:14:41
Speaker
How do you feel those words connect to your role as a surrogate?
00:14:52
Speaker
I think it's the same, you know, like people... I still to this day don't know how to react when people say thank you for your service when they find out that I'm a veteran.
00:15:03
Speaker
and Thank you for your service. And i just like thank you. Like, I don't I don't really know what to say because it's just again, it's something that I wanted to do.
00:15:14
Speaker
um So i don't I think it's very similar to what I just mentioned about my IPs and them thanking me. So not only are you ah veteran, ah surrogate, you have so many titles. And ah one of those titles is mom, but you're also a single mom. And so, you know, that adds just a, another layer to the fun of all of this.
00:15:44
Speaker
What does service surrogacy look like in your kind of day-to-day life as single mom? Um, Yes, so I am a single mom, although I like to think of myself as a single woman, not really a single mom. But yeah, so far,
00:16:02
Speaker
um it's it's been fine. I'm not going to lie. I've had a little bit of anxiety and I've been a little bit scared just, you know, because I am here by myself. I don't have family here. um But so far it's been good. And my daughter is very helpful. Like she knows. And so she's like, mom, do you need anything? Do you need me to do this? Do you need to carry this?
00:16:26
Speaker
And so she's very, like very supportive and very helpful. And, you know, I, the week that she is with her dad, I get that whole week to just,
00:16:39
Speaker
relax and do nothing after to work if I don't want to do anything. And then when she is here, then we, I take her to practice or i take her to games. Um, And sometimes if I don't want to do anything and she's with me, I'm like, and I am tired today. She's like, okay.
00:16:54
Speaker
But like we, um, she's very understanding. So, so far it's been good. Um, my IPs have been very supportive. They're three hours away and I actually just seen them today. We had our 13 week doctor appointment.
00:17:10
Speaker
They've come out here three. think this was their third time coming out here. um and they, they're so, they're so helpful and they're just like, they bring me food, they cook for me and they bring me food and they bring me snacks and they're just like, whatever you need, just let us know.
00:17:32
Speaker
there a one side of me that feels, I guess, I know I'm not, but kind of feels like I'm doing it alone. But then on the other side, i know I'm not doing it alone. Like I know I can call my IPs and say, Hey, I need your help. And they'll be here.
00:17:46
Speaker
Um, And then my family, my family lives in Denver, but they're very supportive. They're always checking on me. And my cousin, she actually went with me for the transfer.
00:17:58
Speaker
And then she also wants to come out here around the time I have the baby just to be out here with me so I'm not alone. um So even though I'm a single woman and I don't have family out here, i definitely feel the love and support. I also have friends that that I've been friends with since I was in the military, in my first deployment. So 20, 2009,
00:18:21
Speaker
two thousand and nine was our first appointment together and we're still super close. I'm not doing it alone. Yeah. Well, again, mean, it's just, it's beautiful that you have just all of that love and support and, you know, just that circle of family and chosen family. And then like you said, your, your hopeful parents are, you know, just, they're right there to jump in wherever they can. i mean, it's yes. Oh, that's so beautiful.
00:18:52
Speaker
going back to your daughter, how did you kind of explain the the process to her when you decided, okay, I am i am listening to that whisper now? Yeah. So I didn't tell her until I mentioned to her one day in a drive-through, was like, hey, do you know what a surrogate is? And she knew, it's funny how I found out she knew, but initially she was just like, isn't that a you know, a lady who has a baby for another lady. And i was like, yeah, it was like, that's exactly what it is.
00:19:29
Speaker
Um, so I explained it a little bit more and she was just like, Oh, and then she looked at me she's like, are you pregnant? And I was like, okay. And at that point I hadn't like, I don't think I had fully like signed paperwork or anything. I think I was still just kind of in the application process maybe.
00:19:49
Speaker
Um, And then when I did decide, i didn't, I told ah her, um, the same day I told her dad, because I knew I'd have to travel. And so was like, if i have to travel and she's supposed to be with me, then you know, wouldn't need her to stay with you.
00:20:09
Speaker
And he was completely fine with that. Very supportive. and. and I told her the same day because I wanted her to be able to talk about it openly. and didn't want her to feel like she'd have to keep a secret from anyone or like can't tell no one.
00:20:24
Speaker
So I told them on the same day and I remember asking her like, hey, do you remember me asking you about this? And she was like, yeah. And i was like, well, i think I'm going to do it. And she was like, ah well, actually, i had already matched with my intended parents and I was supposed to be getting ready to travel to Dallas for the routine checkups.
00:20:47
Speaker
And i was like, I am going to do it. And I was like, this is what it is. This is how it's going to go. And she was just like, Okay. And i was like, what do you think? She was like, I think you're very brave. And I was like, okay.
00:21:01
Speaker
And she didn't say too much. She was just like, you know, I think you're very brave. And I was like, okay. I was like, anything else? Do you want to talk about it? And she was like, no, I think I'm still processing.
00:21:13
Speaker
And I was like, okay, that's fair. was like, well, was like, if you ever want to talk about it, like I'm here, like whatever questions you have, everyone is aware. And she was like, okay.
00:21:24
Speaker
um And then we didn't talk about it much more. And then one day we were watching Fuller House. And I don't know if you watched that show, but Kimmy is a surrogate for Stephanie in one of the episodes or in a couple of the episodes.
00:21:43
Speaker
And I remember us sitting together watching and she watched it all the time, but we were watching it and I kind of looked at her and i was like, oh, And she looked at me, I like, that's how you knew what a surrogate was.
00:21:57
Speaker
And she was like, yeah. And I was like, oh my goodness, I didn't know that. So, yeah, we actually, she loves that show. She'll watch it all the time. So, um I think we watched it recently, maybe like a month ago, and it was that those episodes again. And so we just kept looking at each other and like smiling. Aww.
00:22:18
Speaker
Aww. And then one weekend, I took my daughter to, I took my daughter to meet the intended parents.
00:22:29
Speaker
Yeah. We stayed the night at their house they're very welcoming. We did a couple of things together and then, um, when we were leaving and she was like, I really liked them. was like, I'm so happy you're doing this for them. She's like, they really deserve a baby. They're so nice.
Building Relationships with Intended Parents
00:22:48
Speaker
And I was like, I was like, so yeah, she's, She's been, she's been awesome. Yeah. Oh, what an amazing heart. Oh my goodness. That's beautiful. i love that.
00:23:03
Speaker
You already said you had your 13 week appointment today. So exciting as you know, just the pregnancy continues. What are you looking forward to?
00:23:18
Speaker
honestly, all of it, but I'm really looking forward to like seeing them, know, once the baby is here and the baby's born and like seeing them with the baby. Cause I know that they're like, not to talk about their story, but I know they've had a really rough journey.
00:23:41
Speaker
Right. And so, and they're just so, they're so nice. They're so genuine. They're just, they're just really good people. And so just seeing them hold their baby for the first time, I'm really looking forward that. Like even just thinking about that makes me want to tear up, but they're just, yeah. And even with my daughter, like they, they're so involved with my daughter. Like, how was Anaya? We want to see Anaya like today. Anaya is not with me today. So they're like, we really miss Anaya. We should get her something. So say she knows we were here with her.
00:24:16
Speaker
And I was like, you know, like they're just always thinking about her and asking about her. And so it's not just I really feel it's not just about the baby.
00:24:27
Speaker
Like it's more than just, you know, being a surrogate. So, yeah. Yeah. The relationship has just evolved. It started with the purpose of, you know, hey, we're we're going to make a baby.
00:24:41
Speaker
and it's evolved to, you know, we're we're friends. We're, you know, we have this special connection. Yes. yeah Yeah. Oh, that's beautiful.
00:24:52
Speaker
What, how, how would you encourage, you know, just others, whether they are single women, veterans, military spouses, or really just anybody, what, you know, that are, you know, just maybe curious about surrogacy going from where you had your own curiosity to, you know, listening to that whisper.
00:25:16
Speaker
Yeah. What would you say to them? Um, I would say, Definitely just like do your own research and listen to your heart because I think I allowed people to kind of like steer me away from it that, you know, in 2023, which in all honesty was kind of a good thing because I had just moved here. I wasn't probably in the good place to even start it.
00:25:49
Speaker
So waiting the year was good for me, but just not listening to other people. I do find that there are still people that don't know a lot about being a gestational carrier and you have to explain it to them. um So I would say just follow your heart. And if it's something that you really want to do, like research it and just make sure that it's something you want to do. and And it is a process.
00:26:18
Speaker
It is a process. Like I think from the very beginning, I was just like, this is what I want to do. This is what I'm going to do. No one can change. Like once I finally made my decision, no one could change my mind.
00:26:30
Speaker
Yes. And I think and in the beginning I was very optimistic. um And then after I had the transfer, I did get a little nervous.
00:26:42
Speaker
I was just like, oh my gosh, this is really happening. I'm really, know, my daughter is about to be 12. So it's been 12 years for me. Right. 11 and a half years since I've been pregnant. So I think like and when i finally realized I was pregnant again, I was like, oh my God, like I'm i nervous. I'm anxious. Like what is this one going to be like?
00:27:00
Speaker
And that is when probably the anxiety and the nervousness really kicked up. And so I have to like,
00:27:11
Speaker
I have to just bring myself down. Right. I have to ground myself and just take deep breaths. I'm like one day at a time and everything is fine right now. Like you're okay. Yeah. So I think definitely have a grounding routine too, because you know, you're so what I feel like once you make a decision, like, and it's something you really want to um, you'll be very optimistic until it happens. And then you're like,
00:27:39
Speaker
I'm in it now. Now what? Like now I'm in it and there's, you have to go through it. Yeah. ah Well, it's remembering that why, remembering the reason why you chose to
Challenges and Joys of the Surrogacy Journey
00:27:50
Speaker
do it. And that, that heart of, you know, just wanting to serve and serve others and be a part of something so big.
00:27:59
Speaker
Yeah. Oh, that's beautiful. That's beautiful, Bridget. Okay. So I have one last question for you. And it's a fun one. Despite the fact that we are recording towards the evening, i am still drinking a cup of coffee because if anybody knows me, they know that I always have coffee in my hand.
00:28:18
Speaker
um So I always love to ask the question, what has filled your cup today? Literally or figuratively, what has been the thing that has filled your cup?
00:28:31
Speaker
Today, it was definitely my doctor appointment. Yeah. And my intended parents being there with me because the last few, um guess, ultrasounds, um they were on FaceTime.
00:28:48
Speaker
And so this time they were here in Oklahoma City with me and they were in the room and they got to see their baby on the screen in person. and just like the smiles on their faces. And then, you know, afterwards, I'm just like hugging me and just, you know, thank you so much. And then we went out for lunch and then, you know, we sat there and talked for hours and then they went home. So um definitely them getting to see,
00:29:23
Speaker
I love seeing the baby. i love seeing the baby on the screen too. And just, you know, she's very active. And so they love, they love that because she's very active. And so, um, yeah, just seeing everyone happy and just like hopeful and holding on faith, holding onto faith.
00:29:46
Speaker
That was definitely the highlight of my day today. that And it just so happened to fall on today. So it was really nice. Yes. Oh, I love that. I love that. Well, i'm Bridget, really, thank you so much for just sharing part of your story.
00:30:05
Speaker
Your why. i am so excited for you. 13 weeks. Okay, wait. So what's our due date? ah April 2nd. April 2nd. Okay. Very good. Very good. All right. Well, sending continued just all of, you know, just the the baby dust and grow, baby, grow and easy labor vibes and just all of it. So thank you so much, Bridget. I really, really do just appreciate you. Thank you. It was nice to be here. Thank you.