Surrogacy in Ukraine: Whitney’s Story

Whitney recently sat down with Your Fertility Story podcast host Maria Feekes, founder of SMARTPath Fertility International, to talk about her family’s long and winding path to parenthood.

The podcast offers space for real conversations—without judgment, pressure, or filters—and was created to support intended parents through every stage of their fertility journey. Maria believes each journey is deeply personal, and her goal is to provide clear information, emotional support, and the tools needed to make informed decisions.

In this episode, Whitney shares what it’s really been like to pursue surrogacy in Ukraine. She talks openly about the ethical questions she and her husband wrestled with, the challenges of continuing their journey during an active war, and the quiet strength of the women who carry these pregnancies. If you’ve ever wondered what pursuing surrogacy in Ukraine really looks like, Whitney offers a thoughtful, grounded, and honest perspective.

Surrogacy in Ukraine

Whitney’s path to parenthood hasn’t been simple. After years of IVF with no clear explanation for why pregnancies weren’t working, her doctor told her that using a surrogate was the best option. Like many couples, Whitney and her husband first looked at surrogacy in the U.S., but the cost (often between $150,000 and $200,000) was out of reach.

They started exploring other countries. A colleague mentioned surrogacy in Kazakhstan, but concerns about ethical treatment and low pay for surrogates made them look elsewhere. Whitney wanted to ensure their surrogate would be treated with care and fairly compensated. They also wanted a process where they’d be recognized as the legal parents from birth, without needing to adopt their own child.

Ukraine quickly rose to the top of their list. It had clear laws, good protections for intended parents, and shorter wait times for surrogates. Whitney, who has a background in journalism and filmmaking, decided to document the experience—partly to make sense of it all, but also to shine a light on the ethics and realities of surrogacy.

Then the war in Ukraine began. Just two days before the first embryo transfer, the invasion started. For weeks, they didn’t know if the transfer had worked. It hadn’t. They ran out of embryos and faced the difficult decision of whether to continue. After many attempts, including five embryo transfers with Whitney herself and several surrogates, they finally found hope again. Their current surrogate is now carrying their child.

The Emotional Toll and Why They Kept Going

Whitney is honest about how hard it was to keep trying despite so many failed attempts. They considered stopping. They considered adoption. What kept them going was the belief that the right child—the one meant for them—was still waiting.

Meeting the Surrogates

Over time, Whitney has met three different surrogates. She describes them as strong and selfless, even when their motivation includes financial reasons. The women face physical challenges and, in some cases, social stigma for being surrogates. Whitney respects their strength and determination.

Surrogacy in Ukraine Today 

Despite the war, Whitney says much of Ukraine feels surprisingly normal, especially in western cities. Life goes on, people celebrate Valentine’s Day in the streets, and daily routines continue. In Kyiv, nights can bring air raid warnings and drone activity, but during the day, the city feels alive and resilient. Whitney’s surrogate, like many Ukrainians, has learned to live with the uncertainty.

Why They Stayed with Ukraine 

Even after the war began, Whitney and her husband decided to continue their surrogacy journey there. Part of it was practical, as they already had embryos there, but part of it was emotional. They’d built a connection to the country and its people. And while logistics are harder now (such as shipping embryos), the support they’ve received has made the process manageable.

Looking Ahead

Whitney and her husband are now preparing to return to Ukraine to meet their baby. At the same time, Whitney is completing a documentary about their journey. The film explores both the personal side of surrogacy and the bigger ethical questions surrounding it. She hopes to finish filming in 2025 and release it in 2026.

Watch the full interview with Whitney here: