In the third episode of The Surrogacy Scoop, host CJ sits down with HaoTian Bai, the Founder and CEO of Patriot Conceptions, for a deeply insightful conversation about surrogacy, resilience, and the impact of his military background on his approach to helping families achieve their dreams of parenthood. Bai, a U.S. Army veteran, uses the core values instilled in him during his service—discipline, selflessness, and empathy—to guide the work of his surrogacy agency. Patriot Conceptions, founded in 2018, is dedicated to providing personalized, compassionate surrogacy services with a special focus on supporting military families, the LGBTQ+ community, and single parents.
A Military Veteran’s Path to Surrogacy
Bai’s transition from a U.S. Army Chemical Operations Specialist to a surrogacy agency founder is a powerful story of purpose, personal experience, and a drive to make a difference. During his time in the Army, Bai was responsible for handling chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats—a job that required precision, resilience, and a deep commitment to service. But it was his time as a Veteran Fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, where he focused on leadership and innovation, that began to shape his vision for a new kind of support for military families facing infertility.
A close friend of Bai's in the military, who struggled with infertility and tragically lost twins due to genetic abnormalities, became the catalyst for his move into the surrogacy space. As Bai learned more about the emotional and financial burdens faced by military families dealing with infertility, he discovered that military insurance—TRICARE—often doesn’t cover fertility treatments like IVF or IUI. Many service members, including those who have served in combat, were left without options. This revelation sparked Bai’s desire to find a way to offer support to these families.
Patriot Conceptions: A New Kind of Surrogacy Agency
Motivated by his desire to help, Bai founded Patriot Conceptions in 2018, with a mission to provide military families, as well as LGBTQ+ individuals and single parents, with ethical, compassionate, and affordable surrogacy solutions. Bai's military background informs every aspect of the agency’s approach, from the values of resilience and service to the use of technology for efficient and personalized care. Patriot Conceptions is committed to ensuring that all families—regardless of their background or circumstances—have the support they need to create their families.
For Bai, surrogacy is more than a business; it’s a way to serve others, much like his service in the military. He often stresses that empathy and selflessness are at the heart of the surrogacy process. Whether it’s the surrogate who is willing to carry a child for someone else or the intended parents who are navigating the emotional and financial complexities of the process, empathy is what makes these relationships strong and successful.
Challenges in the Surrogacy Journey
While surrogacy offers hope to many families, Bai is the first to acknowledge that the journey is not without its challenges. Miscarriages, failed embryo transfers, and the emotional toll of the process can be devastating for intended parents. Similarly, surrogates face physical, emotional, and psychological challenges as they carry a child for another family. Bai emphasizes the importance of resilience and support, noting that a strong support system is essential for both surrogates and intended parents to navigate these difficult moments.
"Surrogacy is a deeply personal and emotional journey," Bai explains. "It requires trust and understanding on both sides. The relationship between a surrogate and an intended parent is not just a business arrangement; it's a partnership built on care, respect, and a shared vision."
The Role of Innovation in Surrogacy
In addition to the emotional and physical aspects of surrogacy, Bai is passionate about leveraging technology to improve the surrogacy process. Through the use of digital tools and innovative communication platforms, Patriot Conceptions offers a more streamlined, transparent, and efficient experience for all parties involved. Bai believes that by embracing technology, surrogacy can be made more accessible, affordable, and less stressful for families, while also ensuring that surrogates are supported throughout their journey.
The Surrogacy Scoop: Key Takeaways
Bai’s insights into the surrogacy industry are both refreshing and inspiring. His military values of service, resilience, and selflessness shine through in his approach to helping families navigate one of the most profound experiences of their lives—parenthood.
Some of the key takeaways from this episode of The Surrogacy Scoop include:
The Importance of Empathy: Bai emphasizes that surrogacy is more than just a transaction—it’s a deeply emotional and personal journey for everyone involved. Empathy and compassion are essential for building strong, trusting relationships between surrogates and intended parents.
Support for Military Families: Bai is committed to helping military families access fertility treatments and surrogacy services, something that can be financially prohibitive for many due to limitations in military insurance coverage.
Ethics and Inclusivity in Surrogacy: Bai advocates for an inclusive and ethical approach to surrogacy, ensuring that LGBTQ+ families, single parents, and others who need assistance are able to benefit from these services.
Innovation in Surrogacy: Technology plays a key role in Patriot Conceptions, allowing for a more efficient, transparent, and streamlined surrogacy process. By embracing innovation, the agency is making the process more accessible to families from all walks of life.
Resilience is Key: Whether it’s overcoming failed transfers or navigating complex logistics, resilience is crucial in the surrogacy journey. Bai’s military background has instilled in him the importance of perseverance, no matter the challenge.
Conclusion: Serving Others Through Surrogacy
In this episode of The Surrogacy Scoop, Bai shares his unique perspective on surrogacy, drawing on both his military experience and his deep empathy for those facing infertility. His work at Patriot Conceptions is a testament to the power of service, compassion, and resilience in the face of adversity.
For anyone considering surrogacy, whether as an intended parent or a potential surrogate, Bai’s approach offers a hopeful, supportive, and innovative path forward—one where every step of the journey is filled with care, understanding, and the possibility of creating a family.
To hear more about Bai’s journey and insights into the surrogacy process, be sure to listen to the full episode of The Surrogacy Scoop