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California Surrogate Mothers
Search from among best surrogate mothers in California, from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco to Sacramento.
Donor Concierge has helped dozens of intended parents find a surrogate mother in California. Through our network of surrogacy agencies in California, Donor Concierge can narrow your search to only those surrogates who reside in California and major cities within the state. We can focus on a surrogate mother in Los Angeles, a surrogate mother in San Francisco or surrogate mothers in San Diego and Sacramento. While this may narrow the pool of available surrogates, by connection with the best surrogacy agencies across the United States, you will know that you’ve done all you can to find the surrogate mother who’s right for you.
Fortunately, many gestational surrogates in California are willing to travel to clinics throughout the Golden State. Our experienced case managers can provide surrogate candidates who reside in California or those who are willing to travel to your California fertility clinic.
Donor Concierge has cultivated an extensive list of trusted providers and resources for your surrogacy journey in California.
California Locations
- Los Angeles Surrogate Mothers
- Sacramento Surrogate Mothers
- San Diego Surrogate Mothers
- San Francisco Surrogate Mothers
The Surrogacy Process in California
Most intended parents find surrogate mothers by working with surrogacy agencies. Surrogacy agencies identify and screen potential candidates for surrogacy and match them with intended parents based on the preferences and expectations of both parties. Once a potential match has been made, the surrogacy agency organizes a conference between the intended parents and the surrogate candidate to discuss the initial parameters of the arrangement. This conference will typically touch on several key aspects of the surrogacy relationship, including how often the surrogate and intended parents will communicate, what mode of communication will be used, and what the agreed-upon plan will be in the event of pregnancy termination or reduction.
The surrogacy matching process can take a lot of time, simply because there are more intended parents than there are surrogates. Many surrogacy agencies have long waiting lists, which means that intended parents may have to wait up to six months before matching with a surrogate. The process of waiting to find the right surrogate for your family-building journey can be very frustrating and distressing for intended parents.
This is where Donor Concierge can help. By working with a large network of surrogacy agencies, we’re more likely to be able to find an amazing surrogate for your unique family-building goals within a quicker time frame than you would if doing the work on your own. Instead of taking up to six months, Donor Concierge can match you with a surrogate within 12 to 16 weeks on average.
Once you have been successfully matched with a potential surrogate, the surrogate must undergo a medical screening by your fertility specialist to determine whether or not she is physically approved to carry and deliver a baby. At this time, the legal and escrow processes can begin. This involves drafting a surrogacy agreement contract and establishing an account that will be used to handle all financial aspects of the arrangement. The escrow account must be funded before any medical procedures have been scheduled.
When the legal and financial details are in order, surrogates must undergo a more in-depth medical evaluation to determine whether or not the surrogacy process will be safe. In gestational surrogacy, which is when the surrogate is not the genetic mother of the baby, the surrogate must take injectable hormones that prevent her body from rejecting a pregnancy. She will also undergo what’s known as a mock cycle, which is essentially a trial run to see how the hormonal medications involved in IVF affect her. During this time, she will also take prenatal vitamins and estrogen to create the uterine environment necessary for a successful cycle. To ensure that her uterine lining will be able to accept an embryo for implantation, a small piece of her uterine lining will be biopsied for evaluation.
After the surrogate has been medically-cleared, the next step is to undergo IVF and prepare for embryo transfer. If doing a fresh cycle, the menstrual cycles of the surrogate and intended mother/egg donor will be synchronized using Lupron injections. Once in sync, the eggs are retrieved and fertilized in a petri dish using your chosen sperm. At the time of egg retrieval, the surrogate begins taking progesterone injections, which will prepare the endometrial lining of her uterus and create the optimal conditions for implantation and conception. However, if you are using frozen eggs or a frozen embryo, synchronization is not necessary. If successful, the surrogate will continue to take progesterone throughout the first trimester of the pregnancy.
After the sperm fertilizes the egg and an embryo forms, the embryo is incubated and allowed to develop for five days. It will then be transferred to the surrogate’s uterus using a catheter inserted through the vaginal canal. This is an exciting moment for all and it’s recommended that intended parents be present for this procedure whenever possible.
About 10 to 12 days later, the surrogate will begin to undergo blood tests to monitor her hormone levels. At around five to six weeks, if the procedure was a success, the doctor should detect a heartbeat. At this point, the surrogate is considered to be pregnant. She will continue to receive care from a fertility specialist throughout the first trimester. For the second and third trimesters, she can start seeing a regular board-certified OB/GYN closer to where she lives.
Surrogacy Laws in California
California is well known for having some of the most progressive surrogacy laws in the entire country. Most notably, California’s surrogacy laws make it easy for intended parents to establish parentage, regardless of their marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic connection to the baby. Parentage is typically established before the child is even born.
Navigating Surrogacy Costs in California
On average, a surrogacy journey in the state of California can cost anywhere between $100,000 and $200,000. The cost of surrogacy varies depending on several factors, including your chosen fertility clinic, surrogate, and location. This overall cost covers surrogate compensation, medical bills, surrogacy agency fees, legal fees, and various other expenses. Because it is such an involved process that requires the help of many professionals, surrogacy represents a significant financial investment. That being said, there are ways that intended parents can make their surrogacy journey easier to afford, including surrogacy loans and grants.
Finding a Surrogacy Agency in California
Finding a surrogacy agency can be very confusing for intended parents, especially when so many surrogacy agencies have long waitlists for surrogates. Donor Concierge makes the process of finding a surrogate easier by working with an extensive network of agencies across the country. We focus on finding surrogates that are both available and ideal for your unique circumstances. As such, we are able to help intended parents connect with surrogates and surrogacy agencies much more quickly.
Finding a gestational surrogate in California
By using Donor Concierge, we will help you search for California surrogate mothers and aid you in finding your ideal match. Donor Concierge’s case managers are experts in third-party reproduction, and our goal is to help you navigate your way to building your family.
With some of the most progressive surrogacy laws in the U.S., California is an ideal location for many intended parents to complete their journey to parenthood through surrogacy. California is very “surrogacy-friendly”, and there are a large number of California surrogacy agencies, fertility clinics, reproductive endocrinologists and attorneys who specialize in fertility law. With our network of surrogacy partners in the Golden State, we are experts in finding a surrogate mother who matches your ideal criteria.
Surrogacy FAQs
A gestational carrier is another term that is used to refer to gestational surrogates. The word “gestational” indicates that the surrogate’s role is to carry the pregnancy and deliver the child. She does not provide any genetic material for the baby’s creation.
After the surrogate gives birth to the baby, the baby is then transferred to the intended parents. If doing your surrogacy journey in California, you will most likely already have parentage established and your names will already be on the baby’s birth certificate. Outside of the legal aspects, this is a massively monumental moment for your family. Now is the time to gently focus on creating an emotional bond with your baby through activities such as skin-to-skin contact, talking to your baby, and being patient as your child begins to garner its first perceptions of the world.
Surrogacy is typically recommended in situations where pregnancy is impossible or dangerous for an intended mother. It’s also commonly used by same-sex male couples, as well as single men.
In recent years, some people have started turning to social media or online classified to seek out a surrogate. However, while this may seem like a good idea in theory, it can actually make things complicated. For example, intended parents who seek out surrogates independently are more likely to be susceptible to fraud, misrepresentation, or scams. It can also be difficult to find a surrogate who is likely to be medically cleared for the process.
When working with a surrogacy agency, you have the benefit of being matched with surrogate candidates that have a high chance of being physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy enough for the surrogacy journey.
Every surrogacy journey and relationship is different. Some families decide to stay in touch with their surrogates for many years, while others do not. It simply depends on whatever feels right for you and your family.
From beginning to end, the average surrogacy journey takes between 15 to 18 months to complete.
Find local fertility resources in California:
Fertility Clinics
Dr. Susanna Park, Dr. Sandy Chuan, Dr. Said Daneshmand, Dr. Michael Kettel, Dr. Brooke Friedman
11425 El Camino Real San Diego, CA, 92130
(858) 794-6363Dr. Barry Behr, Dr. Ruth Lathi, Dr. Amin Milki, Dr. Stephen Nakajima, Dr. Lusine Aghajanova,
1195 Fremont Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94087
(650) 498-7911Dr. Collin Smikle, Dr. Geraldine Ekpo
1700 California Street, Suite 570 San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 673-9199Dr. Jonathan Kort, Dr. Scott Morin, Dr. Daniel Kaser
150 Spear Street Suite 500 San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 603-699927882 Forbes Road, Suite 200 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(949) 249-92001060 Marsh Road, 1st Floor Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 646-7500Dr. Karine Chung, Dr. Guy Ringler, Dr. Richard Marrs, Dr. Kelly Baek
11818 Wilshire Blvd. Ste 300 Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 828-4008Dr. Vicken Sahakian, Dr. Michele Evans, Dr. Ingrid Rodi, Dr. Vicken Sepilian
10921 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 700 Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 853-1440Medical Director: Dr. Jane Frederick, Dr. Lisa Becht, Dr. Daniel Potter, Dr. Mickey Coffler
Hoag Health Center 500 Superior Avenue Suite 210 Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 287-5600Practice Director: David Newhouse, M.D., Medical Director: Lisa Farah-Eways M.D.
39141 Civic Center Dr. #350 Fremont, CA 94538
(888) 331-5601Practice Director: David Newhouse, M.D., Medical Director: Lisa Farah-Eways M.D.
2581 Samaritan Drive Suite 302 San Jose, CA 95124
(800) 597-2234Dr. Liyun Li, Dr. Philip Chenette, Dr. Eldon Schriock, Dr. Carl Herbert, Dr. Isabelle Ryan, Dr. Carolyn Givens
55 Francisco Street Suite 500 San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 834-309515500 Sand Canyon Avenue Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 726-0600Dr. Mark Surrey, Dr. Hal Danzer, Dr. Shahin Ghadir, Dr. Wendy Chang, Dr. Carolyn Alexander
450 North Roxbury Drive, Ste 500 Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(800) 600-9112Dr. Richard Paulson, Dr. Karine Chung, Dr. Kristin Bendikson, Dr. Sami Jabara
1127 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1400 Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 975-9990Dr. Ashim V. Kumar, Dr. Gary Hubert
325 Rolling Oaks Dr., Suite 110 Thousand Oaks, CA 91361
(805) 778-1122Dr. Boostanfar, Dr. Feinman
1220 La Venta Drive Suite 103 Westlake Village, CA 91361
(805) 374-1737 ext. 91319Dr. Brad Kolb, Dr. John Wilcox, Dr. Jeffrey Nelson
55 S Lake Ave, Floor 9, Pasadena, CA 91101
(877) 577-5070Practice Director: David E. Tourgeman, M.D. Medical Director: Michael A. Feinman, M.D.
15503 Ventura Blvd Suite 200 Encino, CA 91436
(818) 788-7288
Reproductive Attorneys
Richard Vaughn, Esq., Molly O'Brien, Esq.
5757 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 645 Los Angeles, CA 90036
(855) 405-7500Cynthia Fruchtman
Law Offices of Cynthia E. Fruchtman 2530 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 310 Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 829-0678Kristen Prezklasa Esq, Sahar Douraghy Esq.
23441 South Pointe Drive, Suite 270 Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 581-2443Molly O’Brien, Esq.
1611 Crenshaw Blvd. Suite #155 Torrance, Los Angeles County, California 90501
(310) 702-1373
Mental Health Professionals
3010 I Street Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 393-975311022 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 250 Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 487.1707
Fertility Support
462 North Linden Drive , Suite #337 Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(310) 339-3179
Financing & Insurance
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