It’s normal to ask questions about becoming a surrogate mother. One of the most common areas of concern for women considering becoming surrogates is the surrogacy medical process in California.

The medical process of surrogacy in CA can seem overwhelming. The good news is you can get answers to your questions from a surrogacy professional. Please complete our free online form to connect with one when you’re ready. Now, read on as we cover several facets of the surrogacy medical process in California in greater detail.   

1. What Is the Medical Process for Surrogacy in California?

The medical process of surrogacy in California is a seven-step process that lets professionals screen potential surrogate and offer them personalized medical care. The goal is to improve the likelihood that the surrogate can carry and deliver a child safely. The steps in the surrogacy medical process in California are:

• Medical screening to ensure the surrogate is physically ready for pregnancy and can carry the pregnancy to term.  
• A mock cycle to assess readiness for the embryo transfer. The mock cycle lets endocrinologists assess the surrogate’s bodily response to the medications administered prior to transfer.
• Preparation for embryo transfer involves a variety of drugs and hormones intended to increase the odds of implantation.
• The fertilized embryo is transferred to the surrogate’s womb using a syringe inserted into the uterus. Afterward, an ultrasound assesses whether the embryos are properly implanted.
• The pregnancy is confirmed approximately nine days after implantation through hormone tests administered by the fertility clinic.
• An ultrasound is performed after six weeks of pregnancy to detect a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is confirmed, the surrogate moves on to her OB/GYN and can proceed with regular prenatal care.
• Prenatal care is provided to the surrogate mother during the pregnancy, just as with any expectant mother.

2. Does a Surrogate Mother Share Blood with the Baby in California?

Are you wondering, “Do surrogates share blood with the baby in California?” Yes, the baby receives blood, oxygen, and nutrients from the mother via the umbilical cord in any pregnancy. That makes thorough surrogate health screening important. Screening confirms there are no bloodborne pathogens or communicable diseases that could be problematic.

3. Does a Surrogate Mother Share DNA with the Baby in California?

Some people wonder, “Does the baby get any DNA from a surrogate mother in California?” In gestational surrogacy, the answer to this question is no. The baby’s DNA comes solely from its intended parents who provided the fertilized egg.   

4. Will the Baby Look Like the Surrogate Mother in California?

“Will a baby look like the surrogate mother in California?” is another common question often heard by surrogacy professionals. Since the implanted embryo in gestational surrogacy features only the genetic material of the intended parents, any features shared between the surrogate and the child are coincidental and not genetic.

5. Do Surrogate Babies Look Like the Parents in California?

Here’s a frequently-asked question about surrogacy: Does a surrogate baby look like its parents in California? The answer is yes. Because the parents who provided the fertilized egg are sharing their DNA with the child, the child will resemble the intended parents. The surrogate only provides the womb for the child.

6. Can a Surrogate Carry Twins in California?

You may have heard someone ask, “Can a surrogate have twins in California?” Yes, surrogates sometimes become pregnant with twins due to a natural split in the uterus (identical twins) or the transfer of two separate embryos that implant successfully (fraternal twins). Becoming pregnant with twins during surrogacy always a possibility.

7. How Does a Surrogate Mother Get Pregnant in California?

Many potential surrogates ask, “How does a surrogate get pregnant in California?” The surrogate mother gets pregnant through the transfer of a fertilized embryo provided by the intended parents. After fertilization, the embryo is incubated for five days and implanted in the womb of the surrogate mother.

8. Can A Surrogate Have an Abortion in California?

Another common concern can lead women to wonder, “Can a surrogate get an abortion in California?” or “Can a surrogate be forced to have an abortion in CA?” 

The intended parents will be responsible for raising a child born through surrogacy, so it’s their choice whether to terminate the pregnancy most of the time. In some cases, the fetus doesn’t develop as planned. Or there could be other health complications. Either way, the intended parents can choose to end the pregnancy because surrogacy could be their only shot at building a family, and they want everything to be perfect.

Surrogate abortion in California can also happen if two or more embryos implant and result in multiple viable fetuses. When that happens, abortion may be an option if the intended parents only want one child. The potential for abortion is an important factor for anyone considering surrogacy. If you have any concerns about surrogate abortion in California, please discuss it with a surrogacy professional.  

9. Do Surrogates Use Their Own Eggs in California?

Can surrogates use their own eggs in California? In one type of surrogacy, known as traditional surrogacy, the eggs of the surrogate are used. It’s uncommon now due to advances in fertility science, but it’s an option. In gestational surrogacy, the intended mother’s eggs are fertilized to create an embryo, which is transferred to the surrogate’s womb.

10. What Surrogate Medications in California Are Prescribed?

Before your surrogate journey, many medications will be administered to coordinate and control your cycle to prepare the uterus for embryo transfer when the time is perfect. These medications enhance your chances of a successful pregnancy, and can include:

• Doxycycline
• Lupron
• Estrogen
• Progesterone
• Aspirin
• Tetracycline
• Medrol
• Prenatal vitamins

11. What’s the Gestational Surrogate IVF Process in California?

The IVF surrogate process in California has been covered earlier in this guide. IVF, or in vitro fertilization, takes place when an egg from the intended mother becomes fertilized by the sperm of the intended father in a lab setting. After the embryo is incubated, it’s implanted in the surrogate’s womb to initiate pregnancy.

12. What is Surrogate Embryo Transfer in California?

The embryo transfer process in California is how the surrogate mother gets pregnant. The intended parents provide the egg and sperm, and an embryo is created by a fertility lab. Embryos that are determined to be viable can be transplanted to the surrogate’s womb once she is medically prepared for the procedure.

13. How Long After IVF Transfer Does the Embryo Implant in California?

Are you wondering how long the embryo transfer to surrogate mother in CA takes, please know it’s a quick process. Under perfect circumstances, the embryo should be implanted within a few days. The fertility clinic will confirm implantation soon after, and six months later, an ultrasound is used to confirm a heartbeat.

14. What Are the Chances of First Embryo Transfer Success in California?

The CDC reports a 52% rate of success for in vitro fertilization in general. However, private fertility centers may see success rates approaching 75%, and some are even as high as 95% after the gestational surrogate has become pregnant.

15. Who Pays Medical Bills for Surrogate in California?

Every scenario is unique, but most of the time the medical costs of surrogacy are fully paid by the intended parents. In many surrogacies, the surrogate mother is also compensated beyond her medical expenses in return for her commitment to help intended parents build a family.

16. Where Can You Get More Info on the Surrogacy Medical Process in California?

If there are lingering questions you have about the surrogacy medical process in CA, you can get answers from a surrogacy professional. We’re happy to help you connect with one when you’re ready. Simply fill out our online form, and we’ll do the rest.