Surrogacy Journey Timeline in California: From Application to Delivery

Key Takeaways

• The surrogacy journey is between a year and eighteen months.
• Matching is very fast with a waiting list of intended parents.
• California's laws strongly protect surrogates.
• My Baby Donor Agency is a confidential surrogacy agency.
• California supports surrogacy.

Parenthood is one of the greatest gifts anyone can receive, and you could be the gift-giver if you become a gestational surrogate. It is important to understand the surrogacy journey and the surrogacy timeline. How long is the surrogacy process? To establish this answer, let's take a look at what happens from the application to delivery.

The Journey of Surrogacy

Surrogacy is a very personal experience, but it can change many lives. The surrogacy process takes about eighteen months. But since pregnancy is only nine months, so what else occurs throughout that time?

Working with a Surrogacy Agency

Before you even get started, there are two important things you need to do.

1. Check that you meet the qualification requirements to become a surrogate. Each agency has its own requirements. These are some of the criteria needed to kickstart the surrogacy journey:
   • Age between 19 and 35 years old
   • Had at least one successful pregnancy
   • Live in California
   • Healthy
   • BMI below 32
   • No history of alcohol or drug abuse
   • Strong support system
   • Psychologically stable
2. If you meet the above requirements, then you need to submit your application to the surrogacy agency. Once approved, your surrogacy timeline has begun. This first part takes only a few minutes to ensure you meet the requirements, fill out your application, and get started.

The first stage of the surrogacy process is short and sweet. At My Baby Donor Agency, a consultant will contact you within 48 hours.

Benefits of Working with a Surrogacy Agency

If you work with a trusted agency to help match you with intended parents, the surrogacy journey can be shorter. When you work with an agency, you have an immediate support system. You get access to the best medical care and fertility treatment in California, as well as legal representatives.

There are caring individuals on your side when you work with an agency like My Baby Donor. We can guide you through the procedure or provide you with an understanding ear when you need it. We are aware that the path may be considerably easier with a strong support network in place.

Screening

Becoming a surrogate is a very important role, and as such, it is just as important that all surrogates are properly screened. The next part of the surrogacy journey takes a little longer because you will have to undergo medical and psychological screening.

How long is the surrogacy process from this point, though? Well, if a match is made quickly, you can meet the intended parents, and the rest of the journey can be less than a year.

Matching

With intended parents waiting for the perfect surrogate, approximately a week is needed on the surrogacy timeline to make a match for your surrogacy journey. Our matching process is very efficient, and we can quickly make the perfect match. We look at all aspects, including expectations from the intended parents and the surrogate, to ensure that our matches work.

How long is the surrogacy process from this point, though? Well, if a match is made quickly, you can meet the intended parents, and the rest of the journey can be less than a year.

Contracts

Next, our legal representatives will draft and execute the legal contracts for the surrogacy. It is important for everyone that contracts are signed so there is no question about what is expected from each party.

In addition to ensuring that the intended parents have parental rights and responsibilities, this is the greatest way to make sure that all terms are understood and agreed upon. How long is the surrogacy process at this point? This is approximately 4 to 6 weeks on the surrogacy timeline after the matching.

Monitoring and Synchronization

The surrogacy journey gets very exciting at this point. About 6 weeks after the matching, IVF physicians will start the process. They will monitor your body and prepare you for the embryo transfer. You may need to take fertility medications to get ready for the transfer.

Embryo Transfer

As soon as your body is ready, the procedure date will be set. The actual transfer only takes fifteen minutes or so. Most people are able to return to their regular activities the same day, and it is not uncomfortable. The physicians will advise when a blood test can be taken to ensure that the transfer was successful.

Pregnancy

The surrogacy journey increases by 40 weeks, or nine months, if you are pregnant. During this time, you will get great medical assistance and support from our team. Make the most of this time. Eat properly, get enough rest, and take care of yourself for the next nine months.

So, how long is the surrogacy process, then? At this point, if all has gone well, the timeline is within a year, and the end is marked by the delivery.

Surrogacy in California

How does surrogacy work in California? California supports surrogacy. The laws favor gestational surrogacy, but they require that sufficient contracts be put in place early in the surrogacy timeline to guarantee everyone is protected and there are no unanticipated questions at the end of the surrogacy journey.

California is a leader when it comes to surrogacy. It offers pre-birth parentage laws so that the intended parents are recognized as the child’s legal parents before the child is born. It also offers an opportunity for non-traditional parenting, including LGBTQ+ and single parents.

Choose My Baby Donor Agency

You will be making a great choice to work with the only guaranteed confidential agency in California. My Baby Donor Agency is the only surrogacy agency in California to guarantee donors' and surrogates' privacy. Your profile is never shared online.

Just get in touch with us and fill out our online form , and we’ll walk you through the next steps to begin your surrogacy journey. How long is the surrogacy process? The entire process from application to delivery could happen within a year if you work through the right agency.

Take the first step to become a surrogate, and it will bring you great happiness knowing that your kindness has helped create a new family.