California Baby Surrogacy
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★ The Journey

Eight steps from your first call to welcoming your baby home.

A typical California surrogacy journey takes 18 to 24 months. Here is exactly what happens at every stage — what we handle, what you provide, and how the costs flow.

18–24
Months from start to birth
8
Clearly defined steps
98%
Live-birth success rate
3%
Surrogate applicant acceptance

Built around your family — not a one-size-fits-all template.

Every family that comes to California Baby Surrogacy has a different starting point. Some have embryos ready at a fertility clinic. Some are still deciding whether to use an egg donor. Some are international parents navigating travel logistics across two continents.

The 8-step journey below is the spine of every case — but the timing, sequencing, and emotional pace of each stage is shaped together with your dedicated coordinator. We don't rush. We don't pad. We move at the speed your family needs.

“From the first call in Mandarin, we felt truly understood. Twelve months later, we held our daughter in Los Angeles.”

— Liu & Zhao Family · Shanghai → Los Angeles · 2025

Your journey at a glance

1
Consultation
Week 1–2
2
Sign & Activate
Week 2–4
3
Surrogate Match
Week 4–12
4
Medical & Legal
Week 12–20
5
Embryo Transfer
Week 20–24
6
Pregnancy
Mo. 6–15
7
Birth
Mo. 15–18
8
Post-Birth
Ongoing
1
Week 1–2

Initial Consultation

Free · 30 minutes · in your language

A no-pressure video call with a senior coordinator. We discuss your family situation, your hopes for the journey, and answer every question you have. By the end, you walk away with a written roadmap — even if you decide California Baby is not the right fit.

What you provide
  • 30 minutes of your time
  • Honest answers about your family situation
  • Questions written down in advance (optional)
What we handle
  • Senior coordinator assigned in your language
  • Service plan walkthrough (3 tiers)
  • Written follow-up roadmap within 48 hours
  • Connection to relevant guides & FAQs
Cost portion
$0 — consultation is always free, no obligation.
2
Week 2–4

Sign & Activate

Service contract · trust account · client portal

Once you decide to move forward, we sign the service contract, open your trust account with SeedTrust (compliant escrow), and set up your private client portal. You meet your case team and gain access to every document, every transaction, every milestone.

What you provide
  • Signed service contract (DocuSign)
  • Initial trust deposit (~30% of agency fee)
  • Onboarding profile (preferences, family details)
What we handle
  • SeedTrust account setup
  • Client portal credentials
  • Coordinator and back-up coordinator assigned
  • Welcome packet (digital and printed)
Cost portion
$15,000–$25,000 — initial trust deposit (refundable terms in contract §6).
3
Week 4–12

Surrogate Matching

Pre-screened profiles · video meet · mutual confirmation

You browse a curated set of pre-screened surrogate profiles in your portal — typically 2 to 4 candidates at a time. Each profile includes an anonymized health summary, motivation letter, photos, and screening reports. After you express interest, we arrange a 60-minute video meet-and-greet. Both you and the surrogate must mutually confirm before moving forward.

What you provide
  • Preferences questionnaire
  • Time for 1–4 video meet-and-greets
  • Honest reflection — this is a two-way decision
What we handle
  • Pre-screening (medical / psych / background / financial)
  • Profile preparation and translation
  • Video call scheduling across time zones
  • Cultural and language facilitation
Cost portion
Matching fee included in agency fee · no per-match charge.
4
Week 12–20

Medical & Legal Preparation

Confidential workups · Pre-Birth Order initiation · insurance setup

Your matched surrogate completes a comprehensive medical workup at the IVF clinic. In parallel, our legal partner drafts the Gestational Surrogacy Agreement and initiates the Pre-Birth Order process (a California legal advantage that confirms your parental rights before delivery).

What you provide
  • Signed legal agreement (with attorney review)
  • IVF clinic coordination (if outside our partner network)
  • Insurance verification documents
What we handle
  • Medical workup scheduling at partner clinic
  • Compliant document handling
  • Pre-Birth Order legal filing
  • Surrogate insurance setup and verification
Cost portion
$30,000–$50,000 — medical workups + legal fees + surrogate insurance setup.
5
Week 20–24

Embryo Transfer

IVF cycle · transfer · pregnancy confirmation

The IVF clinic coordinates the surrogate's cycle and performs the embryo transfer. You can attend in person if you wish (we help with travel and accommodations). Within 10–14 days, beta hCG bloodwork confirms pregnancy. Around 6 weeks, the first ultrasound captures heartbeat — a moment we always celebrate.

What you provide
  • Optional travel to Los Angeles for transfer day
  • Emotional presence (calls/messages with surrogate)
  • Patience with the IVF timeline
What we handle
  • IVF clinic coordination
  • Transfer day logistics
  • Real-time portal updates after each milestone
  • Surrogate medication management
Cost portion
$15,000–$30,000 — IVF cycle + transfer + early pregnancy monitoring.
6
Mo. 6–15

Pregnancy Care

OB appointments · monthly stipends · Pre-Birth Order completion

For roughly 9 months, your surrogate attends regular OB appointments. You receive real-time updates through the portal — every ultrasound photo, every milestone. Your surrogate receives monthly stipends from your trust account. Mid-pregnancy, the Pre-Birth Order is finalized, legally confirming you as the parents before birth.

What you provide
  • Monthly stipend approvals (auto-routed in portal)
  • Optional travel for key milestones (anatomy scan, etc.)
  • Continued communication with surrogate
What we handle
  • OB appointment coordination and reminders
  • Real-time milestone updates to portal
  • Pre-Birth Order legal completion
  • Wellness support for surrogate
Cost portion
$1,500/mo stipend + ongoing medical (insurance covers majority).
7
Mo. 15–18

Welcoming Your Baby

Birth plan · hospital · documentation

In the final weeks, we finalize the birth plan with you, your surrogate, and the delivery hospital. You travel to Los Angeles, ready to be present at delivery. Because the Pre-Birth Order is already complete, your name appears on the birth certificate from day one — no court hearing post-birth, no parentage uncertainty.

What you provide
  • Travel to Los Angeles (2–4 weeks ahead of due date)
  • Accommodations near delivery hospital
  • Attendance at birth (we coordinate access)
What we handle
  • Birth plan coordination with hospital
  • Travel and accommodation recommendations
  • Birth certificate filing (under your names)
  • Postpartum care for surrogate
Cost portion
$25,000 delivery bonus to surrogate + your travel and accommodations.
8
Ongoing

Post-Birth & Going Home

Travel documents · return planning · long-term support

For international families, the final hurdle is documentation: U.S. passport for your newborn, country-of-origin travel documents, and consulate appointments. We have handled this for hundreds of families and typically complete it in 2–4 weeks. Then we help you plan the journey home — optionally including a postpartum doula referral.

What you provide
  • Photos and signatures for documentation
  • Time in Los Angeles (typically 4–6 weeks post-birth)
  • Patience — government timelines are not ours to set
What we handle
  • U.S. passport application coordination
  • Consulate appointment scheduling
  • Country-specific document guidance (CN / EU / LATAM)
  • Postpartum doula referrals
Cost portion
$1,000–$3,000 documentation fees + optional doula services.

Ready to start step 1?

A 30-minute conversation in your language, with no obligation. We'll help you understand the path — and whether California Baby Surrogacy is the right fit for your family.

Book Free Consultation →Contact us

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