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The Surrogate Mother Process

December 10, 2025Molly Chu Chen - Labryo Fertility
Educational
The surrogate mother process has become some of the most sought-after fertility paths and options for those who are looking to expand their family. Some families have medical, biological, or personal reasons that do require surrogacy - and this offers a safe, structured, and legally protected path to parenthood, like locations in Southern California where laws and fertility clinics have catapulted the region into a global surrogacy spot.

At Labryo Fertility, we work closely with surrogates, intended parents, IVF specialists, embryologists, and everybody who’s involved in this journey to ensure that every stage is transparent, ethical, and medically organized. In this article, we will go into depth about what the surrogate mother process is, how it works, and what intended parents can expect when pursuing the Southern California surrogate mother process.

What Is the Surrogate Mother Process?


The surrogate mother process is a structured medical and legal journey in which a gestational surrogate helps intended parents carry a pregnancy to term. Nowadays, gestational surrogacy is more common than traditional surrogacy, meaning:
  • The surrogate does not share genetic material with the baby
  • Embryos are created through IVF
  • The eggs and sperm come from intended parents or donors
This is extremely different from “traditional surrogacy,” now not common and discouraged because of legal, emotional, and mental complexity reasons.
Surrogacy is often recommended for:
  • Women with uterine factor infertility
  • Women with medical conditions that make pregnancy unsafe
  • Intended mothers with repeated IVF failure or recurrent miscarriage
  • LGBTQ+ couples (especially male couples)
  • Individuals who choose surrogacy for personal or logistical reasons

Who Makes a Good Surrogate?


Gestational surrogates need to undergo extremely detailed and rigorous screening to ensure she’s suitable to be one.
A qualified surrogate typically must:
  • Be between 21 and 42 years old
  • Have had at least one healthy pregnancy and delivery
  • Have no major medical complications in prior pregnancies
  • Have a stable living environment and support system
  • Be in good physical and mental health
  • Not smoke, use drugs, or abuse alcohol
  • Pass psychological and clinical assessments
Sometimes, certain clinics and agencies still ensure higher levels of screenings than this, and it promises safety for the surrogate, baby, and intended parents.

How Does the Surrogate Mother Process Work?

The Surrogate Mother Process in Southern California


A lot of intended parents, or people who are curious about the process, will ask questions like:
  • What is the process of surrogate mother selection?
  • How does the surrogate mother process work from start to finish?
  • What is the typical timeline?
We’ve organized a detailed, medically accurate explanation of the surrogate mother process below in Southern California and generally the U.S.

Step 1 — Initial Consultation and Case Review


The process begins with a consultation at a fertility center such as Labryo Fertility. During this phase:
  • Evaluate your (if any) previous medical history
  • Evaluate your (if any) previous fertility history
  • Strategize and confirm treatment plan
  • Discuss IVF and embryo creation timelines
If the intended parents already have frozen their embryos, the clinic assesses their quality and viability. If they haven’t created their embryos yet, the clinic might recommend an IVF protocol, egg retrieval, and genetic testing, depending on the intended parents’ willingness to begin treatment.

Step 2 — Surrogate Matching and Screening


Intended parents can match with a surrogate working with a reputable surrogacy agency in Southern California, or work with surrogates who work in-house with a fertility clinic.
The surrogate undergoes:
  • Medical screening
  • Infectious disease testing
  • Uterine cavity evaluation
  • Psychological assessment
  • Background checks and lifestyle review
Only after these evaluations can the surrogate be officially approved for treatment.

Step 3 — Legal Agreements


Before any medical procedures occur, both parties sign legally binding contracts drafted by surrogacy attorneys. The Southern California surrogacy process is one of the most friendly and flexible states.
Contracts typically include:
  • Compensation and reimbursement
  • Expectations during pregnancy
  • Parental rights and responsibilities
  • Insurance coverage
  • Contingency planning
  • Delivery and hospital arrangements
In California, "pre-birth orders" allow intended parents’ names to be placed on the birth certificate prior to delivery—making the Southern California surrogate mother process one of the most seamless legally.

Step 4 — IVF, Embryo Creation, and Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)


If the intended parents do not yet have embryos yet, the clinic might recommend an IVF protocol. Labryo Fertility focuses on:
  • Egg and sperm retrieval (from intended parents or donors)
  • Embryo culture in advanced incubators
  • Embryo grading (morphology assessment)
  • PGT-A genetic testing to select chromosomally normal embryos
  • Cryopreservation using vitrification
Once the intended parents have viable and healthy embryos, the surrogate’s menstrual cycle is synchronized. The surrogate will receive medication to prepare uterine lining to be optimal before the embryo transfer. When the uterine lining thickness and hormone levels meet the clinic’s criteria, they proceed with a frozen embryo transfer.

Step 5 — Pregnancy Monitoring and Prenatal Care


After transfer, the surrogate undergoes:
  • Blood tests to confirm pregnancy
  • Ultrasounds to detect fetal heartbeat
  • Monitoring through the first trimester
  • Once the pregnancy is considered stable at around 9-11 weeks, the surrogate then transfers her care to routine prenatal care, such as:
  • Ultrasound appointments
  • Birth planning
  • Milestone updates
At this stage, some intended parents might fly to Southern California to prepare for the child’s birth, or some may visit periodically during the entire pregnancy.

Step 6 — Delivery, Legal Confirmation, and Transition to Parenthood


Southern California surrogate mother process allows intended parents to:
  • Receive a pre-birth order establishing parentage
  • Be the legal parents upon delivery
  • Be named on the birth certificate immediately
Intended parents are most likely, or most commonly, present at the birth of the child and can immediately take custody.
The surrogate mother is also supported by her agency during postpartum support, including counseling, recovery monitoring, and continued communication if both parties agree to it.

How Does the Surrogate Mother Process Work?


Southern California Surrogate Mother Process


Southern California’s surrogate mother process is incredibly detailed and complete. Many intended parents worldwide specifically search for the Southern California surrogate mother process because of the region’s global reputation. Key advantages include:

Strongest legal protections in the United States

California was the first state to legalize and systemize gestational surrogacy. Its courts, attorneys, and legal frameworks are well-versed in supporting intended parents—including international families.

Access to world-leading fertility clinics

Southern California has one of the highest densities of top-tier IVF clinics, embryology labs, and reproductive endocrinologists, providing:
  • High IVF success rates
  • Specialized embryology techniques
  • Complete third-party reproduction services

Experienced surrogacy agencies

California agencies are known for:
  • Complete and standardized surrogate screening
  • Transparent compensation structures
  • Comprehensive surrogate and intended parents support
  • Ethical practices overseen by professional organizations

Timeline Breakdown: How Long Does the Surrogate Mother Process Take?


Although each journey is unique, a typical timeline looks like this:
  • Matching & Screening: 1–3 months
  • Legal Contracts: 4–8 weeks
  • Medical Prep & FET: 1–2 months
  • Pregnancy: 9 months
  • Total duration: ~12–18 months
Couples who already have frozen embryos may be able to complete the process faster, and those needing to create new embryos may take a little longer. However, because there are so many factors surrounding surrogacy, the timeline varies for different couples.

Cost Overview 

While costs vary depending on clinic, agency, and surrogate compensation, intended parents typically budget for:
  • Medical screenings
  • IVF and embryology
  • Medications
  • Surrogate compensation
  • Insurance
  • Legal fees
  • Prenatal and delivery care
Southern California surrogate mother process is on the higher end of costs due to the region’s complete legal structure, high medical quality, and high demand. However, the stated reasons above also strengthen the region’s position as a leading reproductive state.

How Labryo Fertility Supports Intended Parents Through Surrogacy


At Labryo Fertility, we support intended parents with a deeply personalized, medically advanced approach. Our clinical expertise includes:
  • Embryo creation and optimization
  • Embryo grading and selection
  • Genetically tested embryo preparation
  • Frozen embryo transfer coordination
  • Liaising with surrogacy agencies
  • Planning for international intended parents
  • Full case management from start to finish
We understand that every family has their dreams and goals, and surrogacy is not just a medical process: it’s a journey built on trust, compassion, and understanding.

The surrogate mother process is a profound experience for both intended parents and the surrogate. This article is to help you feel empowered, help you understand, informed, and supported.
California—especially Southern California—offers unmatched legal protection, medical expertise, and ethical standards for intended parents from around the world. With the guidance of experienced fertility specialists, advanced IVF laboratories, and compassionate surrogacy professionals, the path to parenthood becomes both safe and attainable.
Labryo Fertility is here to support you through every milestone, from embryo creation to delivery day.

How Does the Surrogate Mother Process Work?



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