Antioch, California Surrogacy Services
Information for Intended Parents
At Los Angeles Surrogacy, we have over 15 years of experience and we partner with the most competent legal and medical professionals in and around Antioch.
Legal
In the state of California, the intended parents and the surrogate must be represented by separate legal reps. We always recommend working with legal teams that we have worked with before, because they specialize in surrogacy. At Los Angeles Surrogacy, we educate both parties on every point within the contracts, ensuring everyone knows their responsibilities and benefits. This education is included in your agency fee.
Matching
Using each party’s preferences, location, and other logistical information, we provide matching services to create intended parent and surrogate partnerships that work. More often than not, these partnerships result in lifelong friendships.
Coordination
We schedule all medical appointments at times that work for both the surrogate and the intended parents (if they want to and are able to attend). We recommend fertility clinics that we have worked with before, but we are able to accommodate different facilities if both parties agree to it. California houses some of the most high-tech, medically-advanced clinics in the world.
Good Communication
Your case manager is always one text or call away. Whether you are an intended parent or surrogate, you will never wait for days on end when you have a question or need guidance.
Information For Surrogates
We are able to educate, guide, and schedule services for surrogate mothers. We utilize both parties’ schedules to do so.
Education
From the legalities, to the specifics of the procedure, to the responsibilities and benefits of the surrogate position – we will provide a formal education on all things surrogacy so you will never feel lost or confused.
Even after the initial education sessions, your case manager is almost always available to discuss matters further for a greater understanding.
Support
Los Angeles Surrogacy provides emotional counseling, medical appointment scheduling, legal support, and guidance at every step.
Finances
We give competitive compensation packages to our surrogates. Our packages include:
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Base pay
A pre-negotiated payment is paid throughout the surrogacy process as regularly-scheduled paychecks. Base pay is higher for experienced surrogates who have had a successful surrogacy pregnancy before.
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Additional
Surrogates carrying twins or triplets, or for those that require a C-section surgery receive extra payment.
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Reimbursement
Surrogates are reimbursed for things like prenatal vitamins, maternity clothes, and pumps. If a surrogate needs to stop working at the end of the pregnancy, she’ll be reimbursed for lost income.
Screening
The surrogate begins by filling out some paperwork with personal information. Name, contact information, date of birth, and home address are amongst the questions.
Then, she’ll detail out health history and any diagnoses regarding her reproductive system, as well as current lifestyle choices like diet and exercise patterns.
After that, she’s required to consent to a background check, as well as pass the emotional wellness check and physical examination.
As a last step, she’ll discuss preferences, which will later be used to match her with intended parent partners, who will most likely share in those preferences.
Intended parents will also undergo a screening process, so surrogates will never be paired with an individual or couple who is not qualified to become a parent via surrogacy. We go over their goals, their financial situation to ensure they can pay for the entire journey and all aspects of it, and their preferences and expectations for a successful partnership with a surrogate.
Requirements that all potential surrogates must meet before applying include that you need to:
- Be between the ages of 20 and 39.
- Have a healthy BMI (Body Mass Index). For most people, this means a 33 or less.
- Have had at least one successful pregnancy in the past, with minimal or no complications.
- Be raising at least one of your own children in your own home.
- Not currently receive government assistance.
- Reside in the United States legally, whether that be because you are a citizen, you have a green card or visa, or by some other means.
- Not currently take any drugs. This includes nicotine and any recreational drugs. If you have taken antidepressants in the past, you must be off of them for at least one year before you can pursue surrogacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is the surrogacy baby related to the surrogate mother?
No, not at all. Only the egg and the sperm compose the genetic makeup of the child, and the surrogate provides neither.
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Is becoming a surrogate risky?
Because the surrogate journey involves being pregnant, all of the same risks that come with pregnancy apply, but you are not more or less likely to experience these with surrogacy than you are with a natural pregnancy.
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Does a surrogate breastfeed the baby after birth?
More often than not, no. Most surrogates do not experience skin-to-skin contact with the surrogate, because the child’s mother will be there during the birth to take on that role. However, there are some intended parents that do want the surrogate to breastfeed the child. This preference will be discussed way ahead of time – even before the contract is signed and the journey begins.
Why Los Angeles Surrogacy?
Los Angeles Surrogacy has been serving intended parents and surrogates for over 15 years in California, in other states, and internationally.
We offer our intended parents some additional options, such as:
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Proven Donors
The “Proven Donors” list is a catalog of egg donors whose eggs have resulted in a successful pregnancy and healthy baby in the past.
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Donor Exchange
If your original chosen donor cancels, or if the egg collection procedure is unsuccessful, your payment will automatically be put toward another egg donor.
If you choose to back out completely, 75% of your fee will be refunded.
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Payment Installments
Los Angeles Surrogacy provides options for financing the surrogacy journey.
Ready to begin your journey with us as a parent or surrogate? Contact us here.