How to Become a Surrogate with West Coast Surrogacy.

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How to Become a Surrogate with West Coast Surrogacy

Becoming a surrogate is a remarkable journey that allows you to help individuals or couples fulfill their dreams of parenthood. It's a deeply rewarding experience that can create lasting bonds and leave a positive impact on both the surrogate and the intended parents. At West Coast Surrogacy, we work with surrogates from all over California, including Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Riverside, Modesto, Orange County, Bakersfield, Temecula Valley, and beyond. Learn more about this incredible journey and how you can become a surrogate in California.

What is surrogacy?

Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman agrees to become pregnant and give birth to a child or children for others (intended parents) to raise. This special woman is called the surrogate. At West Coast Surrogacy, we facilitate gestational surrogacy arrangements, in which embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) are implanted in the surrogate. These embryos may be created using the intended parents’ eggs and sperm, or with the assistance of an egg and/or sperm donor. Because the embryo is created outside the surrogate’s body through IVF, the child has no genetic relationship to her.

Surrogate requirements

For the health and safety of all, gestational surrogates must meet a set of surrogate requirements. Some of these requirements include:

• Being 21 - 40 years old

• Being a U.S. citizen

• Being a non-smoker in excellent health

• Being within a healthy height and weight ratio

• Having given birth at least once without complications

All surrogate requirements are in place to safeguard the physical, emotional, legal, and financial wellness of surrogates and intended parents alike. The surrogacy journey is incredible, but it’s also long, with many potential obstacles and challenges. Having these requirements from the very beginning helps to cultivate an optimal experience.

See the full list of surrogate requirements.

Surrogate Compensation

At West Coast Surrogacy, we deeply value our surrogates and prioritize their well-being throughout the entire surrogacy journey. We take pride in being one of the highest-paying surrogacy agencies in the nation, ensuring our surrogates are fairly compensated for their incredible generosity and dedication. Our initial surrogate base fee ranges from $72,000 to $104,000.

See the full breakdown of West Coast Surrogacy’s surrogate compensation.

The benefits of becoming a gestational surrogate with West Coast Surrogacy

West Coast Surrogacy will be with you for guidance and support every step of the way in your journey to becoming a surrogate mother. Our team approach provides around-the-clock availability, working in unison with independent psychotherapists, life coaches, clinical psychologists, physicians, attorneys, an insurance specialist, birth doulas, a childbirth educator/lactation consultant, registered dietitians, and licensed acupuncturists.

One of our primary goals is that the surrogate mother and her family minimize financial risks. We achieve this by requiring a trust fund to be established before any medical procedure takes place. This trust account contains sufficient funds to cover your surrogate fees, anticipated medical expenses, and any approved personal expenses related to the surrogate process. In addition, you will also receive the following support and services:

• Counseling support throughout the process of becoming a gestational surrogate

• Online surrogate mother support groups

• A case manager who works closely with you, the intended parents and the agency director during all phases of the surrogacy process

• Access to one of several independent attorneys to advise you during the contract negotiation process

• Birth doulas (upon request)

• Childbirth classes and education specific to surrogacy

• "Outings" - Family gatherings and group participation in charity events

• A lactation consultant, if you choose to express breast milk for the baby (upon request)

• An insurance specialist to verify your health insurance coverage, and assist you in obtaining a life insurance policy paid for by the intended parents

• Registered dietitian available for nutritional counseling

• Referrals for licensed acupuncturists, and certified pregnancy massage therapists

• Convenient Southern California and Northern California locations, with offices in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside and Sacramento

I could not have asked for a better agency.

They are always there when you need them and have no problem answering any and all questions. I am so lucky to have had them with me through both my journeys. I was so happy with them that my step sister who had been a surrogate before me with a different agency switched to West Coast for her second journey. Thank you West Coast!

— Danielle, Surrogate

Learn more about why surrogate mothers choose West Coast Surrogacy.

How to Become a Surrogate FAQ

• How does the surrogate matching process work?

  Before being matched, surrogates undergo psychological evaluations and interviews to assess their readiness for the surrogacy journey as well as determine their preferences. Intended parents are also interviewed to determine their expectations and preferences. During the surrogate matching process itself, our case managers carefully identify matches based on various criteria, such as values, expectations, medical history, and other preferences.

• What medical screenings and evaluations are required to become a surrogate?

  Surrogates undergo comprehensive medical screening to assess if they are healthy and capable of carrying a pregnancy. This includes tests for infectious diseases, general health, and evaluations of reproductive health. Surrogates also undergo psychological evaluations to assess their mental and emotional readiness for the surrogacy process. These screenings help cultivate a safe and successful surrogacy journey for both the surrogate and the intended parents.

• What is the timeline for the surrogacy process?

  The timeline for the surrogacy process can vary but generally takes around 12 to 18 months from the initial consultation to the birth of the baby. This timeline includes the matching process, medical and psychological screenings, legal contracts, embryo transfer, pregnancy, and birth. Delays can occur due to various factors such as the availability of surrogates, legal requirements, and the success of the embryo transfer.

• How is compensation determined for surrogates?

  Compensation for surrogates is typically determined based on several factors, including the location of the surrogate, her employment status, and any previous surrogacy experience. At West Coast Surrogacy, compensation ranges from $72,000 to $104,000 or more, with additional payments for specific circumstances such as carrying multiples.

• What are the legal aspects of surrogacy in California that I should be aware of?

  Surrogates should be aware that while California's laws are very clear about surrogacy, it's also a legally complex process. They should understand the legal aspects regarding parentage, rights, and compensation. California has laws that protect the rights of both the surrogate and the intended parents, ensuring that the intended parents are recognized as the legal parents of the child born through surrogacy. Surrogates should also be aware of the legal requirements for compensation, which must be reasonable and agreed upon before the surrogacy arrangement begins.

• What are the potential risks and complications of being a surrogate?

  Being a surrogate can involve risks and complications, including medical risks such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and the potential need for a cesarean section. There are also psychological risks, such as postpartum depression and emotional challenges associated with carrying a child for someone else. That's why West Coast Surrogacy provides support every step of the way. With our experience, we understand the challenges you may face and are here to provide guidance, support, and resources throughout your surrogacy journey.

• Is there a difference between a surrogate mother and a gestational carrier?

  There are two different types of surrogacy. The most common type is gestational surrogacy, where the surrogate carries a child conceived using the intended parents’ or donors’ genetic material, making her genetically unrelated to the child. Traditional surrogacy, where the surrogate’s own egg is used, is less common and not practiced by the vast majority of fertility clinics and surrogacy agencies, including West Coast Surrogacy. Gestational surrogacy is the primary focus of modern surrogacy practices due to its clear legal and genetic distinctions.

• Can I be a surrogate for someone I know?

  The decision to be a gestational surrogate for an individual or couple is mutually agreed upon by you and the other party. You will be presented with profiles of available intended parents from our surrogacy agency that meet your criteria and you will choose which individuals you would like to meet in person. The relationship between you and the parent(s) you work with is of the utmost importance to us. We take the matching process very seriously and your role in this process is paramount.

• Is it hard to give the baby up?

  Though we understand why it seems like surrogates would grow attached to the baby during the pregnancy, many describe the experience as being completely different from what they felt during pregnancies for their own biological children. Knowing you are giving a gift to other parents changes the framework.

• What is the compensation for surrogates?

  Every surrogacy case is unique and involves many factors that can impact the overall compensation. The average amount of compensation, including expenses, can range from $77,000 to $102,000 depending on experience and the individual arrangements. In states like California, where surrogates are in high demand, surrogates may be paid slightly higher. Legal requirements and the costs of other services can also vary from state to state. However, the amount surrogate mothers get paid doesn't vary greatly between cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Houston.