Surrogacy involves many coordinated moving parts. Understanding each stage before you begin makes the entire journey feel far more manageable. Here is exactly what to expect when you work with Made in the USA Surrogacy, from your first inquiry through the day you bring your child home.
The process begins with a conversation. You reach out, we connect, and we take the time to understand your situation, your timeline, and what you are looking for in a surrogate. There is no pressure and no commitment at this stage. Our goal is simply to make sure you have a clear and honest picture of what the process involves so you can move forward with confidence.
During this consultation we will cover how gestational surrogacy works, what our matching process looks like, and what the financial and legal landscape involves. You will have the opportunity to ask every question you have.
When you are ready to move forward, you will complete a parent profile and application. This helps us understand your preferences, your background, and what the right match looks like for your family.
Once the application is reviewed and accepted, you will sign an agency agreement and fund your initial escrow deposit to begin the matching process.
Our team works to identify a surrogate from our California network whose profile, preferences, and circumstances align well with yours.
We typically present one strong candidate at a time, and you have the opportunity to review her profile and decide whether you would like to move forward to a match meeting.
The match meeting is a conversation between you, your potential surrogate, and a member of our team. It is an opportunity to ask questions, get to know one another, and determine whether both parties feel comfortable moving forward together. This relationship will span many months, so the connection matters.
Our match times average three to six months from the start of the process, which is significantly faster than many agencies in California.
Once both parties agree to move forward, your surrogate undergoes a full medical screening at your fertility clinic, conducted by your Reproductive Endocrinologist. She and her partner also complete a psychological evaluation with a licensed psychologist. The evaluation measures emotional readiness, the stability of the match, and ensures both the surrogate and the intended parents are fully prepared for the journey ahead.
The vast majority of our surrogates pass this stage without issue. Our screening process prior to matching is rigorous precisely so that this stage moves smoothly.
Before any medical procedures begin, both parties work with independent surrogacy attorneys to draft and finalize a gestational carrier agreement. This legally binding contract outlines all financial arrangements, medical responsibilities, parental rights, confidentiality terms, and expectations for each stage of the pregnancy.
In California, a pre-birth order (PBO) is typically obtained, legally establishing you as the parent before the child is born. While we primarily serve clients in California, all surrogacy cases go through a parentage order process in their respective state. Requirements can vary—some states may involve additional steps. For example, in Oregon, certain situations, such as for same-sex couples, may require a post-birth adoption to establish legal parentage.
With contracts signed, your surrogate begins her medication protocol to prepare her body for the embryo transfer. This schedule is managed closely by your fertility clinic, and our team stays in regular contact with your surrogate throughout to help her stay on track with medications and appointments.
On transfer day, your embryo is transferred to your surrogate at the fertility clinic. Depending on your clinic’s policies, you may be present for this milestone. Following the transfer, your surrogate may be placed on a short period of rest while the embryo implants, and then the wait for a pregnancy test begins.
Once a positive pregnancy test is confirmed, your fertility clinic will continue monitoring your surrogate through the early weeks of pregnancy. When the clinic is satisfied with her progress, she transitions to the care of her own OB-GYN for the remainder of the pregnancy. At this point, your surrogate’s base compensation begins, paid in monthly installments through delivery.
This stage is one of the most meaningful parts of the journey. You and your surrogate will develop your own relationship over the months ahead, and our team facilitates communication to make sure everyone stays informed and connected. Regular updates, milestone check-ins, and ongoing support are part of what we provide throughout the pregnancy.
You will be involved in birth plan discussions to make sure everyone, including the hospital team, knows what to expect on delivery day.
Our team is present on delivery day. Once your child arrives, the pre-birth order obtained during the legal phase ensures your parental rights are fully recognized and your name is on the birth certificate from the start. There are no adoption proceedings, no secondary steps.
After delivery, our team makes sure your surrogate is well cared for during her recovery. We also help you prepare for the practical realities of those first weeks as a new parent.
From your initial inquiry to delivery, most surrogacy journeys take between 18 months and two years in total. The matching process with Made in the USA Surrogacy typically takes three to six months. Legal and medical clearance typically take approximately three months from matching to embryo transfer. A full-term pregnancy is approximately nine months.
Every journey is different, and timelines can shift based on IVF outcomes, surrogate availability, and the pace of legal and medical processes. Our team keeps things moving and communicates clearly at every stage so you always know where you stand.
The surrogacy process is involved, but with the right agency beside you every step of the way, it is entirely navigable. We have guided many families through this journey and we will do the same for yours. Serving Sacramento, the Bay Area, and Northern California, with intended parents nationwide.
