You’ve been pregnant before—you know what morning sickness feels like, you’ve experienced the excitement of ultrasounds, and you understand the physical demands of carrying a baby. But now you’re considering surrogacy, and you’re probably wondering: what’s going to be different about the medical side of this journey?
A surrogacy professional can help you navigate California’s surrogacy medical support when you fill out this form. In this article, we will give you some of the basics.
What Stays the Same and What’s Different?
Here’s the honest answer: some things will feel completely familiar, while others will be entirely new. You’ll still have prenatal appointments and feel the baby move, but you’ll also navigate fertility treatments, work with a medical team you didn’t choose, and coordinate care in ways you’ve never experienced before.
What stays the same:
- Prenatal appointments and routine pregnancy monitoring
- The physical experience of pregnancy itself
- Basic pregnancy symptoms and changes
- The need for good nutrition and prenatal care
- The excitement of watching the baby grow on ultrasounds
What’s different:
- Extensive medical preparation before you’re even pregnant
- Coordination between multiple medical teams
- Additional monitoring and appointments
- Insurance complexity you don’t have to manage
- Delivery planning with intended parents involved
The good news? California has some of the most experienced fertility clinics and surrogacy-friendly medical providers in the country. You’ll be working with teams who understand exactly what surrogacy involves and can guide you through every step of the process.
Before You’re Pregnant: The Medical Preparation Phase
This is probably the biggest difference between your own pregnancies and surrogacy—there’s an entire medical phase that happens before you’re even trying to conceive. Let’s walk through what this preparation actually involves.
Your fertility clinic consultation:
You’ll meet with a reproductive endocrinologist (fertility specialist) who will review your medical history, discuss the embryo transfer process, and create a customized treatment plan. This isn’t like choosing your OB-GYN for a regular pregnancy—the intended parents typically select the fertility clinic, but you’ll still have input about your care.
The medical protocol phase:
This is where things get really different from natural conception. You’ll take hormone medications (estrogen and progesterone) for several weeks to prepare your uterus for embryo implantation. The specific protocol depends on your medical history and the clinic’s approach, but it usually involves:
- Birth control pills initially to sync your cycle with the process
- Estrogen medications (pills, patches, or injections) to build up your uterine lining
- Progesterone supplements (pills, injections, or suppositories) to support implantation
- Regular monitoring appointments with blood tests and ultrasounds
What the monitoring involves:
During the preparation phase, you’ll have appointments every few days to check how your body is responding to the medications. They’ll do blood tests to check hormone levels and ultrasounds to see how your uterine lining is developing. It’s much more intensive than anything you experienced with natural pregnancies.
The embryo transfer procedure:
This is a relatively simple outpatient procedure that takes about 30 minutes. A thin catheter is used to place the embryo into your uterus—it’s similar to a pap smear in terms of comfort level. You’ll rest for a short time afterward, then go home with some activity restrictions for a few days.
During Pregnancy: Your Medical Care Journey
Once you’re pregnant, the medical care starts to feel more familiar—but there are still some important differences from your previous pregnancies.
Your prenatal care team:
You’ll typically have both the fertility clinic monitoring you initially and your own OB-GYN providing regular prenatal care. The fertility clinic usually follows you for the first 8-12 weeks to ensure everything is progressing normally, then you transition to standard prenatal care with your chosen obstetrician.
Choosing your OB-GYN:
Here’s some good news—you usually get to choose your own OB-GYN for prenatal care and delivery, just like with your own pregnancies. The intended parents’ insurance may have network requirements, but you’re typically not stuck with a provider you don’t like.
Additional monitoring:
Surrogacy pregnancies often involve slightly more monitoring than typical pregnancies, especially if you’re carrying multiples or if the intended parents request additional appointments. This might mean:
- More frequent ultrasounds to check on the baby’s development
- Additional appointments if you’re carrying twins or triplets
- Regular communication with the intended parents about appointments and results
- Coordination between your medical team and the intended parents
Managing multiple relationships:
One of the trickiest parts of surrogate medical care is balancing your relationship with your medical team, the intended parents’ involvement, and your own needs. Some intended parents want to attend every appointment, others prefer updates afterward. You’ll establish these boundaries early in the process.
California’s prenatal care advantages:
The state has excellent maternal healthcare systems, experienced providers familiar with surrogacy, and strong patient rights protections. You maintain decision-making authority about your medical care throughout pregnancy, which isn’t guaranteed in every state.
What feels different:
- Having intended parents involved in medical discussions
- More people interested in appointment results and baby’s development
- Additional documentation and communication about medical care
- Insurance coordination you don’t have to handle yourself
What feels the same:
- Regular prenatal appointments and routine monitoring
- Your relationship with your OB-GYN and medical team
- The physical experience of pregnancy itself
- Your autonomy in making medical decisions about your care
Delivery and Hospital Care in California
Delivery planning for surrogacy involves more coordination than your previous births, but California hospitals generally have experience with surrogate deliveries and established procedures to make the process smooth.
Pre-delivery planning:
You’ll work with your medical team, the intended parents, and your agency to plan delivery logistics. This includes discussing:
- Who will be present during labor and delivery
- Communication preferences during labor
- Decision-making protocols for medical situations
- Hospital room arrangements and visiting policies
- Post-delivery procedures for the baby
Hospital policies for surrogacy:
Most California hospitals have experience with surrogate deliveries and established policies. They understand that the intended parents are the legal parents and that you’re not making decisions about the baby’s care after birth. Hospital staff are typically well-trained on surrogacy protocols.
What’s different about surrogate delivery:
- Intended parents are usually present and involved
- Pre-birth orders mean the intended parents are listed on legal documents
- Hospital staff understand the surrogacy arrangement
- Post-delivery procedures focus on the intended parents bonding with the baby
- You have your own recovery process separate from the baby’s care
Your medical care during delivery:
Your medical care remains focused on your health and safety throughout labor and delivery. The medical team’s primary responsibility is to you and your wellbeing, just like with your own pregnancies. You maintain decision-making authority about your medical care.
California’s delivery advantages:
- Hospitals experienced with surrogacy arrangements
- Clear legal procedures for establishing intended parent rights
- Strong patient rights protections for surrogates
- Comprehensive insurance coverage for delivery costs
Recovery support:
Your recovery process is similar to your previous deliveries, with the same postpartum care and follow-up appointments. The main difference is that you’re recovering while the intended parents are caring for their new baby.
Postpartum Care: Your Recovery and Transition
The postpartum period as a surrogate involves the same physical recovery as your previous pregnancies, but with some unique emotional and logistical considerations.
Your physical recovery:
Recovery from delivery is the same whether you’re a surrogate or delivering your own baby. You’ll have the standard postpartum appointments, healing process, and physical changes. Your medical team will focus on your health and recovery needs.
Medical follow-up care:
- Standard postpartum appointments with your OB-GYN
- Recovery monitoring and any necessary medical care
- Return to normal activities based on your healing process
- Follow-up with the fertility clinic if needed
Emotional support during recovery:
Many surrogates find that the postpartum period involves complex emotions—pride in helping create a family, sadness that the journey is ending, and adjustment back to normal life. Quality agencies provide counseling support during this transition.
Relationship transition:
Your relationship with the intended parents may change after delivery, and that’s normal. Some surrogates maintain ongoing friendships, others prefer to transition back to their own lives. There’s no right or wrong approach.
California’s postpartum support:
- Comprehensive medical coverage for all recovery care
- Access to counseling and emotional support services
- Legal protections throughout the postpartum period
- Agency support during the transition phase
What to expect emotionally:
- A sense of accomplishment and fulfillment
- Some sadness that the intensive journey is ending
- Adjustment back to your normal routine and relationships
- Processing the experience and its impact on your family
Surrogacy Medical Professionals in California
California’s established surrogacy industry means you have access to medical professionals who specialize in gestational carrier care and understand the unique aspects of surrogacy pregnancies.
Reproductive Endocrinologists (Fertility Specialists):
These doctors manage the pre-pregnancy phase, embryo transfer, and early pregnancy monitoring. California has some of the most experienced fertility clinics in the country, with many specializing in surrogacy cases.
OB-GYN Specialists:
You’ll choose your own obstetrician for prenatal care and delivery. Many California OB-GYNs have experience with surrogacy pregnancies and understand the unique dynamics involved.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists:
If you’re carrying multiples or have any pregnancy complications, you may work with high-risk pregnancy specialists who have extensive experience with surrogacy cases.
Insurance and Medical Costs: What You Need to Know
One of the biggest advantages of surrogacy is that you’re not responsible for medical costs—but understanding how insurance coordination works helps you feel more confident about the process.
Who pays for what:
- All medical expenses are covered by intended parents
- Your existing insurance may be used as primary coverage
- Intended parents’ insurance may provide additional coverage
- Supplemental insurance may be purchased to fill gaps
- You pay nothing out of pocket for surrogacy-related medical care
California insurance advantages:
- California insurance laws often require fertility treatment coverage
- Large insurance networks with surrogacy-experienced providers
- Clear regulations about coverage responsibilities
- Consumer protections for pregnancy-related care
What agencies handle:
Quality California agencies coordinate all insurance matters, including:
- Verifying coverage and identifying any gaps
- Arranging supplemental insurance when needed
- Managing claims and billing processes
- Ensuring you’re never responsible for costs
- Resolving any insurance disputes that arise
Ready to Learn More About Your Medical Journey?
Understanding the medical aspects of surrogacy helps you feel prepared and confident about this journey. While some parts will be familiar from your previous pregnancies, the comprehensive medical support, professional coordination, and California’s experienced healthcare system create advantages you didn’t have before. Learn more about the complete surrogacy process and what to expect at each stage of your journey, or get comprehensive support from an experienced professional.