GSHC Surrogacy School is in session! Read our in-house guide on the ins-and-outs of the journey.
GSHC Surrogacy School is in session! Read our in-house guide on the ins-and-outs of the journey.
Located in a very surrogacy-friendly state, diverse and vibrant Bakersfield is an ideal location to pursue surrogacy for aspiring parents and surrogates alike. With proximity to some of the most respected medical institutions in Southern California—including those in Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego—Bakersfield offers the resources and community they need for a happy, healthy journey. With clear, comprehensive surrogacy laws in place and convenient access to airports and other transit hubs, Bakersfield is one of the best places to embark on the surrogacy journey in the state of California.
Bakersfield offers surrogates a wide range of resources – a diverse community with access to top-tier doctors, surrogacy agencies, and fertility specialists.
At GSHC Surrogacy & Egg Donation, many of the surrogates we work with are located in Bakersfield, and we’ve built a large network in the region, with surrogates as well as local clinics, OB doctors, delivery hospitals, and support providers. Many local surrogates return to us for second and third journeys and often refer their friends to join our program. Several of our team members also live in or around Bakersfield. Our Fresno office is just over an hour and a half away, allowing for easy access to the specialized care and support surrogates need.
We’re proud to offer competitive compensation for all surrogates we work with in Bakersfield. We understand the deep physical and emotional commitment involved in carrying a baby for aspiring parents who cannot do so on their own, and believe all surrogates should be paid generously for their time and effort.
These estimates do not include reimbursed expenses such as travel, lost wages, and medical insurance, which are all covered separately. GSHC works hard to ensure each surrogate has the support and resources she needs for a smooth journey and healthy pregnancy.
We maintain strict requirements to help protect the health and well-being of all surrogates working with us in Bakersfield. Age, prior surrogacy and pregnancy experience, mental and physical health, financial and housing stability, and more will all be taken into account when reviewing surrogate applications. This helps ensure a good experience for surrogates, safeguards the health of the baby, and provides intended parents with a diverse, healthy pool of candidates to choose from.
Do you live in Delano, Shafter, Oildale, or anywhere else in the area? Do you dream of helping someone grow their family? The path of surrogacy may be your calling. Connect today with GSHC and answer the call to become a surrogate.
If you’re an intended parent seeking a surrogate in Bakersfield or the surrounding area, the knowledgeable team at GSHC is here to help. As a surrogacy-friendly state, California is a very inclusive, welcoming place to embark on this special journey, with state laws protecting intended parents of all backgrounds, regardless of gender identity, marital status, or sexual orientation. In contrast to some states, California also does not require intended parents to have a genetic link to the child. No matter what your exact situation, GSHC will help you navigate every step of the way.
Surrogacy costs in Bakersfield are determined on a case-by-case basis, with various factors being taken into account, including the specifics of the surrogacy contract, prior surrogate experience, unexpected medical circumstances, and more. In general, most intended parents pay at least $155,000 in total. We understand the meaningful financial commitment involved in working with a surrogate, and our team will work closely with you to go over all anticipated costs in detail and address any questions or concerns you may have.
Bakersfield offers unique benefits for intended parents from California, throughout the United States, and around the world. Some key benefits include:
To facilitate convenient close monitoring during the surrogacy journey, GSHC partners with the following fertility clinics in the area:
We also work with several trusted delivery centers nearby:
The surrogacy experience in Bakersfield usually entails three main steps:
Creating a harmonious match between the surrogate and the intended parents is a crucial part of the surrogacy process, helping to ensure a happy, healthy experience for everyone involved. Both surrogates and intended parents will create full profiles detailing their preferences, expectations, and values; we’ll review these profiles to present aspiring parents with potential matches, and then facilitate a time for everyone to meet and get to know one another.
Once both parties are pleased with an arrangement, medical and legal processes can get underway. First, the surrogate will undergo physical and mental screenings to evaluate overall health, well-being, and her capacity to undergo the unique process of surrogacy. This will include tests to check for any genetic conditions that could be passed on to the child.
The intended parents will choose an attorney who specializes in surrogacy and begin drafting a contract that clearly specifies all requirements and expectations. The surrogate will review this document with her own attorney and have the chance to request any changes or ask any questions she may have. Once everyone is in alignment, they will sign the contract.
After the contract is signed, the surrogate can begin fertility treatments to prepare her body to receive an embryo.
Once it’s confirmed that the surrogate is pregnant, she will continue seeing her fertility specialist and taking fertility medications for about two months. Eight weeks after the pregnancy is confirmed, she can begin tapering off the medications and start seeing an OB/GYN of her choosing.
The surrogate will be able to pick the hospital where she’ll give birth. Most intended parents choose to be at the hospital for delivery, with the contract clearly detailing the setup and expectations for the big day. The surrogate will have a little time with the baby before the new parents take their new child home.
All surrogates we work with in Bakersfield must meet stringent requirements to help ensure their safety and well-being, as well as that of the baby. As with most states, California sets its own basic surrogacy requirements, and GSHC maintains additional guidelines. We require that all surrogates:
State law permits both gestational surrogacy, in which the surrogate does not use her own eggs (instead using donor eggs or an intended parent’s eggs) and is therefore not genetically linked to the child, as well as traditional surrogacy, in which she does use her own eggs and is genetically related to the child. Both options are available to intended parents in Bakersfield, but because of the emotional and legal complexity involved in traditional surrogacy, it is not very common and typically not recommended. At GSHC, we work solely with gestational surrogates.
California does not require intended parents to be genetically related to the baby, and also does not discriminate based on marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The team at GSHC proudly works with LGBTQ+ parents and can provide specialized care for various situations.
Surrogacy involves a unique commitment from both the intended parents and the surrogate. The intended parents must set any specific requirements or preferences from the outset so the surrogate knows exactly what is expected of her, and the surrogate must feel comfortable and aligned with these guidelines. Special requests like lifestyle preferences, dietary restrictions based on religious values, and more can all be included in the contract.
To ensure everything is clear for all involved parties and establish a legally binding agreement, a detailed surrogacy contract must be drafted by the intended parents and their attorney. This will be reviewed by the surrogate with her own attorney, and she will have the opportunity to request adjustments or ask clarifying questions before all parties sign.
