San Diego

A judge Thursday modified the visitation hours a surrogate mother can spend with her infant daughter whose custody she is seeking from a Chula Vista couple.

San Diego Superior Court Judge William Pate ordered the twice-weekly visitation be increased to three times a week but shorter hours for the natural mother, Alejandra Arellano Munoz, 20, of National City.

The attorney appointed for the infant, Marlene Allen, told the judge the six-hour visitations last week were too long for her and that she was sleeping during most of that time.

The judge also changed the meeting place from Munoz’s residence to the house of the couple, Mario and Nattie Haro, who have agreed not to be present during the Monday, Wednesday and Friday visits.

The Haros’ attorney, Merle Schneidewind, complained that reporters and photographers were present for the first visitation and asked that the press be barred from the visits. He also complained that Munoz lived with eight other people and that others were handling the child.

Pate ordered that only Munoz, her other 2-year-old child, and Allen could be present during the visits. He specifically barred the press from attending.

Schneidewind said Munoz had renamed the child and asked the judge to restrain Munoz from calling her any other name but Lydia Michelle, which was chosen by the Haros. Pate granted the request.

The next hearing was set for Nov. 18 in Juvenile Court, when attorneys will argue over the temporary placement of the infant.