Making Babies: 21st Century Families
Carrying 'Dreams': Why Women Become Surrogates
()Most surrogates are paid thousands of dollars to bear a child for someone else, but many say that's not the main motivation. Women who are eager to get pregnant on behalf of others are inspired, among other things, by family history and a love of pregnancy.
Surrogacy Experts Help Navigate Murky Legal Waters()
April 13, 2012 When surrogacy works, it's like a miracle; but when it goes wrong, it goes terribly wrong. A growing number of lawyers are making careers of helping parents- and surrogates-to-be avoid legal nightmares like surrogate mothers changing their minds and districts that have criminalized the practice.
Many Underestimate Fertility Clock's Clang()
December 1, 2011 A new survey finds that while women understand that fertility declines with age, they dramatically underestimate by how much. Infertility experts say the increasing number of older women having babies — often through extensive fertility treatments — can provide a false sense of comfort.
Donor-Conceived Children Seek Missing Identities()
September 18, 2011 Many adult children of anonymous sperm and egg donors say they deserve to know the identity of their biological parents, something a number of countries have already mandated. Kathleen LaBounty is among the most outspoken to make this case.
A New Openness For Donor Kids About Their Biology()
September 17, 2011 In the past, sperm and egg donation has been shrouded in secrecy, and many children conceived this way were not told about their biological origins. But research suggests this can be toxic for families, and more couples plan to tell their children a modern-day version of the facts of life.
Nudging Young Women To Think About Fertility()
May 31, 2011 Getting 20- and early 30-somethings concerned about declining fertility is tough. The average age of women inquiring at one company that specializes in egg freezing is 34 1/2, ideal for putting one's biological clock on hold. But the average age of the women who actually freeze eggs is 37 1/2.
Egg Freezing Puts The Biological Clock On Hold()
May 31, 2011 As more women postpone motherhood, they're hitting that age-old constraint: the biological clock. Now, technology is dangling the possibility that women can stop that clock, at least for a while. As one doctor put it, freezing eggs offers the biggest game changer since the birth control pill.
Making Parenthood A Reality Through IVF Grants()
May 11, 2011 Infertility treatment is prohibitively expensive for many. Some couples take out a second mortgage, cash in their 401(k) or run up credit cards to pay for it. In Virginia, one nonprofit organization is providing financial help in the belief that becoming a parent should not depend on your paycheck.
Taming The Twin Trend From Fertility Treatments()
March 30, 2011 The rate of twin births has jumped 70 percent since 1980, in large part because of fertility treatments. But twins pose big risks to mother and babies, and premature twins are a growing burden on the health care system. The nation's largest fertility clinic is among those trying to curb the trend.
