Making Babies: 21st Century Families http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=136506904&ft=1&f=136506904 In an occasional series, <em></em>NPR explores how advances in reproductive technology are changing when and how we create families and prompting new debates on the impact — legal, ethical and social. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg Making Babies: 21st Century Families http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=136506904&ft=1&f=136506904 yes Gifting Birth: A Woman Helps Build Other Families Charity Lovas has given birth to eight children, yet only three of those children are her own. "If money drives you, you are looking at the wrong career," the surrogate mother says. Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/04/17/150610288/gifting-birth-a-woman-helps-build-other-families?ft=1&f=136506904 http://www.npr.org/2012/04/17/150610288/gifting-birth-a-woman-helps-build-other-families?ft=1&f=136506904 Charity Lovas has given birth to eight children, yet only three of those children are her own. "If money drives you, you are looking at the wrong career," the surrogate mother says. no Charity Lovas has given birth to eight children, yet only three of those children are her own. "If money drives you, you are looking at the wrong career," the surrogate mother says.

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]]> 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. Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/04/17/150589059/carrying-dreams-why-women-become-surrogates?ft=1&f=136506904 http://www.npr.org/2012/04/17/150589059/carrying-dreams-why-women-become-surrogates?ft=1&f=136506904 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. 301 no 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.

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]]> Who Is A Parent? Surrogate Technology Outpaces Law For thousands of years, there was no doubt. A woman who gave birth was that child's mother, and her husband the presumed father. Thanks to scientific advances, multiple people may be involved in creating a child now, but the law has not caught up. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:29:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/04/14/150586618/legal-debate-over-surrogacy-asks-who-is-a-parent?ft=1&f=136506904 http://www.npr.org/2012/04/14/150586618/legal-debate-over-surrogacy-asks-who-is-a-parent?ft=1&f=136506904 For thousands of years, there was no doubt. A woman who gave birth was that child's mother, and her husband the presumed father. Thanks to scientific advances, multiple people may be involved in creating a child now, but the law has not caught up. 377 no For thousands of years, there was no doubt. A woman who gave birth was that child's mother, and her husband the presumed father. Thanks to scientific advances, multiple people may be involved in creating a child now, but the law has not caught up.

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]]> Ties That Bind: When Surrogate Meets Mom-To-Be There are few things more intimate and emotionally fraught than carrying someone else's baby — or having someone else carry yours. No one knows that better than Whitney Watts and Susan de Gruchy. Last year, Watts carried de Gruchy's twins through nine months of ups, downs and a fair share of complications. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/04/13/150563803/ties-that-bind-when-surrogate-meets-mom-to-be?ft=1&f=136506904 http://www.npr.org/2012/04/13/150563803/ties-that-bind-when-surrogate-meets-mom-to-be?ft=1&f=136506904 There are few things more intimate and emotionally fraught than carrying someone else's baby — or having someone else carry yours. No one knows that better than Whitney Watts and Susan de Gruchy. Last year, Watts carried de Gruchy's twins through nine months of ups, downs and a fair share of complications. 497 no There are few things more intimate and emotionally fraught than carrying someone else's baby — or having someone else carry yours. No one knows that better than Whitney Watts and Susan de Gruchy. Last year, Watts carried de Gruchy's twins through nine months of ups, downs and a fair share of complications.

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]]> Surrogacy Experts Help Navigate Murky Legal Waters 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. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/04/13/150498711/surrogacy-aides-spring-from-murky-legal-waters?ft=1&f=136506904 http://www.npr.org/2012/04/13/150498711/surrogacy-aides-spring-from-murky-legal-waters?ft=1&f=136506904 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. 466 no 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.

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]]> Many Women Underestimate Fertility Clock's Clang 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. Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:01:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/01/142725547/many-women-underestimate-fertility-clocks-clang?ft=1&f=136506904 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/01/142725547/many-women-underestimate-fertility-clocks-clang?ft=1&f=136506904 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. 272 no 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.

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]]> Donor-Conceived Children Seek Missing Identities 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. Sun, 18 Sep 2011 04:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/09/18/140477014/donor-conceived-children-seek-missing-identities?ft=1&f=136506904 http://www.npr.org/2011/09/18/140477014/donor-conceived-children-seek-missing-identities?ft=1&f=136506904 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. 522 no 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.

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]]> A New Openness For Donor Kids About Their Biology 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. Sat, 17 Sep 2011 03:45:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/09/17/140476716/a-new-openness-for-donor-kids-about-their-biology?ft=1&f=136506904 http://www.npr.org/2011/09/17/140476716/a-new-openness-for-donor-kids-about-their-biology?ft=1&f=136506904 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. 289 no 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.

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]]> Egg Freezing Puts The Biological Clock On Hold 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. Tue, 31 May 2011 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/05/31/136363039/egg-freezing-puts-the-biological-clock-on-hold?ft=1&f=136506904 http://www.npr.org/2011/05/31/136363039/egg-freezing-puts-the-biological-clock-on-hold?ft=1&f=136506904 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. 458 no 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.

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]]> Nudging Young Women To Think About Fertility 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. Tue, 31 May 2011 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/05/31/136401095/nudging-young-women-to-think-about-fertility?ft=1&f=136506904 http://www.npr.org/2011/05/31/136401095/nudging-young-women-to-think-about-fertility?ft=1&f=136506904 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. no 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.

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]]> Making Parenthood A Reality Through IVF Grants 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. Wed, 11 May 2011 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/05/11/135358223/making-parenthood-a-reality-through-ivf-grants?ft=1&f=136506904 http://www.npr.org/2011/05/11/135358223/making-parenthood-a-reality-through-ivf-grants?ft=1&f=136506904 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. 378 no 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.

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]]> Taming The Twin Trend From Fertility Treatments 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. Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:40:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/03/30/134960899/taming-ivfs-twin-trend?ft=1&f=136506904 http://www.npr.org/2011/03/30/134960899/taming-ivfs-twin-trend?ft=1&f=136506904 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. 539 no 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.

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