Making Babies: 21st Century Families In an occasional series, 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.
Special Series
Making Babies: 21st Century Families
NPR explores how advances in reproductive technology are changing when and how we create families.
Charity Lovas has given birth to eight children, three of whom are her own. Courtesy of Charity Lovas hide caption
Surrogate Whitney Watts had her son, J.P., while her husband, Ray Watts, was at sea with the Navy. Surrogacy experts say it's crucial for surrogates to have their own children because they'd presumably understand the emotions involved in bearing a child. The couple for whom Whitney carried twins paid for all expenses during the pregnancy, including private health insurance. Marisa Peñaloza/NPR hide caption
William Stern holds his daughter, then known as Baby M, in 1987. The Sterns' surrogate tried to keep the baby after she was born. Their court battle became the first public debate about surrogacy. M. Elizabeth Fulford/AP hide caption
Kate Donnellon Nail, 43, works out regularly and eats well. She never thought she would have a problem conceiving a child. Anna Kuperberg/www.kuperberg.com hide caption
Ultrasound scan of twins at 4 months. Getty Images hide caption