It’s my birthday on Saturday and I received a card today filled with very special birthday wishes from my surrogate triplets. It made my whole day!
This Should Not Be Front Page News!
December 31, 2010 By 7 Comments
I am the mother of fraternal twins. Fraternal twins means that two separate eggs were fertilized by two separate sperm and essentially, the only thing special about that is that conception happened at the same time so they grew in my womb together. My body happened to release two eggs at the same time and they both fertilized and grew into children.
That’s it. They do not look any more alike than two “regular” siblings. They have no more genetic material in common than regular siblings. Yet they are called “twins” because they were born on the same day at the same time from the same womb. Nothing crazy special about that (well, I think they are crazy special but it’s certainly not front page news!)
In 2007 I grew surrogate triplets. They were created via IVF (in-vitro fertilization). They were created with three different eggs and three different sperm. The only thing that made these babies triplets rather than just siblings is the fact that they grew in the same uterus at the same time and share a birthday. Fraternal triplets but still “real” triplets.
So, Generally (keeping it simple and only speaking of fraternal siblings here and not the phenomenon of identical twins):
One egg + one sperm = one baby.
One egg + one sperm spread out over multiple pregnancies = siblings.
Two (ore more) eggs + two (or more) sperm + one pregnancy = fraternal twin (or more) siblings.
Everyone okay so far with my lesson?
This morning I opened up my MSN messenger browser and I see top billing to this story:
Triplets Born 11 Years Apart
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Um, hello!? Who in the world told the news that these were triplets?? I think it’s ridiculous that they are billing the story as such.
Yes, it’s a wonderful blessing that this family now has three beautiful children. I think it’s awesome they were able to use IVF successfully to grow their family. AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING! I love modern medicine and IVF and all that jazz. Simply wonderful and beautiful children!
Three eggs + three sperm = SIBLINGS (made of fraternal twins and a singleton)
Yes, the first two grew together resulting in twins. But the third child is no more a triplet than my three boys. I’m sorry, but it’s just not. The wild news stories that get put out are just stupid. This is just as ridiculous as the “man has baby” story from a while back, don’t get me started on that (a woman living as a man is still biologically a woman….a woman had a baby, that’s not news).
Anyhow. This is my little rant and genetics lesson for you today. You’re welcome.
Image credit World Wide Features via Daily Mail.
34 Weeks 4 Days
April 7, 2010 By 18 Comments
I took this picture today, 34 weeks and 4 days into my surrogate pregnancy. To most, 34w4d is inconsequential, but for me, it means the world.
Now, this was me at 34 weeks 4 days…2 and a half years ago, pregnant with triplets. We were at the hospital getting ready to deliver three beautiful little babies! I sure wish I had a side view photo for comparison.
Everyone was in awe of me that I had made it “so far along” with the triplets. Most high order multiples deliver much earlier. I had never developed any complications nor did I ever have any inkling of pre-term labor. The doctor, after performing an amniocentesis, decided that it would be safer for everyone to have the babies on the the outside of the womb. So at 34 weeks 4 days, they were born.
Those little babies rocked it! All of them were over 5 pounds and only one needed any oxygen. They amazed everyone at their strength. They left the hospital 8 days later.
Here are the triplets today: <3
click to make bigger
I just love that I get so many pictures from their mommy. I am a lucky surrogate!
It’s very comforting to know that I could go into labor today and little Baby J would be okay. But, it’s also a very good thing that he’s not showing any signs of wanting out. Stay and bake, baby. I’ll meet you on May 10th.
New Pictures of the Triplets
January 9, 2010 By 15 Comments
I was SO excited to get an email from my former IM (intended mother). She sent me some new pictures of the triplets. They are truly beautiful children and I am so lucky that I get pictures and updates from them.
Here are a few more. It made me sad to block out the mommy & daddy’s faces, but since surrogacy is illegal where they live, I wanted to protect their identity. Not like government officials from their country would visit my blog…but still. They are a gorgeous family!
Aren’t they CUTE?
I grew them.
Wordless Wednesday ~ The Triplets
September 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment
In November of 2007 I delivered surrogate triplets. I am very lucky and receive lots of updates on them. This is the first time I have shared recent pictures of them since they were just babies…Thank you momma for giving me permission to share their beautiful faces!
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