A California woman became the cover story for Good Morning America and ABC News after conceiving a biological child during surrogacy. Jessica Allen discovered the news after her twins came out as fraternal and not identical.
Surrogacy Isn’t Bad
Surrogacy has saved the lives and marriages of many people who struggle with giving birth. There’s a rare medical condition that allows surrogate mothers to conceive biological children while pregnant. It’s called superfetation and occurs when the pregnant woman continues ovulating during her term.
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Paying It Forward
The young lady was already a mother of two healthy children before going into surrogacy. In 2016, she met a Chinese family whose baby was one of the twins she carried. Allen underwent implantation in April of that year and discovered the twins in October during her routine ultrasound check.
The Full Story
Upon full-term in January, Allen delivered two boys (she thought the embryo split) and gave them to the Chinese couple. When she received their photos, the surrogate realized the twins weren’t identical but didn’t think much about it.
As the children grew older, the Chinese couple noticed more glaring differences, then discovered at the hospital via DNA testing that one of the “twins” wasn’t their child.
Getting Her Biological Baby Back
They informed the surrogate and the process of returning the child to his parents ensued. The story got to GMA when the boy was 10 months old and Allen opened up about raising him. While it shocked her and her husband, the couple loved their newborn.
No Added Risk
GMA invited a birth specialist, Dr. Jennifer Ashton, to shed light on what happened. Dr. Ashton admitted that it’s a rare occurrence but not impossible. There’s no added risk as the mother would experience the same symptoms as carrying multiple babies.
Superfetation Occurs With Natural Conception
Superfetation isn’t limited to IVF, as natural conception could accommodate another embryo. She veered a bit into the legal ramifications because Allen mentioned a long process of getting her biological baby back.
Make Sure You Have Airtight Contracts
While contracts often cover the expected, Dr. Ashton reminded surrogate mothers to account for the unexpected too! A poorly executed contract could mean the surrogate losing her biological child.
A Rare Mutation
Allen’s kindness almost cost her her child, who was a different gestational age than the surrogate Chinese baby. Dr. Ashton said there are about 11 cases worldwide, and medical research hasn’t explained how it happens yet.
It’s Very Complicated
Dr. Ashton said it’s very complicated medically, emotionally, financially, and legally. Allen already felt the heat as she carried her child unknowingly. Typically surrogates do their best not to attach emotions to the embryo to avoid separation anxiety when giving the child away.
