Triplets' surrogate mom fights to keep baby boys.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04104/300019.stm

A woman who gave birth to triplets as a surrogate is now suing for custody, claiming that the biological father and his fiance didn't show any interest in claiming them at the hospital after their birth.

The man is apparently the only involved party with a genetic tie to the boys (his sperm, donor egg, altogether different woman as birth mother). It's the birth mother who is suing for custody. She is married with three other children.

I find myself interested in these types of dilemnas. What would you do if you were in charge? It's hard to know the full story because the biological father denies the allegations, but doesn't really offer any reason for his alleged failure to pick up his children at the hospital.

PA has no rules at all concerning surrogacy - I suppose it's time to write some legislation.

What do you think??

This page is moving FAST today!!!

I thought maybe someone would want to discuss something other than Georgie's Big Press Conference!! ;)

then he should be given custody of them.

If he doesnt then the women who birthed them should be able to keep them.

I dont see whats so complex about that.

If Bimber is telling the truth (the hospital staff and hospital records can probably confirm her claims), the courts should rule in her favor. In this case, the judge would not necessarily have to address the issue of the legality of surrogate mothers but instead address the best interests of the children. If the father has not taken an interest in the children, the children should not be placed with him.

First...the couple who wants the children aren't even yet married, not that it matters to me...but in this case it makes a difference with regard to adoptive parenting. see below

"Connelly reviewed Bimber's surrogacy contract and invalidated it, saying it failed to name a legal mother for the triplets. J.F.'s fiancee was not named in the contract, and the judge ruled that since she was not married to J.F., she could not be considered a legal mother to the babies."

The egg donor is someone outside the picture altogether....

The surrogate took the babies home because the adoptees didn't appear to be all that excited....

Now the father wants them...

I am starting to think that this surrogacy thing is just too hard for some people. First you have the couple who wants the baby but can't unfortunately have one of their own....so their desire for a child is strong but unfulfilled...then you have the surrogate who bears the child...and there is a natural biological bond....and for most women it takes a lot of emotional strength to give up a baby...


Hopefully the situation will be worked out...

I don't think the birth mother should have taken them since her surrogacy contract probably stipulated that she give them up at birth, not when she was satisfied that the adoptive parents were prompt and excited enough. Why not foster care until this could be decided in court? Now there's going to be heartbreak no matter what the judge decides.

It does look bad for the father that he didn't come to claim the kids sooner but this article doesn't give his side of the story at all.

I also think the number of children probably bowled them over...but they should have been aware of that from the beginning..ultrasounds..etc

When I had a sonogram for my last pregnancy the tech and I were chatting for a bit. I asked her how hard it was to do the scans on multiple pregnancies and she gave me the answer and then added this interesting tidbit... Based on her experience the birth of multiple babies, especially trips and quads, is a stressful for some parents and in many cases she said it has resulted in divorce or separation....she said that she thinks that they should give these parents more "training" on what to expect and how to handle it.

Having just one baby enter your lives can put a huge strain on a marriage. Imagine that multiplied times 3 or 4 and you can see how problems could develop.

Physically caring for the babies, making sure you were earning enough to support them, paying medical bills, buying diapers(!), etc. That could add a lot of stress to any relationship.

that solves the problem right there.