Understanding Embryo Adoption

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast! In this episode, I am helping you better understand embryo adoption. IVF treatments have risen in popularity as desperate families seek to get pregnant, but the process comes at a great cost— and not just financially, but also emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually as families navigate what to do with excess embryos. Because the success rate is so small, facilities will create more embryos than a couple may necessarily want to carry and raise. There are a few options for these embryos: adoption (which I highlight) or termination or scientific experimentation. This is an extremely heavy decision for the parents to make. Embryo adoption is where an adoptive mother has the embryo placed inside her to carry to term, if successful. There are some factors to this adoption which are different from a traditional one: in utero bonding and potentially breastfeeding. (A newborn adoption could also involve breastfeeding, but it is a different process to achieve this.) Through this episode, I seek to make you aware of all the different factors of embryo adoption, what it is, and what is happening with so many families in the IVF process. There is plenty of controversy even in Christian circles on this topic and I seek to approach it with information and empathy. There are countless little lives frozen right now, waiting for homes. Here are a few key take aways: Embryo adoption is a process of placing fertilized embryos with adoptive parents. The IVF process can lead to difficult decisions regarding surplus embryos. Success rates for embryo adoption can be as high as 59%. Embryo adoption allows for biological siblings to be raised together. The financial cost of embryo adoption is generally lower than traditional adoption. There are emotional challenges and grief associated with embryo adoption. The process requires legal documentation and a home study. Adoptive parents can bond with the child during pregnancy. Controversies exist regarding the ethics of IVF and embryo adoption. Seeking God's guidance is essential in the decision-making process. You can check out Christian Parenting’s gift guide by clicking here. You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at [email protected]. I'd love to connect with you on Instagram or send you my monthly newsletter with free resources and first access to episodes and more!