A Chinese couple has become parents to eight children using in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and with the help of two surrogate mothers, a media report said Monday.
The woman first gave birth to triplets in October after undergoing IVF treatment. Later, they hired two surrogate mothers who gave birth to another set of triplets and twins, also using IVF, the China Daily reported.
According to the Guangzhou Daily, the couple did not expect all eight embryos would succeed. Normally, only 30 percent of test-tube embryos succeed.
The family now employs 11 nurses to take care of the four girls and four boys.
A medical expert, Dong Yuzheng, has criticised the births, saying the success of eight embryos should not be promoted as "there are some potential risks".
"The case is an abuse of assisted reproductive techniques. The original value of the technique was distorted," he said.
