Surrogate Mother in S. Dakota Gives Birth to Grandchildren

Twins were born Saturday to Arlette Schweitzer, the first American woman to bear her own grandchildren as a surrogate for her daughter.

“They are really sweet,” said Dan Schweitzer, grandfather of the boy and girl, Chad Daniel and Chelsea Arlette. “I can’t describe it. They’re just like two little miracles.”

Arlette Schweitzer, 42, carried the babies for her daughter, Christa Uchytil, and son-in-law, Kevin. Christa Uchytil, 22, was born without a uterus, which made it impossible for her to have children.

Eggs were taken from Uchytil’s ovaries, fertilized with her husband’s sperm and implanted in Schweitzer’s womb.

The twins were born five weeks early but were healthy with mature lungs, said obstetrician Dr. Gregg Carlson. They were delivered by Cesarean section under a spinal anesthetic.

Arlette Schweitzer was in satisfactory condition at St. Luke’s Midland Regional Medical Center.

“It was an honor really,” Carlson said. “When the first baby was born it was very unique. I can’t describe it. I really can’t. All the family and all the support people were cheering.”

Schweitzer was awake and Christa Uchytil was at her side, tears dripping down her cheeks as she watched her children arrive, the grandfather said.

Kevin Uchytil drove nearly 400 miles from his job in Rapid City and missed the births.

Chad was born first by one minute, at 1:21 a.m., and weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces. He measured 20 1/4 inches long. Chelsea Arlette weighed 4 pounds, 7 ounces and was 18 inches long.

Carlson said the relationship between the surrogate and the donors was unique, but the procedure was not.

“This was a special instance where things just seemed to work out. Christa’s mother was young enough yet to carry a pregnancy and I’m sure there are other families out there with the same circumstances,” he said.

Rory King, the attorney for the family, said he consulted with state officials to determine the proper way to handle the birth certificate for the babies.

The document will list Kevin and Christa Uchytil as the parents, based on a sworn statement from Dr. William R. Phipps of the University of Minnesota, who performed the in-vitro fertilization and implantation.

Hospital officials were trying to handle intense media attention. Dale Stein, the hospital’s president, said he hired six extra security guards and made the maternity ward off limits to outsiders.