‘Deep freeze twins’ born 18 months apart

Press, 24 April 1987, Page 8

‘Deep freeze twins’ born 18 months apart

NZPA-PA London A British schoolteacher has given birth to “deep freeze twins” born 18 months apart, according to yesterday’s London “Daily Telegraph.” The birth of Elizabeth Mary Wright at the North Staffordshire Maternity Hospital, came after treatment of Mrs Mary Wright and her husband at an infertility clinic in Cambridgeshire. According to the “Telegraph,” the couple sought treatment because Mrs Wright had been told it was impossible for her to

have children after a sterilisation operation when her first marriage, which produced two children, broke up. At the clinic in March, 1984, six eggs she produced were stored in liquid nitrogen at sub-zero temperatures. In January, 1985, two of the resulting embryos were thawed and implanted. This led to the birth of Amy, now 18 months old, who greeted her sister with the words “bubbles, bubbles,” according to the “Telegraph.” It was in July last year

that the couple returned to the clinic and two more of the embryos were thawed and implanted. Neither survived, but a further attempt with the last two embryos was successful in producing a pregnancy, and yesterday Elizabeth weighed in at 81bs lloz (about 3.Bkg). Mrs Wright is quoted as saying:“l am very content and feeling very pleased with myself.” The nine-hour labour left Mrs Wright, aged 36, "elated.” “It’s been worth every bit of effort,” she said.