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Summary
Nigeria's renowned writer and award-winning author, Ngozi Chimamanda Adichie, confirms rumours of using surrogates to birth twins. The assisted form of production is widely criticised due to concerns about the exploitation of women in a lower economic class. Studies also reveal that surrogates are more likely to develop diseases like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, with the risk higher for those carrying twins.
Nigeria’s renowned writer and award-winning author, Ngozi Chimamanda Adichie, has confirmed rumours of using a surrogate to have twins. She confirmed this on an episode of the #WithChude Live talk that was released on May 2, 2025.
Surrogate birth, also known as gestational surrogacy, is a process whereby a woman (surrogate) carries a pregnancy for a couple. This process is typically used when the couple has a medical challenge when birthing children. Punch newspaper reported that many Nigerian women become surrogates due to poverty and a taste for greener pastures.
Chimamanda, acknowledging that there are concerns that surrogacy can be dehumanising, and women’s bodies should not be rented, explains that, being 47, she decided to use the assisted means of reproductive technology to have more children. The renowned feminist previously had a daughter, who was born in 2016.
In the interview, Chimamanda added that she decided to be honest about using a surrogate because she “did not want to lie about something so consequential.”
Recent research has highlighted the danger of women being surrogates. According to studies, surrogate mothers are at two to three times the risk of health problems. They are likely to develop gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, among other diseases. Also, while there are risks in every pregnancy, twin births dramatically increase the risks. Singleton deliveries have a 9% risk of low birth weight and a 14% risk of premature delivery. These same risks go up to 57% and 65%, respectively, with twin deliveries.
Ending her commentary on using the service, Chimamanda said, “I think my daughter and my babies are the greatest gifts I’ve been given, so I have zero regrets.”
