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We had already undergone two in-vitro fertilization procedures before this last time, when we put back five embryos, despairing that any would take. Beforehand, the fertility specialist asked us if we were OK with "reduction" — also known as selective abortion — in the event that too many took hold. We said yes, not really appreciating what that meant.

Advances in technology have now made it possible to procreate apart from sexual relations through the meeting in vitro of the germ-cells previously taken from the man and the woman. But what is technically possible is not for that very reason morally admissible. Rational reflection on the fundamental values of life and of human procreation is therefore indispensable for formulating a moral evaluation of such technological interventions on a human being from the first stages of his development.
DONUM VITAE Vatican document - Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation.

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Beforehand, the fertility specialist asked us if we were OK with “reduction” — also known as selective abortion — in the event that too many took hold. We said yes, not really appreciating what that meant.

Ah I had that conversation also, but did appreciate what it meant. I walked out of the office, never to return. We have been blessed with two beautiful daughters through adoption.

This problem of high order multiples is a LOT more common with procedures that don’t involve fertilization outside of the body. With IVF, there is an option to limit how many embryos are put back in, unlike using fertility drugs to make a woman produce multiple eggs and then allowing fertilization to take place internally (either the natural way or via intrauterine insemination). This couple had had zero embryos take in two previous rounds of IVF, so the chance of more than one taking from 5 transferred back was small, and the chance of more than two very very small — they gambled, almost certainly due to financial constraints — and got the improbable and unwanted result of too many. The net result, however, is two very much wanted babies who otherwise would never have come into the world.

But what is technically possible is not for that very reason morally admissible

I have a problem with this. I am totally against abortion, but whenever the Vatican says things like this I can’t help but recall the previous Pope’s artificial hip and heart valve. Just why are medical advances that help a Pope OK but not medical advances to avoid pregnancies altogether, or help infertile couple have children? This seems to incongruous to me.

This guy is definitely looking for validation.

First off, the clinic that did the procedure should be shuttered on ethical grounds.

When we did our in-vitro procedure, the OB-GYN looked us in the eye and said the following.

“I’m implanting two children. Are you ready for twins? If not let me know right now.”