A Christian Perspective on IVF and the new mother of Octuplets.

[MamaCatCat]

This was written as a post in the Group, "Conservative Christian Debate" on a post about the IVF of the mother of octuplets.

 

 

The problem I have with IVF is... what do you do with the eggs you don't use? If we believe life begins at conception, then discarding unused eggs is certainly a problem, and I view it the same as abortion.

This is why I cringe a little when Christians and pro-lifers pat people on the back who have IVF done. "You didn't accept a reduction because you believe in the sactity of life! That's wonderful!" Except what I want to know is...how many frozen, unused eggs do you have back there that will be thrown out now that you are 'done' having kids? That's a problem in my eyes, and that's why I'm not too supportive of IVF in general. I realize that I don't know all the details of each situation, but I won't comment until I do.

I found it VERY interesting that the mother of the new octuplets got pregnant with them with her unused eggs from her previous IVF pregnancies, and now she has no eggs left. I am happy to know that there are no longer fertilized eggs left to be frozen or thrown out...but, I'm still not sure how I feel about the WHOLE picture.

As far as her having babies being against the will of God, as somebody else said... I agree AND disagree.  God has a plan for each and every one of those children. I sincerely and wholeheartedly believe that.

I believe sex outside of marriage is offensive and disgusting to God. He created sex with a purpose, to be enjoyed WITHIN marriage and for pro-creation WITHIN marriage.  Having babies outside of marriage isn't pleasing to him, I don't think.
That being said, I have no trouble believing that my DD, who was conceived in sin outside of wedlock, is a part of God's plan, that he loves her, and has a plan for her life. She was MEANT to be here. She is a part of God's master plan.  My DH and I were sexually active before marriage and we regret it. It has causes a lot of sexual issues for us, and we have since repented of our premarital sex. We know it was wrong, and we shouldn't have done it. But I can't believe for a second that God would have rathered my daughter not be born at all. HE opens and closes the womb, and HE created her.

We are not big enough to THWART God. She didn't have 8 more kids and God say "Awe crap! What on earth am I gonna do now?? She's ruined everything!"

I look at it this way. There's 2 sides to the will of God.
It is not God's will that anyone commit murder. Yet, it WAS God's will that Christ be crucified.
Lying, deception, these are also things that God would not WANT anyone to do.
And yet Judas was a crucial part of God's plan for our salvation. So, it's logical to say that the actions of Judas were part of God's plan, and yet 'against his will' at the same time. 

That's deep stuff. I will never ever DARE say "Oh no, that's against God's will that she's done this!!!" Because God is sovereign and totally in control. This *IS* his plan, and you can tell that by the simple fact that it's already happened.

This doesn't mean I can't be angry with sin. Because the same way he's ordained certain sins to happen, he's ordained that I be angry about it. So I'm not saying anyone is wrong for being a little peeved that this woman was so irresponsible and is in sin. I am right there with ya.

[TeaEarlGreyHot]

Feb. 9, 2009 at 8:16 PM

Many women donate their unused frozen embryos.

[Sarah725]

Feb. 15, 2009 at 7:56 PM

I agree with you, I have the same perspective on what God wants for us. He does open and close the womb, he knew our names before we were born.  My mom says to the children are hear so there's nothing we should do but support them, they are God's plan because they are here.  Thanks for your post.

[littlemrsmarcel]

Apr. 6, 2009 at 12:15 AM

I did want to comment on something- according to our Fertility Institute, they cannot throw out frozen embryos because they are considered a "Potential Life". This throws me because Abortion is legal, you know? But they gave my Mother, who did IVF, the option to donate her last frozen embryo when she became pregnant. She decided against it and tried to use it for another cycle. Unfortunately, the embryo did not succeed. But rest assured, Fertility Institutes (at least ours here in NOLA) cannot simply throw out an embryo. They do respect the potential life it can be.