Chimamanda Adichie Encourages Women Going Through Fertility Issues As She Addresses Criticism Over Welcoming Her Twins Via Surrogacy
Renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie has opened up on her recent journey in motherhood and criticism in opting for surrogate birth.
Chimamanda, while speaking to media personality Chude Jidonwo on WithChude Live, addressed the reactions that greeted her revelation that she welcomed twin sons via a surrogate.
Adichie stated:
“My boys are so precious to me. And I hated that anything about them would become politicised. So, on the one hand, I thought, ‘I wish I hadn’t talked about it.’ But on the other hand, there is no way I am going to lie about the process of birthing them.”
Adichie also shared her experience with receiving backlash for her choice and how she has chosen to deal with it.
Reacting to the argument that surrogacy is dehumanising because a woman’s body shouldn’t be rented, Ms. Adichie stated that while surrogacy can be abused, there is an ethical way to go about it.
The mother of three added that the people condemning surrogacy are the same ones who argue that a woman can do whatever she wants with her body, something she says is a “contradiction”.
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She continued:
“I am hoping that if anything good comes out of this, it would be that more women are less ashamed of talking about reaching motherhood through non-traditional means. Because our society is so judgemental, and I don’t think that that is good for anybody.
“But, you know, my daughter and my babies are the greatest gift I’ve been given, so ZERO REGRETS.”
While speaking, Adichie also touched on the topic of fertility and the pressure women face regarding delayed childbearing in Africa.
“I felt that there were many women who would then be pressured by people saying, ‘Look, Chimamanda is 47, and she had kids at that age; what about you?’
And just in general, I think there is so much shame around issues of fertility that I just think it’s too much of a burden for women.
Women are shamed when they have fibroids, women are shamed when they have issues getting pregnant, and I don’t believe in that sort of shame.”
Adichie however emphasized that she was happy and satisfied with her choice. She concluded:
“My daughter and my babies are the greatest gift I’ve been given. So, zero regrets.”