Taipei, Dec. 11 (CNA) A celebration was held Friday by a Taichung hospital to congratulate a couple from the Philippines who succeeded in conceiving their own child through in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Taiwan.

The couple are from Baguio City and had initially intended to return to the Philippines after the wife became pregnant, Lee Women's Hospital President Lee Maw-sheng (李茂盛) told reporters after a birthday cake-cutting ceremony.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the family chose instead to remain in Taiwan for the time being, Lee said.

In her 33rd week of pregnancy, the mother suddenly developed preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and bleeding, he said.

The complications resulted in her having to go into premature labor roughly three weeks early, Lee went on, noting, however, that she was still able to give birth to healthy twins -- a boy and a girl -- on Oct. 13.

Despite already having adopted four children in the Philippines, Lee said the 45-year-old Filipina had spent the last 17 years hoping to have their own baby but to no avail.

According to Lee, the family had spent all its savings to find a solution in Taiwan, and is now strapped financially and unable to get home.

Lee, however, said the hospital will extend its assistance by financing the couple's tickets back to the Philippines in January.

source: https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202012110018