Queensland surrogate gives birth to biologically unrelated twins

A woman has given birth to biologically unrelated twins in Queensland.The surrogate, already a mother of five, gave birth to a boy and girl last November.She unexpectedly fell pregnant naturally while she was having fertility treatment in Queensland to implant another couple's embryo as part of an "altruistic" surrogacy arrangement.Scans revealed the 27-year-old surrogate was carrying twins, with DNA tests showing the baby boy was biologically the child of her and her husband, while the girl was genetically the daughter of the other couple.The couples have been raising their own biological babies separately since the birth nine months ago and have no dispute about the twins' parentage.But the Children's Court of Queensland, sitting on the Gold Coast, was asked to make a ruling in the complex case under the state's surrogacy laws, which preclude the separation of "birth siblings" in the event of multiple births.Scans revealed the 27-year-old surrogate was carrying twins, with DNA tests showing they were from separate families. (Unsplash: Anastasiia Chepinska)Judge Jodie Wooldridge found the babies were not "birth siblings" under the laws in the "unique" case, formalising the parentage of the biological parents.In her judgement, Ms Wooldridge said that soon after the birth, both couples had talked to an independent counsellor, whose assessment was presented to the court."On the balance of probabilities and assuming that both infants are raised in stable and nurturing family systems, the available research does not support the conclusion that separation of the twins from birth is, in itself, likely to cause psychological harm," the counsellor concluded."The evidence more strongly supports the view that developmental outcomes will be shaped by the quality of caregiving, family functioning, openness about origins and the thoughtful management of relationships over time."On that basis, it is my opinion that separation of the twins from birth is unlikely, on the balance of probabilities, to result in psychological harm attributable to separation alone."The counsellor noted that contact between both families was already established and "forms part of their current lived reality, rather than being merely aspirational"."The parties have described an intention that the children will grow up knowing one another and be raised with an age-appropriate understanding of their place within the wider family network," her report said.Ms Wooldridge's judgement said the couples had connected through a mutual friend and "on social media".They entered a surrogacy arrangement in September 2024.One of the couples, referred to only as BNJ and DRJ, both in their twenties, had been unable to have a child as a result of a medical condition affecting BNJ."She was born without a uterus and is therefore unable to bear a child through pregnancy," the judgement said.The surrogate in the case, known only as DZ, had an embryo inserted through fertility treatment in April 2025.Later that month, an ultrasound showed she was carrying twins.Subsequent genetic testing revealed a girl was the biological child of BNJ and DRJ, while the boy was the biological child of DZ and her husband FZ.Although DZ and FZ had not intended to conceive a child at the time, the judgement found "that is not to suggest the child … is anything other than loved and wanted".