Vietnam's 1st surrogacy baby delivered

Vietnam's first baby conceived by surrogacy was delivered at National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Friday.

The girl weighed 3.6 kilograms at birth with good health condition and was delivered by the mother's 46-year-old aunt, local media reported.

Mother of the baby girl is unable to get pregnant after 18 years of marriage due to congenital abnormalities.

The couple registered for surrogacy in March 2015 after Vietnamese parliament legalized surrogacy for humanitarian reasons.

There are three facilities in Vietnam allowed to provide surrogacy services in capital Hanoi, central Da Nang City and southern Ho Chi Minh City.

Nguyen Viet Tien, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health and Director of national reproduction support center, who performed surgery at the delivery, said there have been some 100 applications submitted for surrogacy nationwide, reported Vietnam's state-run news agency.

According to the amended Marriage and Family Law which took effect since Jan. 1, 2015, the surrogate pregnancy for humanitarian purposes must be based on a voluntary basis of relevant parties clarifying clearly in notarized writing document, and not be contrary to other provisions relating birth by assisted reproductive technology.

Intended parents must have a verification of competent medical organizations that medical issues make pregnancy not possible even by assisted reproductive technology, and the couple has no child.

Surrogate mother must be relative of the intended parents, which is for prevention of commercialization of surrogacy. Surrogate mother is the one who used to give birth and is allowed to carry surrogacy once. Enditem