Nicole Kidman’s IVF & surrogacy journey

Nicole Kidman’s IVF treatments did not immediately work. She struggled with infertility over several years, experienced a miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy, and also faced IVF failure, before being able to conceive.

The Hollywood actor is now a mother to four children, a son and daughter who are adopted, a daughter that she gave birth to, and a daughter birthed via surrogacy. She had the biological daughters with her husband, Keith Urban, whom she married in 2006.

These treatments are expensive and for Hollywood celebrities, even though the cost may not be a factor of concern, the emotional and physical stress of infertility is the same for all.

If you’re struggling with the cost of IVF, consider our affordable packages for IVF in Mexico or Thailand.

Nicole Kidman’s miscarriage

Nicole has publicly stated that she suffered an ectopic pregnancy not long after she married Tom Cruise at the age of 24.

As the couple then struggled to conceive, they went on to adopt their two children—daughter, Isabella; and son, Connor.

When talking about her pregnancy loss and subsequent choice to adopt, she told People magazine in 2007 that “there’s a complicated background to that, given that I never speak much about many things. One day maybe that story will be told.”

She conceived later but around the third month of pregnancy, Nicole suffered a miscarriage amidst her break up with Cruise.

Birth of her biological daughters

Following the breakdown of her marriage to Tom Cruise, Nicole remarried Keith Urban in 2006. The couple were eager to start a family; however, they also had trouble trying to conceive.

This would not have been helped by Nicole’s advancing age, as at this point, she was approaching 40.

The Australian-American actress and film producer openly talked about her difficulties in conceiving, stating “I had tried and failed and failed and failed.”

“Every woman who has been through all those ups and downs knows the depression that comes with it.”

Nicole Kidman’s natural conception

When the time was right, Kidman conceived naturally. Their first daughter, Sunday Rose, was born in 2008 and Kidman calls her “the miracle of my life.”

“I had so much time thinking that wasn’t going to happen in my life and trying to understand that. When it did happen—and for it to be a surprise—that was great.”

Nicole credits her conception with swimming in Australian ‘fertility waters’ as despite her previous fertility problems, this was a natural conception.

About the time she was filming a movie Australia, Nicole said: “Seven babies were conceived out of this film and only one was a boy. There is something up there in the Kununurra water because we all went swimming in the waterfalls, so we can call it the fertility waters now.”

After having their biological daughter, Nicole and Keith struggled to conceive again. Since the IVF treatments did not work, the couple were advised to follow the surrogacy route.

Nicole Kidman’s surrogacy decision

Nicole’s decision to opt for a surrogate to carry her fourth child may have been influenced by her age. She was 43 years old at this point. While carrying becomes riskier as you age, it is actually the eggs that make conception in older age more difficult. 

IVF over the age of 40 has rather low chances of being successful, as the quantity and quality of eggs declines.

Luckily for Kidman, she was able to conceive with her own eggs once again, albeit with the help of a surrogate. Baby Faith was born December 29, 2011.

Did Nicole Kidman use donor eggs?

The Oscar winner has confirmed that her own eggs were used in the process. 

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour Nicole said: “I’m one of the few people in the world who has experienced so many different forms of (motherhood).

“But I haven’t had the child from a donor egg. I haven’t also been a foster mother and I’m very interested in that… But I did foster a child that I met through school, an aboriginal boy.”

A few years ago, she took Faith, who was then 6-years-old, to meet the surrogate they nicknamed ‘Aunty Sheila.’

Nicole and the surrogate were both in tears but Faith remained cool, even though she put a lot of questions to her parents later.

How many kids does Nicole Kidman have?

Kidman has four children. Son, Connor Cruise; and three daughters: Isabella Jane Cruise, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban and Faith Margaret Kidman-Urban

Nicole Kidman said she has “done all the stuff you can possibly do to try get pregnant.”

At close to 50 years, she still had a little hope that she’d fall pregnant again, and have another child naturally.  Female relatives of hers had late pregnancies, raising her hopes.

“I still have the faintest hope that something may happen to me this year. Keith and I would love to have more babies,” she said on the radio show.  “My grandmother gave birth to my mother at 49! I would be beyond happy and just welcome it with open arms. Children are the joy of my life.”

Can you get pregnant at 50 years?

Nicole is correct in that infertility trends run in the family; however, many conditions have changed now and just because your mother had in easy pregnancy in her 40s, it does not mean you’d be able to do so too.

Our environment, food, use of drugs, stress levels and general lifestyle has caused an overall decline in both male and female fertility. However, each woman is different and if you desire to have a baby, you may start by getting a few fertility tests.

Nicole Kidman’s IVF treatments failed a few times and she turned to surrogacy. If you find yourself having difficulties conceiving, get in touch for our affordable IVF & surrogacy solutions.