5 Shocking Revelations About Sarah Jessica Parker's Surrogacy Journey And The Truth Behind Her Twin Daughters

The story of Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick’s twin daughters, Marion Loretta Elwell and Tabitha Hodge, remains one of the most candid and emotional celebrity accounts of building a family. While the joyous arrival of the girls via surrogate happened over a decade ago, the details surrounding their difficult journey to conception and Parker’s subsequent reflections on secondary infertility and the surrogacy process itself continue to resonate with fans and aspiring parents in late 2025.

The decision to use a gestational surrogate came after years of trying to expand their family, a private struggle that the couple eventually chose to share publicly. This move not only brought their beautiful daughters into the world but also shed a much-needed light on the complex realities of modern family planning, particularly for women facing age-related fertility challenges.

Sarah Jessica Parker: A Brief Biography & Family Profile

• Full Name: Sarah Jessica Parker
• Date of Birth: March 25, 1965
• Place of Birth: Nelsonville, Ohio, U.S.
• Occupation: Actress, Producer, Designer
• Known For: Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, Hocus Pocus, Divorce
• Spouse: Matthew Broderick (m. 1997)
• Children:
  • James Wilkie Broderick (Son, b. October 28, 2002)
  • Marion Loretta Elwell Broderick (Twin Daughter, b. June 22, 2009)
  • Tabitha Hodge Broderick (Twin Daughter, b. June 22, 2009)
• Education: School of American Ballet, Professional Children's School
• Current Project (2025): Continuing work on the And Just Like That... series.

The Painful Struggle with Secondary Infertility

For many years, the public assumed that Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick were simply content with their son, James Wilkie. However, behind the scenes, the couple was enduring a quiet, emotional battle: secondary infertility. This condition, which is the inability to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term after previously giving birth to a baby, is often misunderstood and rarely discussed in the public eye.

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Parker was candid about their attempts to have a second child, stating that they “tried and tried and tried” to conceive naturally after James Wilkie was born in 2002. As she approached her mid-40s, the challenges mounted, and the couple ultimately decided to explore other options to expand their family.

The decision was deeply rooted in a desire to give their son a sibling, a companion for life. Parker admitted that she didn't want James Wilkie to "have to shoulder the burden of us later in life, by himself," highlighting the profound, long-term familial motivation behind their choice.

The IVF Journey and The Surprise of Twins

The path to surrogacy began with in-vitro fertilization (IVF). The couple used their own genetic material—Parker’s eggs and Broderick’s sperm—to create embryos. These embryos were then transferred to a gestational surrogate.

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The couple was reportedly delighted when they received the news that their surrogate was carrying not one, but two babies—twin girls. This was a monumental and unexpected joy after years of disappointment and struggle with infertility.

The twin daughters, Marion Loretta Elwell and Tabitha Hodge, were born on June 22, 2009, in Ohio. Their middle names, Elwell and Hodge, are family names from Parker and Broderick’s respective sides, a meaningful nod to their heritage.

The Surrogate’s Identity and The Media Scrutiny

One of the most sensitive and widely discussed aspects of the story was the identity of the woman who carried the girls. While celebrity surrogacy arrangements are often kept entirely private, the identity of the Parker-Broderick surrogate was unfortunately leaked to the media, leading to a period of intense and unwanted public scrutiny.

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The surrogate was identified in initial reports as Michelle Ross, a 26-year-old woman at the time. The media frenzy that followed was invasive, with some outlets going to extreme lengths to get a story, including allegedly breaking into her home and attempting to steal private medical information.

Parker and Broderick released a statement condemning the harassment, calling the actions of the press "deeply disturbing" and "unethical." This incident became a critical moment in the discussion of celebrity privacy and the ethical boundaries of reporting on surrogacy, underscoring the need to protect the privacy of all parties involved, especially the surrogate mother.

Parker’s Candid Reflections on the Surrogacy Experience

Sarah Jessica Parker has been remarkably open about the emotional complexities of using a gestational surrogate, offering a rare window into the experience for intended parents.

• "Suspended Animation": She famously described the gestational period as a time of "suspended animation." This feeling stemmed from not having the physical experience of pregnancy, which she noted was "gone," leaving a unique emotional void while awaiting the birth of her children.
• Gratitude and Connection: Despite the lack of a physical pregnancy, Parker has always expressed immense gratitude for the woman who carried her daughters, emphasizing the deep love and connection she felt for her children from the moment they were conceived.
• Advocacy for IVF and Surrogacy: By sharing her story, Parker has become an inadvertent advocate, helping to normalize the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) and surrogacy for couples struggling with infertility. Her honesty has helped to destigmatize the process, turning a private struggle into a public conversation about hope and perseverance.

The story of Marion and Tabitha’s arrival is a testament to the fact that family can be built in many ways. Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick’s willingness to share their journey, from the emotional toll of secondary infertility to the complex realities of surrogacy, continues to provide comfort and inspiration to countless families navigating similar paths.