ITV Share By Carena Crawford Jul 23 2025 By Carena Crawford Jul 23 2025 EXCLUSIVE: Tragedy warning for Charity as she prepares for pregnancy Has Charity really thought this through? Charity Dingle Features Sarah Sugden Sarah wants a baby in Emmerdale Share By Carena Crawford Jul 23 2025 By Carena Crawford Jul 23 2025 Charity Dingle has offered to be Sarah Sugden’s surrogate in Emmerdale. It was an impulsive decision that Charity may live to regret. This is especially given the impact it’s likely to have on her marriage to Mackenzie Boyd. But it’s not just her marriage that could be affected, there are huge risks involved in her being a surrogate at her age. We talked to two reproductive specialists to understand exactly what this proposition means for Charity and Sarah. Will she and the baby survive? Charity offered to carry Sarah’s baby for her (Credit: ITV) Charity offers to be Sarah’s surrogate in Emmerdale After an emergency hysterectomy left her infertile, Sarah was devastated. Distraught and desperate she broke down on Cain, who suggested she find a surrogate to carry the baby for her. Sarah was keen on the idea, but official surrogacy agencies were not. They wouldn’t help Sarah given her life-limiting condition, which would mean she may not live to see the baby grow up. article continues below Read all the latest spoilers Undeterred, Charity and Cain pressed ahead to try and find a suitable person. Charity tried to railroad Sarah’s aunty, Victoria, into doing it. But after her experience of getting pregnant when raped, Vic couldn’t go through with it. Cain found someone online who agreed to help. But after he paid them £500 up front in expenses, she failed to show up to their meeting. Ryan told him he had been scammed. Just as it seemed all was lost for Sarah, Charity announced she would do it. But what would it actually mean for Charity to be a surrogate? Cain is unsure Charity has thought through the risks (Credit: ITV) How old is Charity Dingle in Emmerdale? Charity is 49 years old. This “carries significant medical risks” when considering a pregnancy, Dr Tomasz Lukaszewski, senior consultant in reproductive medicine at London Gynaecology and IVI London told Emmerdale Insider. “While the intention behind surrogacy in this particular case is touching, the reality is that carrying a pregnancy at the age of 49, carries significant medical risks and would be considered highly unusual in standard fertility practice,” he shared. “In the UK and most international guidance, including recommendations from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, women over the age of 45 are generally not considered suitable candidates for gestational surrogacy. This is due to the increased health risks associated with pregnancy at that age.” Mack is not on board with Charity’s baby plan (Credit: ITV) Huge risks for Charity to carry a baby So what are the risks? “These include a higher likelihood of pregnancy induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, placental complications, and cardiovascular strain. This may pose risks to both the surrogate and the baby,” Dr Lukaszewski explained. “While it is technically possible for a 49-year-old woman to carry a pregnancy using a donor embryo or an embryo created by a family member, this would require very careful assessment not only by a fertility but also by feto-maternal medicine specialist. “A thorough evaluation of cardiovascular, metabolic, and uterine health would be essential. Most clinics would approach this with considerable caution.” He continued: “Although UK law does not impose a strict upper age limit for surrogates, clinics follow rigorous screening protocols in line with guidance from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis with a strong focus on the welfare of both the child and the surrogate. “So, while this case is possible, it would be medically and ethically complex. It is not a likely or routine proposition in clinical practice.” Mack thinks the whole thing is crazy (Credit: ITV) So could Charity still be a surrogate? Dr Carole Gilling-Smith, CEO and Medical Director of the Agora Clinic and Founding Trustee of charity Fertility Action, told Emmerdale Insider depsite the risks she may be accepted as a surrogate. But it depends on several factors. “Once women are over the age of 40 the risks with pregnancy increase and in particular the risks of still birth, high blood pressure and diabetes. There is also an increased risk of needing a caesarean section if any of these things happen,” she said. “That being said, if she had a normal previous delivery or deliveries and no complications in her previous pregnancies, and is in good health, I would accept her as a surrogate but counsel her on those risks.” Dr Gilling-Smith also revealed she would have to consider Charity’s “previous pregnancy history”. “How many children has she had and how old was she when she had them? Were all her pregnancies straightforward or did she have any complications eg caesarean or forceps delivery, high blood pressure, diabetes, anaemia, post-natal depression. “If she has had many babies, or three previous caesarean sections, I would counsel against carrying another pregnancy for her granddaughter. If she has had complications like high blood pressure or diabetes, my decision to support her plans to be a surrogate would depend on the severity of these issues.” Mack and Charity just can’t find a way forward (Credit: ITV) Charity given a clean bill of health in Emmerdale Charity has faced many of the problems listed by the experts – including more than three pregnancies and having had an ectopic pregnancy. But despite all of this Emmerdale’s super-duper doctors have declared Charity fit to be a surrogate! The clinic she and Sarah are using has given her a clean bill of health both physically and psychologically. Given what our expects have said above, this is worrying. And surely it means there’s no way this can go well for Charity and Sarah? Mackenzie is the only one who thinks this is a terrible idea. He has threatened Charity with divorce if she goes through with it. But will she listen? Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns Share Good to Know Share By Carena Crawford Jul 23 2025 By Carena Crawford Jul 23 2025
