Florida woman gives birth to a '100% South Asian baby' after an IVF mix-up — but her deal with the genetic parents impressed a judge
A recent IVF case has drawn attention after an unusual mix-up led to a child being born to the wrong genetic parents. A report from the Orlando Sentinel on June 15, 2026, revealed that Tiffany Score and Steven Mills welcomed their baby in December and were confused after seeing she was of another race. The heartbroken mom shared the news in a Facebook post on January 29, 2026. The couple had planned the IVF procedure with a fertility clinic, but the duo only learned about the embryo mix-up after the delivery. After navigating their emotions and processing the situation, they came up with a conclusion together with the biological parents.
According to The New York Post, the case took a key turn when it was revealed that the couple had “come to a mutually devised custody agreement” with the baby’s biological parents. This came after DNA testing confirmed that the child was not genetically related to Score and Mills. No other details of the deal were revealed, and the authorities chose to respect the privacy of both parties involved. Orlando judge Margaret Schreiber later reviewed the arrangement, and court filings noted that the agreement between both families was carefully structured under legal supervision. She expressed her approval of how the situation was handled by giving priority to the newborn's life. “I’m glad the parties have reached an agreement, while this child is relatively young,” she said.
IVF, or In Vitro Fertilization, is widely used to help couples conceive and is closely regulated in most clinics. According to a recent report from Cornell University, IVF success rates generally range from about 20 to 40% per cycle, depending on age and health factors. The couple also learned that the clinic had handled multiple embryos, which later became part of a legal dispute in figuring out what went wrong during the procedure. Court filings show that Score and Mills had three embryos stored, and one earlier attempt had already ended in miscarriage. Despite the confusion, they expressed strong emotional bonds with their 6-month-old daughter, Shea, saying, “We will love and will be this child’s parents forever.” They also noted that the genetic parents would continue to be a part of their family's life.
In another incident, two families faced an unexpected switch at birth that changed their lives forever. In a small Italian village in 1998, two mothers, Marinella Alagna and Gisella Fodera, delivered baby girls, Caterina Alagna and Melissa Fodera, just minutes apart, but the newborns were accidentally swapped in the hospital. For three years, each woman raised the child she took home, unaware of the mix-up. When Marinella went to pick Melissa up, she was taken aback by the uncanny resemblance Caterina had to her other daughters. That's when a DNA test revealed the truth. After much heartbreak and confusion, the moms were certain they couldn't part with the kids they had raised for three years. However, they also didn't want to lose the ones whom they held in their wombs. A mutual agreement gave them the opportunity to be involved in each other's lives in a healthy way.
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