MERRIAM, Kan. -- Infertile couples wanting children often consider adoption. But science is giving adoption a whole new dimension. A growing number of couples are choosing embryo adoption, KMBC's Kelly Eckerman reported Wednesday.

Lisa and Jay White are very busy parents. They have four children under the age of 5, including triplets. For a couple with fertility problems, they have not missed out on the pitter-patter of little feet, Eckerman said.

The whites adopted 4-year-old Caleb the traditional way.

But Lisa White did not give up on the possibility of going through a pregnancy. So when nothing else worked, the Whites decided on embryo adoption, using viable frozen embryos never utilized by another couple.

"Current estimates are that there are 400,000 embryos frozen across the country that are not being utilized, but have the potential of being utilized," Dr. Daniel Stewart said.

"And it's just an awesome way to go. You're adopting, but just at an earlier stage," Lisa White said.

On the second attempt with implanted embryos, Lisa White got pregnant with triplets.

"While we didn't do it because we were trying to help another couple, we were trying to get pregnant and have a family ourselves. The aspect of being able to help another couple finish off their in-vitro fertilization process and have those embryos get another chance, made it super for us," Jay White said.

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