Ep 21. And Baby Makes 10

In season 5, episode 21 of Chicago Hope titled "And Baby Makes 10," the episode centers around the hospital staff as they prepare for the arrival of quintuplets. The babies' birth mother, a young black woman named Maria, has decided to give them up for adoption. However, complications arise during delivery, and the babies need specialized care for their lungs and other health issues.

The episode explores various ethical and emotional dilemmas faced by the hospital staff and the parents of the babies. The adoptive parents, a wealthy Caucasian couple, struggle with their decision to adopt five babies at once, especially when they realize the financial and emotional burden that comes with having quintuplets. They also face pressure from their families, who question their ability to provide for all the children.

Simultaneously, tensions rise between Maria's boyfriend and Mendoza, a doctor who offers to help Maria with the adoption process. The boyfriend, who initially wanted to raise the babies himself, feels his rights as the father of the babies are being disregarded. Mendoza, on the other hand, believes that the decision should solely be up to Maria.

Throughout the episode, surgeons and other medical staff race to save the babies' lives and provide them with the best possible care. The hospital staff is also on edge, worried that any mistake could lead to the death of one of the babies.

Meanwhile, Nurse Camille Shutt and Psychiatrist Kathryn Austin grow more emotionally attached to the babies, even as they try to maintain their professional distance. Camille, who has previously struggled with infertility, sees a surrogate mother she knows giving birth, and it brings back memories that reignite her desire for a child of her own. She goes to great lengths to try to adopt one of the quintuplets, even if it means convincing the adoptive parents to part with one of the babies.

In the midst of all this drama, other patients are seen at the hospital, including a man with severe burns and a teenage girl who has just been diagnosed with leukemia.

Overall, "And Baby Makes 10" is a dramatic and heartwarming episode of Chicago Hope that explores the many challenges and complexities of adoption and childbirth. The episode tackles difficult ethical and emotional issues, while still providing moments of hope and optimism that will resonate with viewers.