Warning! Contains spoilers for The Handmaid's Tale season 5!Serena and Fred Waterford had a miracle baby in The Handmaid's Tale — but was Fred really the father and, if so, when was Serena's baby conceived? The couple were in different cells and as estranged from one another as they've ever been, but a moment of reconciliation in The Handmaid's Tale season 3 could be the answer. The Waterfords were previously believed to both be infertile. Fred had failed to get both June and a previous handmaid pregnant, despite many attempts even outside Gilead's "ceremony". Serena was shot in her lower abdomen by a protester in the days before Gilead, and her injuries damaged her reproductive organs. Yet in The Handmaid's Tale season 4, episode 2, "Nightshade," Serena gets some shocking news: blood tests carried out in Canada show that she's pregnant, kick-starting the Serena's baby Handmaid's Tale plot arc.
Serena's baby Handmaid's Tale revealed first through these blood tests, with her giving birth in The Handmaids Tale season 5. Pregnancy can be determined as early as 14 weeks, and a bump usually begins to develop by week 16 of a pregnancy. For Serena to have been surprised by the news means she was probably around 12-16 weeks pregnant when she found out in season 4. Although Fred wasn't particularly faithful in their marriage, Serena has been, which means that there's little to no doubt that Fred is the father of Serena's baby. Their sex life wasn't particularly active, so the child was presumably conceived in The Handmaid's Tale season 3, episode 11, "Liars," when Serena and Fred had intercourse while staying at a bed and breakfast.
Fred Waterford Got Serena Joy Pregnant
Speaking to Rita in The Handmaid's Tale season 4, episode 4, "Milk," Serena credits Gilead's clean air and water for the Serena's baby Handmaid's Tale miracle, claiming it as proof that Gilead's system is correct and God has rewarded her with a child for her efforts. However, the baby was actually conceived at a time when both Fred and Serena were doubting their decision to create Gilead. The rekindling of their love life began with Fred offering to let Serena drive on the trip — a flagrant breaking of Gilead's terrifying laws against women being permitted to drive.
While staying at the bed and breakfast, Fred and Serena had a conversation about what their life might have been like if Gilead had never come into existence, and Fred apologized to Serena for everything it had cost her. That night, Serena invited Fred into her twin bed and he accepted the invitation. The thrill of rule-breaking and the blasphemous conversation that followed was what led to the conception the Serena's baby Handmaid's Tale character - not following Gilead's law to the letter, as they had been in the years before. Among Gilead's many illogical laws is the banning of fertility testing, IVF treatment, or even pregnancy tests, so it was never confirmed that either Fred or Serena were infertile.
What Happened To Serena And Fred's Baby?
The Serena's baby Handmaids Tale character made his debut in The Handmaid's Tale season 5, in which Serena Joy had quite the journey. Following Fred Waterford's murder in The Handmaid's Tale season 4 finale, Serena was forced to then be somewhat of an ambassador for Gilead in Canada, and is posted up in Ryan and Alanis Wheeler's home. In a shocking twist, the pregnant Serena goes with Ezra to kill June, but ends up shooting Ezra instead and running off with her enemy. Serena goes into labor while she and June are in No Man's Land, and June helps her give birth to Noah in an abandoned barn.
June takes Serena and Noah to a Canadian hospital, but Serena is detained for her escape and Noah is fostered out to the Wheelers. Serena Joy then moves back in with the Wheelers to nurse Noah. Once the Gilead Fertility Clinic opens, Serena asks Ryan Wheeler if she can attend the grand opening with Noah, and he agrees. At the Fertility Clinic, Serena once again makes her escape with Noah and hitches a ride to the train station, where she gets on a train and encounters June again in The Handmaid's Tale season 5 finale. Season 5 sees an incredible arc for the character of Serena Joy, once Gilead's strongest ally has now turned in the opposite direction.