Wives in Gilead can't have children mainly due to a widespread, man-made infertility crisis caused by environmental pollution and toxins, leading to low birth rates, but the regime blames the Wives, labeling them "barren," and uses fertile Handmaids for forced pregnancies, even though male fertility is also affected. While some Wives might be older or infertile themselves, the societal structure shifts blame onto women, forcing them to share husbands with Handmaids for procreation, all under the guise of religious duty to repopulate.
The actress in real life has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. While this is of course true, in the book Serena is an older woman who walks with a cane. I thought they were just incorporating this into another character until I read about the actress having EDS.
And, perhaps more importantly, if she was somehow caught, her status as a wife of a commander wouldn't have protected her from her "sin". She had been shot in the stomach in 'the before' while at a rally or speech. It was assumed she couldn't have children due to this.
Handmaids who successfully bear children continue to live at their Commander's house until their children are weaned, at which point they are sent to a new assignment with a new Commander. Those who produce children will never be declared "unwomen" or sent to the Colonies, even if they never have another baby.
Genetic birth defects are really common in the book/show. They call them an unbaby. Baby Angela was an unbaby in the book and passed away.
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.
When she was twenty-five, Offred gave birth to their child, a daughter. After her daughter was born, a delusional woman attempted to abduct her in a supermarket due to the fertility crisis.
They are trying, but most are infertile due to the global fertility crisis caused by environmental toxins.
Serena Waterford gives birth to Noah in a barn in No Man's Land, with the help of June Osborne. Noah is born in good health and eventually is taken to a hospital in Canada to receive treatment in the Newborn ICU. After Noah's mother, Serena, gets detained, he gets moved into Child Protective Services.
Handmaids that become infertile or reach a certain age without having ever conceived are also sent to the Colonies, as are women who refuse to become Handmaids.
Serena Joy reveals Offred's pregnancy to her husband and tells him the baby isn't his because he is weak. Fred participates in Warren's trial chaired by Commander Pryce. Waterford is all for leniency, reminding that no one is free of mistakes and that Warren Putnam has a family, a wife and a new child.
Most Marthas seem to be infertile, low-ranking, and/or unmarried women; events in season 3 ("Chicago Women") suggest Marthas to be Unwomen who still appear to be "useful" for domestic tasks due to their pre-Gileadean occupation.
In the fifth season, Blair is revealed to be pregnant with Prince of Monaco, Louis Grimaldi's child.
Carey Cox, who plays Rose Blaine, has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. They incorporated her disability into her character and wrote it so Rose has congenital hip dysplasia. That's why she walks with a cane and is either sitting down or in a wheelchair in some episodes.
Holly Osborne, temporarily named Nichole Waterford, and Nichole Holly Osborne, is the biological daughter of Nick Blaine and June Osborne. She was initially named Holly by her mother when giving birth (after her maternal grandmother) and renamed Nichole by the Waterfords.
Fred is Noah's father and Serena is his mother. Fred and Serena slept together the night before they crossed the border and got arrested. Yes she got pregnant and it was Fred's. They thought either she or Fred was infertile because they weren't getting pregnant so got a handmaid.
Serena tells him that she is not pregnant, and goes to find Blair. It is revealed that Serena bought the test for her because Blair mentioned that her period was late. Blair refuses to take the test since everything is going so well in her life, including her reinforced relationship with Nate.
Serena is afraid that her husband is infertile so orders her to have sex with Nick. Serena secretly brings Offred to Nick's apartment, where she waits as they have sex. They finish and Serena tells Offred to lie down in her room, after saying a prayer to encourage her to become pregnant.
Many Wives become bitter and resentful; many of them are also jealous of the Handmaids due to their ability to conceive and the fact they must share their husbands with them.
“The blue of the water, the teal range [of the commanders' wives dresses], means to be secretive or closed off because you're going into the depths of the ocean,” explains Bronfman. “The deeper you get, the darker the green and the blue-green.
Wives-Wives are high-society, infertile women. Though they are forbidden from actual sexual relations with their husbands, they must complete all sexual and childbearing rituals beside the handmaids--they must lie underneath them while they have sex and sit in the birthing chair while the handmaid gives birth.
It's symbolic and removable. The handmaid can remove the rings for eating or talking purposes. But it is symbolic to show her dedication to the cause. June couldn't talk / conspire / gossip to her because she was making it clear she will not speak.
The showrunners have confirmed that Fred is the father of Serena's baby. And before you ask, Nick is the father of June's.
“Yes I got married,” said Strahovski, adding that she and Loden (who have been together for over six years) tied the knot in a secret Northern Californian ceremony over the summer. “There was a heatwave, and we ended up jumping in the lake in our suit and gown, just to cool down,” she said, smiling at the recollection.