I want to share our unique journey, hoping it brings hope to those who might relate. Fourteen years ago, I was diagnosed with MRKH syndrome, meaning I was born without a uterus or vaginal canal. After enduring two difficult surgeries, I finally had a functional vagina, but still no uterus.
Fast forward to 2019, when we began our IVF and surrogacy journey. My incredible mom offered to be our surrogate, and our dreams were shattered during our first appointment when we learned that my egg quality was equivalent to that of a 45-year-old woman.
In 2020, we became foster parents, but it ended in heartbreak when an adoption case we had been preparing for fell through. I was devastated and thought I might finally have the family I longed for.
The road to parenthood has been fraught with obstacles and sorrow. After the failed adoption, my family supported me through my grief. I adamantly told them I wouldn’t give up and would find another way. I remember my mom asking how much more I could take. Honestly, not much. I felt defeated, broken, and consumed by a pain that was hard to bear.
For the past six years, my best friend, “Lily,” often joked about her unused uterus and wasted eggs each month. I never took her seriously until she pushed the idea in February this year.
We had many discussions, consulted with lawyers, researched, and learned about traditional surrogacy, which is legal where we live. While browsing online, we discovered a home insemination kit and spent hours reading reviews. Initially, we were skeptical about the whole concept but decided to try it for six months before considering medical options like IUI or ICI.
For three months, Lily visited my home during her LH peak, and we performed “transfers” using the kit. After each transfer, we’d hang out for about thirty minutes, sharing laughs, visions for the future, and watching TV. It was a relaxed experience, far removed from the sterile environment of a doctor’s office.
Then came May 31, 2021. I was jolted awake by a knock on the front door. My husband jumped up, and soon I heard Lily’s voice. I quickly threw on my robe and rushed to the living room, where she excitedly handed me a positive pregnancy test. She was five weeks along, and we decided to savor every moment.
Thanks to our home insemination journey:
- I held a positive pregnancy test for the first time
- I watched the lines darken each day
- I began creating a baby registry with a due date
- I experienced the joy of an ultrasound and hearing a heartbeat
- I looked forward to my baby’s birth
- I could smile around other babies instead of feeling sad
- I had a baby shower
- I witnessed my mom’s tears of joy as she learned she was going to be a grandma
- I saw the pure happiness on my husband’s face as he gazed at those two tiny lines
- I finally got to use the nursery I had set up for years
- I felt like I could close the chapter on infertility
- I got everything I ever wanted—I was going to be a mom
We tried three cycles with the home insemination kit and had been trying for over 24 months before that. If you want to learn more about preparing for parenthood, check out this blog post on essential classes to consider before welcoming a baby.
In summary, after years of heartache, our journey took a positive turn with the help of an innovative home insemination kit. We embraced the support of family and friends, and our dreams of parenthood began to unfold.