Polly shares her heartfelt journey of becoming an egg donor and building her own family.
The Beginning of a Family
Starting a family wasn’t the easiest path for Polly and Gav. When Polly stumbled upon an article about egg donation in a magazine, she felt an instant connection to the idea. “We had both experienced challenges in our previous relationships when trying to start a family,” she recalled.
Finding Love and Overcoming Challenges
Polly and Gavin met in 2013 and instantly knew they were meant to be together. Although Polly had faced fertility issues before, including early miscarriages, the couple was excited to welcome their two daughters, Ava and Mia, into their lives. As her little ones grew, Polly found herself juggling a busy schedule running a hair salon, but her past fertility struggles lingered in her mind.
A Life-Changing Decision
One day, while flipping through a magazine, she came across a letter from a woman who had just welcomed a baby thanks to the kindness of an anonymous egg donor. The emotional message expressed profound gratitude, and in that moment, Polly realized she wanted to make a difference too.
Taking the First Steps
Once her daughters reached school age, she saw an ad for egg donation with TFP Fertility and decided to reach out. After completing a thorough medical and genetic questionnaire, she and Gav had a consultation with a TFP counselor to discuss the implications of her decision. They considered how it might affect their daughters to have half-siblings. The counselor helped them see that while the resulting children would share genetic ties, the relationship would be different.
“It was crucial for us to understand this,” Polly said. “We want our girls to know about my egg donation so they can learn from it.” Feeling confident, Polly went on to donate her eggs twice. The first donation in 2022 yielded several eggs, resulting in a successful pregnancy for the recipient. Her second attempt in 2023 was a bit trickier but ultimately resulted in fifteen eggs being shared between two women. “I’m waiting to hear if there are any new babies,” she mentioned.
Reflections on the Journey
Reflecting on her first donation, Polly admitted she had a moment of uncertainty when the baby girl was born. However, she quickly reminded herself that while the child shared her genetics, she was carried by her mother. “Without my help, this couple wouldn’t have been able to conceive,” Polly said, feeling a sense of fulfillment.
Becoming a Surrogate
Encouraged by her family, especially her mother who had her own struggles with infertility, Polly soon decided to take another step: she became a gestational surrogate. “This means my own egg wasn’t used; the embryo was created using the recipient couple’s egg and sperm,” she explained. After connecting with the couple through a surrogacy group on Facebook, Polly helped them welcome a little boy, which she described as a “magical” experience.
A Gift of Life
Now in her mid-thirties and having achieved her own family dreams, Polly has given the gift of life to several others. “I’m so grateful I picked up that magazine,” she said. “I just love helping people start their families.”
Further Reading
If you’re interested in similar journeys, check out this blog post about at-home insemination options. Additionally, for those looking to navigate the complexities of pregnancy, this is an excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination.
Conclusion
In summary, Polly’s inspiring story highlights her transformation from struggling with infertility to becoming an egg donor and ultimately a surrogate, showcasing the profound impact of giving the gift of life to others.