Single mama by choice, sperm donation and IVF with Jessica

Jessica is a single mum by choice, choosing to have a baby using a sperm donor and not waiting for the right partner to come along.

She had been diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 21 and once she had further tests done at the fertility clinic it was also confirmed that her right tube was damaged from a surgery she had as a baby, and her left blocked from the endometriosis.

This meant she would need IVF treatment .  Jessica found a sperm donor through an online forum  and began her treatment.

Her first cycle of IVF was sadly unsuccessful and was swiftly followed by her dad passing away.

On her second cycle of IVF Jess got two embryos but they both had to be frozen as we had just been plunged into Level 4 lockdown.  She would have to wait until we were back at Level two before she could do any transfers.

Her gynecologist helped her petition to ACC for compensation for what happened to her as a baby, which was affecting her fertility now.  She was given 2 cycles of IVF compensation for this injury.

On Jessica’s fourth transfer, she became pregnant but had an early miscarriage.

On her 5th transfer, she became pregnant with her little baby girl Hazel.

Jessica planned a homebirth.  All went well and she got to 10cm dilated at home but then things slowed and she was transferred to hospital and ended up having a c-section.

Hazel struggled with her breathing at birth and was transferred to NICU.  Jess lost a lot of blood and was transferred to HDU.  They were separated and Jess struggled with that.

However, by the next day Jess was well enough to spend all day with Hazel skin to skin in NICU and by that night they were back on the ward together.

Shortly after the birth of Hazel, New Zealand went into lockdown and Jessica and Hazel spent the first few weeks locked down together at home, having friends and family visit by looking at Hazel through the window.

Jess has spent a lot of time processing the birth and working through her guilt at the separation they experienced in those first 24 hours.

 
Connect with Jessica
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/houseplant_mother/
Email - [email protected]

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Podcast instagram - https://www.instagram.com/waitingforyou.podcast/
Photography instagram - https://www.instagram.com/janinefoxphotography/
Submit to the podcast - https://www.janinefoxphotography.co.nz/podcast
Photography website - https://www.janinefoxphotography.co.nz/