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I'm researching the above with the view of becoming pregnant next year.
I can't believe how little I know about how my body works and biological reproduction in humans lol
I know a few things but not everything.
I'm struggling with what to tell any future kids about how they came into this world without a Dad.
There are also questions worries floating around my head from time to time in those quite moments of the day, like:
Is there a test to tell if I'm releasing more than one egg a month?
(Am I mad to do this with limited support and no partner)
Is there a test to tell how many eggs I've left in my reserve?
(And then back to, am I mad, I could die in childbirth)
What produces twins so I can make my family with least trauma?
Is donor sperm going to be available to single women to artificially inseminate at home in Ireland soon?
And you can probably guess the rest, my head is buzzing with questions and worry.
There's nobody to ask any of these questions of. GP doesn't know when I asked.
This post is for everyone else to learn from and add their own queries.
Fire away ladies.
I like the idea of artificial insemination more than ivf as a first time process
Interesting article:
https://extra.ie/2019/11/10/news/women-buying-sperm-online-inseminating
"She explained that the biggest problem with home insemination is that if the person who gave the sperm decided at any point they wanted to be involved in the child's life that they legally could.
However, this is not the case when sperm donation is carried out in a registered clinic. For example, in the SIMS clinic sperm donors are not legally the father.
All donors are non-anonymous however, which means that when the child turns 18 they have the right to find out information about their biological father."
"An even cheaper option to using these websites is finding a sperm donor for free on a website like Spermdonorireland.com or co-parentmatch.com."
"In many countries, like the United States, home insemination allows parents to have the same legal rights that they would in a clinic. Thus, many women try home insemination first. However, they do still need to be linked to a health care provider.
Home insemination is not straight forward, but there is ample information available online on how to carry one out.
A home insemination kit is required which can be bought online. Spermdonorireland.com sells these kits starting at 11.99 for the basic set and going up to 21.99 for the 'super deluxe insemination kits'.
All kits include a syringe, a sterile specimen cup, and ovulation kits. The website also advises that any home insemination kits will be delivered in discreet packaging."
"'We are doing home insemination but with a known donor, we tried Cryos but you get very little for a lot of money and plus they changed their policy and I am not sure if they send sperm to private costumers' said one user.
Cryos is a sperm donation bank in Denmark which the SIMS clinic and many others use. At the beginning of this year they provided home deliveries to Ireland, however, they do not anymore.
'A lot of people tried it and it worked, we're not there yet but staying hopeful' said another.
'My sister and husband got pregnant by home insemination. (medical condition). A 2.5 ml syringe and skinny tube thing that attaches to syringe' said a third.
The current fertility laws in Ireland are complicated and can make it extremely difficult for couples to fulfill their dreams of having a child. People like Dr Kennedy and Annette have been rallying for reform in these laws and hope that this will come in May 2020.
Currently, couples looking to use a surrogate in Ireland are in the messiest situation as in Irish law the person who gives birth is seen as the mother, even if different eggs are used."
Hey! I'm a single mother by choice. 6 year old from prior relationship- knows his dad but I have full custody and have raised him alone. Currently 37 weeks pregnant via sperm donor.
Some answers for you!
- There are ovulation tests that will tell you when you're ovulating so they will be able to tell you if you ovulate two separate times in a month (unusual). They can't tell you if you have released two eggs at one time (hyperovulation) you would have to go to a clinic and get an ultrasound for that kind of information.
- You're not mad. Research has shown that children of SMBC do as well or better than two parent households. Statistics also show that partnered mothers do the vast majority of household labour and parenting. Fathers on average contribute very little other than additional income, and often create even more work for the mother. You can do it on your own!!
- Yes there is. You need to go to a fertility clinic and get your AMH tested. However it is not a perfectly accurate measure.
- Likelihood of dying in childbirth is very low but you are right- childbirth is a big deal with real consequences and you want to be sure that you are willing to take the risk (my due date is in 3 weeks so I'm feeling this right now). I mean really we take risks every day though. What's life without a little risk? 😂
- Using fertility medication will make you more likely release two eggs (hyperovulate) and have fraternal twins. There is no way to increase the chance of identical twins. The most likely method to have twins is to do IVF and implant multiple embryos.
- You may not be able to buy sperm from a clinic to use for home AI in Ireland, but they can't stop you from sourcing your own sperm. I conceived via a known donor. I found him online, waited until I was ovulating, met with him in person and received a fresh sperm sample. Took it home, self-inseminated. Pregnant first try! You don't necessarily need IUI or IVF if you have no fertility issues and you're ovulating. You've got options! 😊
Get on Mumsnet girl. There are also internet groups for "single mothers by choice", perhaps some in your country. I've known a few ladies who followed this path and they are super happy.
Honestly this is the only way to become a mother that makes sense in 2022. A father is unfortunately just a risk factor now. Although I am married I have a consultation for egg freezing next week and will probably only have another child when I have sufficient savings of about 1000000.