#coivf

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Uterine polyp removed. Pre-kid refrigerator art? • • • #ttcjourney #ivf #gayby #gaymoms #prenatal #lgbtqmoms #lgbtq #twomoms #twomomfamily #lgbtmoms #lgbt #coivf #familyplanning

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As we dove into the legalities of same sex parenthood on our (presumably) NY state birth certificate, we were relieved to learn that adoption was not necessary to legitimize our family structure and shared sense of parental rssponsibilities. But as we looked further into the discrepancies of state by state laws and the landscape of disarray for LGBTQ+ rights at the federal level, we decided we'd go through the adoption process anyway to ensure that our kids were "both of our kids" regardless of whose bun was transplanted into whose oven. We wanted to make sure we would both be seen as parents "anywhere we'll ever go together" and that our kids had two parents to turn to "under any circumstances". As we look around at the shifting foundations of this democracy, we know we have to be more vigilant than we ever expected when same-sex marriage became legal in 2015. The extra mile of precaution we thought we were taking is not extra at all. We'll all have to be twice as smart and over-prepared to enter into parenthood as second class citizens. If you have other tips for safeguarding the birth process, we'd love to hear them. And if you have questions about how we came to our decision, we are happy to share our resources. From California Attorney General Xavier Becerra: "Our country has made great strides in dismantling prejudicial laws that have deprived too many of our fellow Americans of their precious rights," Becerra said. "Sadly, that is not the case in all parts of our nation, even in the 21st century....While the California DOJ works to protect the rights of all our people, discriminatory laws in any part of our country send all of us several steps back. That's why when California said we would not tolerate discrimination against LGBTQ members of our community, we meant it." #coivf #familyplanning #prenatal #preparenting #pregnancyplan #familyplanning #lgbtqmoms #lgbtq #twomoms #twomomfamily #lgbtmoms #lgbt #ivf #gayby #gaymoms #lgbtequality #parenthood #gaybyguide #ttc #ttccommunity #ttcjourney

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We hope one day we'll be driving around with a full back seat. But this was a quick #stopover trip to Iceland just the two of us ahead of a busy summer and what promises to be a full year. #coivf #prenatal #familyplanning #lgbtmoms #lgbtq #twomoms #twomomfamily #ivf #gayby #gaymoms #gaybyguide #lgbtfamilies #ttc #ivf #lgbtqmoms #lgbt #family #familyvacation #teamtwomoms

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First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes top-tier insurance with no pre-approval required. Then comes a baby in the baby carriage. (We hope.) • • Then comes a huge party with the big ceremony and a lot of fun introducing the baby to the friends and families. • • #coivf #prenatal #familyplanning #lgbtmoms #lgbtq #lgbt #twomoms #twomomfamily #ivf #gayby #gaymoms #gaybyguide #lgbtwedding #lgbtfamilies #lgbtfamily #wedding #secretweddingday #nottheBIGday #firststeps #courthousewedding

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...but then again...can't get too carried away with one win at a time. Hope is not an action verb. Democracy is not a spectator sport. #BetterRepresentation is good for everyone, not just #LGBTQ people. As is the case here, like so many, children lose most in this no-win situation. • • #lgbtmoms #lgbtequality #parenting #familyplanning #prenatal #gayby #gaymoms #twomoms #twomomfamily #ivf #coivf #adoption #lgbt #lgbtqmoms

[sectioniiblog]

We are in Durham for a wedding and have had a lovely time exploring the duality of a place in the center of a modern civil rights battle over #TransRights that is also charming and retro in its mid-century aesthetics that harken back to so many iconic civil rights images from the past. We were expecting to feel under pressure here to censor ourselves and brace for insecurities as visitors and as LGBT women. But the people, art, and hospitality of Durham have exceeded all expectations, and we have had a lovely time eating and drinking our way through the museums and craft fairs and farmers markets. We've started keeping an eye out for baby clothes when we travel, and although it was not a place we were expecting to want to memorialize, we are looking forward to remembering this trip when we dress our kids in #DurhamBulls gear someday soon. . . #coivf #prenatal #familyplanning #lgbtmoms #lgbtq #lgbt #twomoms #twomomfamily #travel #ivf #gayby #southernhospitality #durham

[sectioniiblog]

Because we're planning our first round of IVF for August, each weekend feels like something to cherish as one of the last we'll have as a couple on our own. . . #coivf #familyplanning #lgbtqmoms #lgbtq #lgbt #twomoms #twomomfamily #ivf #gayby #biologicalclock

[sectioniiblog]

And so it begins, we want to start our family. Or should I say expand. We already have the cutest old man dog you've ever seen. As we embark on this journey and begin thinking about how this might happen for us, we realize we have a million questions and very few places to find answers. We are two women who both want to carry a child (more about us later). Our questions and concerns span the gamut- from sorting through insurance and legal issues, to understanding methods of insemination versus IVF, to donor selection and genetic testing. All of this deliberate planning and thinking allows us to simultaneously get very excited about the prospect of being moms, while also encountering anxiety-filled moments of trepidation as we are reminded of the financial costs and social challenges we will face. Our goal is to build a supportive community of LGBTQ women who want to create families in their own ways. We hope you'll follow us and engage with us as we try to figure this all out. #ivf #coivf #prenatal #twomoms #lgbtmoms