The Known Donor

I'm a 25 year old black woman donating eggs to my sister. This is our story.

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There’s Now a Yelp for Fertility Doctors

FertilityIQ wants to simplify the search for the right treatment.

This is so needed!

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Infertility has now been added to the long list of diseases that African-American Women are at higher risk for than their racial counterparts. The list also includes heart disease.

“The Infertility Cure” written by Robin D. Stone for the March 2013 Issue of ESSENCE reported that “Black Women Are More Likely to Have Trouble Conceiving a Baby and Less Likely to Pursue Infertility Treatment”. 11.5 percent of African-American women report infertility compared to just 7 percent of Caucasians.

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She arrived!!

May 2nd 10:47pm with bright eyes, long arms and the most peaceful spirit I’ve ever seen!

She’s already a lover of the camera too. Worke up from her sleep early this morning when she heard it and went peacefully to sleep right after.

She’s so cute I just want to kiss her cheeks all day!

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By tomorrow my niece will be here!

My sister's due date is May 7th, which is Tuesday, however she's being induced this afternoon! She has been told that it could take up to 12 hours, so right now I'm just wrapping up my work for the day and waiting on updates! Will keep you posted.

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Week 26! She hardly looks preggers from the side but the front shot is better. Time is certainly flying.

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Here are some old sonogram shots from about month 3 and 4! I promise to make updates soon with photos of my sister's belly!

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It's a GIRL!

My sister is having a girl!!! She just called me from the doctor's office! So excited. :D

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Ultrasound from October 4, 2012.

The baby's heartbeat was 167 per minute. My sister and her husband were even able to see her (because I hope it's a girl!) in 3D. Technology is amazing, isn't it? I'm hoping they're able to capture a video with their phone at their next ultrasound this week.

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As more and more women opt to freeze their eggs, the medical community shifts its perspective! 

Doctors who specialize in treating infertility are making a big change in their position on a controversial practice. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has concluded that freezing women's eggs to treat infertility should no longer be considered "experimental."

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More and more Americans are trying to increase their chances of becoming grandparents by footing the bill for their daughters' experimental, and expensive, fertility treatments

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I forgot the other ultrasound update!

I forgot to add that the heartbeat was  163 per minute and she (we're claiming a girl here) is 16 ml long.

Apparently that should be about the size of a large rasberry...

During the last ultrasound (her first one, which was done about two weeks ago) the heartbeat was 111 seconds per minute! These are all great signs apparently.

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Determining the Due Date

According to the nurses my sister is 8 weeks pregnant, which was pretty confusing to me considering the fact that my eggs were retrieved on August 14th, or just 6 weeks ago. Apparently they add an additional two weeks to the date of ovulation (which in this case is the same as the retrieval date.)

Et voila! My sister is thus due on May 7th.

Check out this cool tool that breaks everything down based on egg retrieval date: http://ivf.ca/duedate.php.

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My sister had an ultrasound today and this is the baby at 8 weeks!

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...tens of thousands of American women are potential candidates for uterine transplants. They include young women who have had hysterectomies for cancer, endometriosis and uterine trauma. Another group is women born without a uterus.

Uterine transplants have one unique feature: They'll be temporary.

Once a transplant recipient has achieved a successful pregnancy — or two, in the Swedish protocol — she will undergo a hysterectomy to remove the foreign uterus. That way, she won't be exposed to a lifetime of immunosuppressive drugs with their risks of increased infection and other disorders.

Crazy, no!?

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Half Step Aunty Godmomma

Homegirl: Can I be the half step aunty godmomma? I think that title suits me.

Me: -_-

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I'm at work and clearly distracted by my excitement about the news! This is the text message exchange I had with my sister and brother-in-law.

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MY SISTER IS PREGNANT!!!!

Ahhhhhh! I'm so excited I can't even think. Sharing the good news now, but will share the details and next steps later!