Happy 34th Birthday IVF!

I'm 32 years old and although there are days I feel old, I also feel very young. It amazes me that it was only 34 years ago today, that the first IVF baby was born.
Only 34 years ago?! I guess that can seem like a long time, but knowing that woman have been struggling with infertility for decades, it doesn't seem that long at all.

Today is Louise Brown's 34th birthday and although she may not realize the significance of her birthday, I surely do. Louise is the first IVF baby born. She is a miracle and I'm sure her parents agree. They struggled for nine years to conceive a child before seeing Dr. Robert Edwards. I can only imagine their heartache since there weren't fertility options as there are now, but also their skepticism when meeting with Dr. Edwards and learning about his new treatment. I was SO scared when we made the decision to do IVF and this wasn't anything new I hadn't heard of before. But we had to put our fears aside and put our trust into our Dr and his staff. Luckily for us, it worked and we are now just waiting for our miracle to arrive.

I cried and hugged and thanked our Dr when we got our news and only wish I could do the same to Dr. Edwards. Without him, our miracle wouldn't be possible. And not only for us, but for the thousands of other families that are now possible because of his research and breakthrough in fertility medicine. He definitely deserved that Nobel Prize for Medicine.

I read this article that a woman who also went through IVF wrote and was reminded of all the controversy that still surrounds IVF and the people who go through it.
Looking Back at First Test-Tube Baby

It truly is amazing that after 34 years, people still don't recognize infertility as a health condition and IVF as a medical treatment for it. However, the stigma around infertility and IVF still remains. I deserve a family just the same as the person next to me who is able to conceive on their own. Thankfully we were able to afford the resources to do IVF but there are so many couples out there who aren't able to, and therefore, sometimes have to make the decision to be child-less. Truly not fair. I also don't feel as though I cheated God's plan or am playing God by creating life outside my womb. I believe God gave us these resources for a reason, so we could also have the joys of parenthood. And I thank Him each and every day for that.
I do believe that the stigma is getting better as more and more information is available on infertility and treatment options. I will never hide our journey from anyone, including our children, but will be proud to be an advocate for those still struggling.

Never give up on  your dreams!!