Geraldine came to iGin from the French city of Lille looking to be a single mother; now she is about to give a happy and double welcome… We leave you with the story told by herself.
«My story began in January 2020, with New Year’s resolutions and the opportunity to think about the stages of life. For me, who had dreamed of becoming a mother for years and was known for taking on big projects, the idea ofembarking on assisted reproduction alone began to become more and more present.
February, I celebrate my 32nd birthday. Another shared candle without child(ren). Aware that my fertility is decreasing from year to year, and unable to resign myself to “waiting to find my soulmate” (who has not arrived in the last fifteen years), my aspiration grows a little more and is accompanied by a lot of research on the subject. Winter passes and so… April arrives! I am determined: I am going! I am going to have a baby “on my own”.
My country does not yet accept assisted reproduction for single women, so I naturally turned to Spain and Bilbao in particular. Because just 10 years ago in 2010 I went to that city to spend a year there for studies. Bilbao, so dear to my heart, was the perfect place for our future story, for my son and for me. During the April nights of lockdown due to the pandemic, from my apartment in Lille alone at night, I continue my research and my reading about raising a child alone…
In May, while searching online for clinics in Bilbao to contact, I immediately fell in love with iGin. Looking at the team’s organisation chart on their website, I had the impression that they were smiling at me! And my first exchanges with the clinic confirmed my good feeling.
I had a long interview with the medical team via video conference in June. They took all the time in the world to explain the procedure and the protocol that awaited me. I had the medical examinations here in Lille with my gynaecologist, and everything went well.
In July (with the Covid crisis somewhat under control) the French-Spanish borders reopened. It was a relief to know that I could now travel to the clinic to undergo the treatment. In my case, it was going to be artificial insemination with sperm donation. In Spain, donation is anonymous. The clinic performs a matching process: it chooses the donor based on the similarity with my physical characteristics and blood type.
In August, having three weeks off work, I decided to go on holiday to Bilbao to undergo artificial insemination. I love Spain, and it seemed easier to do the hormonal stimulation phase while in the city where the clinic was. After 15 days of hormone injections in the abdomen every night, my ovaries were ready: on 31st August my artificial insemination took place.
In September, back in my city (Lille) and at work, I had to wait 15 days to take a blood test to find out if I was pregnant. That time passed and the bad news came: I was not pregnant, this first artificial insemination did not work. Even if we were prepared for this eventuality, it is always a difficult moment.
The next day I made my decision: I will try again! But this time, as I had no more days off, the days of treatment and medical examinations were carried out in Lille. Thus began a phase of daily juggling between work and medical appointments, which was quite exhausting.
At the end of that same month, iGin confirmed that we could proceed with the second insemination on October 2, in just 48 hours. So I took two days off and got on a plane to travel to Bilbao. The procedure was carried out without incident and again I had to wait those famous 15 days for the test.
In October comes the incredible good news, the one I have been waiting for for years… that’s it! I’m pregnant! It’s hard for me to realise, I’m aware that in just two insemination attempts everything has worked. I congratulate myself on my choice, my background and the effort I have made in recent months.
November came and my first follow-up ultrasound. That’s when the miracle happened: I’m pregnant with not one, but two babies! Suddenly I feel a little worried because twin pregnancies are risky, but I’m so happy… I tell myself that there are now three hearts beating in my body and I get excited thinking that I will be the mother of my children.
In January 2021, during another follow-up ultrasound, I was confirmed that my two babies are boys. I am so happy that there are two of them, the future little brothers… They won’t have a dad, but it doesn’t matter, I’m going to have my dear family. The three of us will make a great team! And maybe one day, who knows, a partner will finally come into my life and the four of us will be the happiest people in the world.
Now, in February, I just turned 33. Weeks and months go by and I am increasingly happy and satisfied with the idea ofbeing a mother of two babies. That will be in June, exactly one year after I first contacted iGin… and it fills me with immense joy. So for all of you who are still hesitating, get started! Life is short, and life is good.
Geraldine (Lille, France).