Fertility • January 15, 2021

Christine and May Therese had their desired child after three years

Eirin Myrvang Berg

Marketer

It's an autumn evening in November when we meet Christine and May Therese over video chat from their home in Steinkjer. In the background, their five-month-old daughter Mathilde sleeps peacefully, and we are welcomed by their dog Nala.

Christine talks about how wonderful the last few months have been for the little family. In Norway, lesbian couples can get help to have children with in vitro fertilization or insemination treatment. The couple started their process in Trondheim in January 2018, but the journey did not turn out quite as they had hoped. It is not until three years later that the couple is holding their own daughter in their arms.

Opposite way

Today the couple is married and have been together for eight years. When asked where it all started, they laugh. May Therese talks about their first time together.

– We met at work, when we both worked at Jordbærpikene. I needed a roommate, so May Therese moved in with me. It wasn't until after that that we got together, so we took it in the opposite direction.

The desire for children has always been there, but was put on hold for a while as the couple was not familiar with the options available in Norway.

– We had heard that we had to go to Denmark to make it happen. The practicalities became a lot easier when we found out that there was an offer in Norway as well, and we decided to go for it in Trondheim.

Miscarriage and shattered hope

The couple came to Medicus for treatment with good courage, and things seemed to be going their way for the hopefuls. After the fourth conception on the first egg retrieval, something unexpected happened. The attempt ended in a miscarriage for May Therese.

– That was perhaps the worst part of the process, because we were so sure it would work right away. We had so much hope. Everything looks good, you have a lot of eggs, and then suddenly it turns around. We tried again, and after the second egg retrieval we didn't get any eggs. That's when we started to wonder if this is really going to work at all.

The fact that the embryologists did not find any eggs on the second egg retrieval was surprising for both parties. It wasn't long ago that the ultrasound had shown many large follicles and good conditions for getting pregnant? This time, both the emotional and physical strain were heavier than on the first attempt. It was demanding to be left without results after such a great effort. The couple had to build up their courage again. "Eyes on the prize," they write on Instagram.

It takes too long.

After the big setback, it was the desire to have children that kept them going. Christine and May Therese could not imagine not having children. They wanted to become parents no matter how hard, difficult and long the process might be. After another egg retrieval, they therefore applied for public treatment to try their luck again. But this did not go as planned either.

– We were on the waiting list, but didn't hear anything more from them. We simply thought it took too long. In addition, we felt better received at Medicus. It is more personal, you are taken care of more, get closer follow-up, and have more conversations.

He who waits for something good does not wait in vain.

Christine and May Therese decided to try their luck again at Medicus. On the third try, things finally went their way. On June 22, 2020, Mathilde was born. The proud parents talk about their recent time with a healthy and calm daughter who sleeps well at night. With a corona-influenced everyday life, the two mothers have had a lot of valuable time at home with Mathilde and Nala. The two seem to have a very special bond between them.

Since the beginning, Christine and May Therese have been open about their journey. On the Instagram profile @ivf.mammaer, they have documented their process. It turned out to be a good way to keep their friends and acquaintances updated. The two mothers also have a desire to spread knowledge to others who are going through a similar process. The couple chuckles when they talk about the hormone treatment. The fridge couldn't be empty when you're on hormones and have cravings. They have taken turns giving the injections, which was a bit scary at first. There are several such moments to look back on in the Instagram archive.

– The last few months have been absolutely fantastic, and we are having a great time. Both of us have been home due to corona, so it's like we're both on leave. We're not having a great time, the couple concludes.

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Christine and May Therese had their desired child after three years

Opposite way

Miscarriage and shattered hope

It takes too long.

He who waits for something good does not wait in vain.

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