Laura's Story of Being a 7 Time Egg Donor!
I became an egg donor after bringing a friend to an egg retrieval and meeting the staff at the doctor’s office where she had the egg retrieval procedure. I saw different intended parents come in and out of the office while I sat and waited. I remember the joy and excitement they all shared, and also the diverse population that filled the waiting room of the clinic that day. As different as everyone was, one thing unified these people, the strong desire and hope to have a baby.
It's an intense procedure, and I researched a lot to have all the information before I made decision if egg donation was right for me, and I applied to be an egg donor. I filled out a long application, went through psychological screening, blood tests, ultrasounds, interviews with the staff, fertility and genetic testing. Once I had passed the screening tests, I worked with the staff to build a profile. I made a video to share with the families looking for an egg donor, uploaded pictures and wrote down information about me that would give the intended parents a better idea about me and my personality. I wanted to be a known egg donor, meaning that I could meet and communicate with the people that I was matched with and donated my eggs to. I was matched rather quickly, and it seemed like in no time at all, I was starting fertility medication to prepare for the egg retrieval. I took injectable medication every day at the same time for about 12 days, in addition I went to ultrasound appointments and had bloodwork to check my hormone levels and growth of the follicles. The clinic gave me updates on medication changes after every appointment and prepared me for the egg retrieval.
The egg retrieval itself felt so incredibly simple and lasted 15 minutes or so. The worst part was that I made myself so nervous, because it was surgery that I elected to do! I also wanted the family who chose me as their donor to have a successful outcome. I was given an IV and medication to help me stay calm before the procedure, and during the egg retrieval I was asleep and didn’t feel a thing. So simple! When I woke up, I was a little tired, and a little crampy, but nothing too bad. I went home and slept the rest of the afternoon and was back to work the next day. I had mild cramping and bloating the rest of the week but felt completely fine within a few days.
I feel very honored to meet and know the family that I donated to. They kept me informed of the developing pregnancy the whole time. It was so much fun to see the pregnancy progress and new baby pictures when she was born. I met her and held her for the first time with my kids in New York City on a sunny spring day and had so much fun spending the day with her family. It was such a beautiful experience that I am forever thankful for. To see her family light up when they talk about her, and when I see the love that this family has for her, my heart is full. I do not see my daughter; I see a beautiful little girl that is so loved. I feel very lucky that I was able to help. Genetics does not make me a mother, but it does give someone else the opportunity to have children they otherwise wouldn't be able to have.