could physically participate in moving, and we
both needed a break.
As soon as we settled here in Oregon, we began
the work of finding someone to do the insemi-
nation. Within the first two weeks, we kept hear-
ing about a great certified nurse-midwife and
met with her.
She agreed to do the insemination and began the
work of getting to know us and my body. She
had me do a blood test for food allergies and a
genetic mutation. The tests showed that I had
allergies to eggs, dairy, and a handful of other
foods and that I was half-mutated with the fo-
lic acid gene (calleed MTHFR). This mutation
meant that I converted some folic acid, some of
the time, with varying levels of success. I became
the meat-eating vegan I am today and switched
my prenatals to a prescription version that has
folate in it, saving my body the work of trying
to convert it.
We waited a month to let these changes settle
in and decided the November ovulation would
be our goal. As it turned out, our midwife was
scheduled to be on vacation in November, so it
would be an OB at the practice who would in-
seminate me. When I got the egg image on a
Friday evening, she graciously agreed to meet us
the following morning at the closed office.
We met her at 8 a.m. on November 5th, and she
shared that it had been a while since she had
done an IUI. This confession may not have been
the vote of confidence we wanted, but she as-
sured us that everything looked good and made
us laugh as we spent the symbolic 15 minutes
on the table with my hips propped following the
insemination.
On November 22nd I once again reached for a
pregnancy test, convinced that it would be an-
other three minutes of waiting to see "not preg-
nant" pop up in the screen. This try was our 8th
in 15 months. I set up the test and reached for
my phone to see when the 3 minutes had start-
ed. Before I could even push my phone on, the
test lit up with pregnant. I ran it out to Cathy in
the living room, we both cried, and hugged and
kissed.
Oliver was born August 5, 2012. g
Next month: Cathy’s process as the non-biological mom.
In The Family way is written by Cathy Busha and Anna
deligio. Cathy and Anna are the new parents to their
newborn son oliver. Reach them at Justout.com
September 2012
Justout.com
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