Self Artificial Insemination- Help and Advice...Please help.

[sincerre]

Hello, I am new to this site and would love to explain my situation. I am actually a 30 year old woman from PA. Me and my future wife (Yes, I am a lesbian) are looking to have a baby and start our own family. After taking my brother for 2 months and enjoying having a kid, and so on, we have realized that our biological clock is REALLY ticking. She is 35, and with me being 30, we figured there's no time like the present...We have a couple possible donors, and are really curious about how to do this. I am the more masculine one of our relationship but she was having medical problems, and had to have an immediate hysterectomy, so I will be the one "having" the baby. I made an appointment for 8/5/11 for a woman's physical at the obgyn, so I am trying to set my ducks up. I would love to know what I should do next, I mean I know the appointment to get a physical is important, and like I said above, I am trying to get my ducks all set up in a row, I don't know what the next step is exactly? I would love to know how the people who have been successful doing this actually did it (step by step- if you don't mind). I know it sometimes takes a couple tries, but I would love to have it happen the first time (although that's not ideal). I need someone to talk to, and advice would be great. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this and hopefully providing me with good advice, stats, and experiences. My email would be the best way to reply if possible.

[e-mail]

Thank You so much.

Signed,

                  Hopeful & Nervous.

[Jaimee]

Welcome to MDC!!    I know you said email was best, but I really think that you could get a lot of information and support from hanging out around the actual site so I thought I'd post here.  There is also a Queer Parenting forum here: http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/list/235/queer-parenting where you might find additional information and support.  I don't have any direct experience with self insemination, but I know there are a few people in this forum who have done insemination and IUI's so hopefully they will jump in with advice soon.

What I wanted to throw out there is that a very helpful first step is to chart your cycles.  Tracking your basal body temperature and cervical fluid will help you to pinpoint your ovulation day so that you can inseminate on your most fertile day(s).  OPK's are not always reliable for all women and they do not confirm ovulation, just that you are gearing up to O.  I highly, highly recommend picking up a copy of Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler and a basal body thermometer (from your local drug store) and starting ASAP.  You don't need to read the book cover to cover to get started, but you'll find that it's packed full of amazing information- much of which I never knew about my own body.  Charting will tell you when you are fertile, when you ovulated, how long your luteal phase is, when to expect AF, when to test, if you are pregnant and if there is anything of concern with your cycle.  You will then be armed with more information to give your doctor if you need to pursue other routes of conception.  You can log your data on a free site like www.fertilityfriend.com and share you charts with us so we can give you tips and help you decipher anything that might be confusing.  If you'd like some immediate help getting going with charting, just ask!

There are several threads for those TTC in different age brackets, different points on the TTC journey, and for various types of support (waiting to O, in the 2ww, etc.).  Check them out and jump in!  I think you'll find the women on here very knowledgeable and supportive.  It can really help to have someone listen to what you're going through and connect with others going through the same thing at the same time.

Good luck and congrats on deciding to start your parenting journey!

[carmen358]

Welcome, sincerre :)

As Jaimee mentioned, the queer parenting forum on here is very active. There is a TTC thread for every month and there is an amazing group of women who are experienced with IUI, ICI, IVF and all the details that go along with TTC when you're queer.

My daughter was conceived using artificial insemination and there are lots more success stories to read about!

Come and join us!