Kimberly Mace and Matthew Mace began dating when they were 38 and 40 years old. About a year later they committed to each other and planned to have a family. After nine months of trying to conceive, and with a diagnosis of diminished ovarian reserve, they proceeded with their first unsuccessful fertility treatment: intrauterine insemination (IUI). When Kim was 40 years old, they underwent three rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF) consisting of three egg retrievals followed by four embryo transfers, with a total of 10 embryos. Three embryo transfers resulted in negative pregnancy tests, and one in a chemical pregnancy, which terminated around 6 weeks gestation. Despite the heartbreak, Kim and Matt were inspired by a friend’s experience with egg donation. About two months after their last unsuccessful embryo transfer, Kim was pregnant with Matt’s baby, using a frozen donor egg. Every parameter of this pregnancy was strong and healthy!
Jacob was born at 40 weeks 2 days gestation, when Kim was 42 years old. They hoped to have an unmedicated birth in a hospital, assisted by their doula, Melissa. Labor started around 11 pm on Friday night, and Kim was 8 cm dilated by 8 am Saturday morning. However, her progress plateaued and at 5:30 pm Saturday evening, she was still only 9 cm dilated, and Jacob was in a posterior position. Kim’s contractions were coming fast, she was tired, and requested an epidural. Once the epidural was placed around 6 pm, they all rested, and Melissa positioned Kim on a peanut ball to help turn the baby and labor down. At 11 pm Kim started pushing and Jacob was born at 11:52 pm Saturday night.
Now Jacob is a happy, healthy and talkative seven-month old! Kim and Matt will forever be grateful to their egg donor, doctors, doulas, and support from family and friends to make their journey to parenthood possible. Kim, Matt and Jacob live in Atlanta, GA. Connect with Kim on Instagram @kemw28.
Resources
- Support group: Parents Via Egg Donation (pved.org)
- Book: Let’s Talk About Egg Donation, Marna Gatlin and Carole LieberWilkins
- Doulas: TheAtlantaDoula.com
- Podcasts: Beat Infertility, Heather Huhman; Birth Kweens, Karly Nuttall and Ali Feroah; Living Childfree with Erik and Melissa
- IVFMEDS.com
Caraway
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Betterhelp
Today’s episode is also sponsored by Betterhelp. BetterHelp is online therapy that offers video, phone, and even live chat-only therapy sessions. I love that Betterhelp is so much more affordable AND convenient than in-person therapy. For many people the barrier to getting therapy is finding a therapist but with Betterhelp, you can be matched with a therapist in under 48 hour! Our listeners get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/birthhour.