Elizabeth Comeau, the first American IVF conceived child, born in 1981, has given birth to her own baby this past week. She had a healthy baby boy. She and her husband conceived him the "normal" way.
At the Boston Globe online, you can read an essay she wrote herself on how her IVF-centered celebrity status affected her life.
My favorite part of what she wrote in her essay is the following:
"If my story helps couples or families learn about in-vitro fertilization, then the loss of privacy is worthwhile. People who have fertility issues deserve to know they can have healthy, normal babies."
It's true that some couples worry that their IVF conceived child won't be healthy, normal, or go on to conceive naturally themselves. I remember once being in a class on educating special needs children. The class was for teachers, not parents, but naturally many of the teachers were parents and had questions about their children.
One woman told us how her son was hyperactive and that she was worried about him. Then she said, "He was an IVF baby. He was frozen as an embryo for some time. Do you think I caused his problems?"
The course instructor reassured her that it was unlikely, but it was a memorable moment. I remember how very worried this mother was, how convinced she was that any problem might be related to the special conception.
Check out Comeau's essay, and be sure to watch the video interview, too. I love what she says about calling IVF babies "test tube babies." That woman's got spunk, and I love it.
