Episode 7: Same-Sex Parenting, with Kadiuska Conway

KEY TOPICS: 3 births, same-sex couple, IVF, twins, placenta previa, caesarean, Covid, postnatal depression, advanced maternal age

We’re meeting Kadiuska in this episode, a wife and mother of three. Kadi is one half of our first same-sex couple on the podcast, and she gave birth to their daughter in 2016 and boy/girl twins in 2022, with the assistance of a Spanish fertility clinic. She talks us through what it’s like to grow a family within a same-sex relationship and describes the many steps and tests involved, including selecting a sperm donor for the IVF process. Kadi speaks candidly about their very different experiences at the clinic pre- and post- pandemic, including her determination to maximise their chances of pregnancy once she was classed as a 'geriatric' mother, and the crushing disappointment of an unsuccessful cycle. She describes the huge support from her wife and family throughout the journeys.

Kadi had very different labours; her first baby was born naturally and quickly, while for the twins, placenta previa led to an elective caesarean at 36 weeks. She faced medical complications in the pregnancies (including being hospitalised with Covid), and describes the pressure she felt to breastfeed - which she believes contributed to postnatal depression after her first child. Kadi speaks with humour about the new life skill she learned while pregnant, how they unexpectedly discovered the gender of their first child... and her extreme squeamishness for some medical procedures! There's a lovely story about the children's names towards the end of this episode too.

This is a fascinating insight into the options and costs involved in the IVF journey for a same-sex couple, as well as what it's like to raise twins. I was struck by Kadi's determination and strong personality that shone through in this episode (recorded November 2024), and she hopes that sharing her experience may help other same-sex couples navigate the process. Thanks for sharing, Kadi!

Find more about Kadi's story on Facebook and Instagram: born_on_the_rock

Find 'Born on the Rock: Gibraltar Birth Stories' on Facebook and Instagram for more

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