any info will help :-)

[millara]

Hi all.
Im new here and my partner and i are looking to start our family in 12 months or so. I am starting my research etc now so when the time comes im fully prepared and know what to expect (well as much as i can anyway).

I have so many questions to ask but my main ones are.

we live in SA and, due to it being ancient in its legislation, we will have to travel interstate to have DI done. What are the available clinics in other states that cater for lesbian inseminations? Which ones are reccomended or not recomended?

How long does the process take. As i said, im not going to be TTC for at least 12 months but if the waiting times are 12 months, is it worth getting the ball rolling now rather than later.

For those that used known donors and DIY, how did you go tracking the times you ovulated? This is my biggest concern with DIY (other than not having a donor lol)

sorry for all the questions. Its such an overwhelming, but totally exciting process that i am so keen to soak up as much information as i can.

Thanks in advance for any help

Hi Millara,

We have chosen home insemination so cant really help you on the Victorian clinic situation but there is plenty of info online as well a few couples on this forum who could help you out, just have to wait til they are online next. We are starting our first round of home insemination next week, it has been a long time coming and we are pretty excited. I have been tracking my cycle quite easily with ovulation test strips. I used a few brands but have found Forelife to work best. I start testing about day 11and its positive by day 13, after that dont need to keep testing. I have found this to be the most reliable method as I ovulate on day 14 of 28 day cycle. Have also had blood tests for hormones to ensure I am ovulating on the correct day and made sure I had all my vaccinations and what not. I was taking my temperature each morning but I work shift work so found it quite difficult to stick to so gave that up and also checking for clear mucus is also quite reliable. But as I've said there is plenty of info out there and also here on belly belly. Pride and joy online is something you could look for, its got heaps of info for Victorian lesbians TTC. All the best girls,

Lea n Sel

[Nurse27]

Hi Millara,

We are from SA too, and can totally relate to the antiquated laws! However in saying that - it was in the paper this week that the laws are being debated and are set to change in the coming months. With the change in Victorian laws this week, it leaves SA as the only state limiting access to reproduction technology.

We are going through Flinders reproductive medicine and started our journey there last week... We hope to start the actual TTC process in february/march next year. Just for you to note if you do end up going through reproductive technology in SA - Flinders is MUCH cheaper than Repromed at this stage - Repromed have increased their processing fee to $10,000 regardless of if you have your own donor or need donor sperm, plus then charge for each cycle on top of that

In regards to picking a donor if going for a DIY donor make sure you spend plenty of time with them, and make sure you are all on the same page about parenting rights/contact rights/responsibilities. We had a donor that we thought was ok and then he became a bit strange and wanted much more contact than we initially thought - including 'donor's day' cards, holiday visits, and family picnics with him and other mums he had helped. So we opted to move on from him! It is important to protect yourselves as much as possible from any future issues.

Here's to hoping that by the time you decide to start TTC the laws will have been adjusted and you can stay in SA to get pregnant. Feel free to PM us if you want to chat or ask anything

[aimz78]

Hi millara and welcome to BB
Just wanted to wish you all the best on your TTC journey and beyond.
BB is full of great info and amazing people

[sareeb]

i found some intereting and helpful site her's just a few ther is loads more info out there and in here just and and you shall receive!
At-Home Insemination Instructions - Fertility Plus
Alternative Insemination (Artificial Insemination) - Overview - lgbthealthchannel
Welcome to the Women's - The Royal Women's Hospital Victoria Australia
Mother and Baby, conception, pregnancy, birth, baby, babies, parenting, family, competitions, community, forums, shopping
Over The Rainbow
Sperm donors UK, USA, Australia- be a sperm donor, free sperm donation (self-insemination) lesbian, infertile couples
i hope these sites help someone good luck everyone

[millara]

Thanks so much for all the help.

There is so much to learn and look at isnt there.

I was going to start tracking my temp's and trying to find my ovulation times but I also work shift work so it looks like ill be peeing a lot :-)

Nurse27, thanks for the offer of PMing you. I would love to chat about things with someone local. How do i PM on this forum? I tried clicking on your name but it says im not authorised ???? :-) *hides* im not very computer literate.

[millara]

Opps forgot to ask....At Flinders, are they accepting people who want to use an unknown donor from them (eg arent bringing in their 'own' sperm) are medically 'fertile' and in a lesbian relationship?????

Sorry, your all going to be sick of my millions of questions soon

[DrGirl72]

Hi Millara, Hi we are also in SA and are going through repromed (we were lucky enough to start with them before they upped their donor fee to $10K). We have a known donor but after 18months of ttc ourselves at home we have gone down the ivf path. Our first cycle in nov was a bfn and we are starting our 2nd round in a couple of weeks. In SA you cannot access any ART from any group unless you are medically infertile. This is regardless of whether you are using known/unknow donor sperm. Good luck on your journey.

[Nurse27]

Originally Posted by millara

Sorry, your all going to be sick of my millions of questions soon

Lol! I never get sick of questions it's the only way people learn by asking about what they want to know

Like DrGirl has already said, the current laws in SA mean that a healthy lesbian can't access ART, however I read in the paper a couple of weeks ago that this was set to change in the new year, because a healthy widow has challenged the laws, and proven them to be discriminatory against 'socially infertile' women. So once that is corrected any woman gay, straight, partnered or single should be able to legally access ART in SA.

In regards to the PM thing - I am not authorised either lol, but you can try emailing me at mummajandk at internode dot on dot net


DrGirl we will be in contact very soon - have had family dramas to contend with this week but still eager to catch up with you Wishing you the best of luck with your next cycle

[D&M]

hello Millara

welcome to bellybelly, you will learn so much here from others who are going down the same paths as you, some have already and some like myself and my DP are still waiting for the right timing to happen so, goodluck with your research and I look forward to reading your journey. I purchased a book months ago, called, * the ultimate guide to pregnancy for lesbians* , and although it is american, it has some really good tips and advice. you can purchase it online.

tc

[millara]

Hey thanks guys. Your help is really appreciated.

D&M: i have seen that book, and other similar ones online. I think that may be our next purchase. Early christmas pressent :-)

Thanks again for all the great help.

We purchased that book early on and highly recommend it. I wasnt sure it would be helpful because it was american but it was really down to earth and practical. cheers

Hi everyone, I'm new on this. My partner and I are also trying for our first time. I'm a little nervous but excited at the same time. We're getting our referral just after christmas to get the ball rolling with IUI after attempts using a friend's sperm the last few months. This site seems really good and it'll be good to talk with other couples who have been there or going through the same thing. Any advice for what our child could call my partner. I'll be the birth mother and going by Mummy but she doesn't want to be called Mum or Ma or anything. Any suggestions??

[D&M]

hello there, welcome MissNarny gosh its good to see so many new folk in here!
where abouts are you located? are you going to be DIY or from a clinic? we were planning on DIY but we have changed our minds over the last 12 months. as far as what your partners title should be. ive no idea, some folk in here have diff opinions, my partner will be called just her name in the beginning and we are going to leave the rest up to fate

anyway, I hope you enjoyed your xmas everyone

wonderful news Lea and selena, fabulous start to the new year, congratulations, I look forward to reading your story unfold over the next 9 months wootwoot

tc everyone and have a wonderful newyear xx

Hello everyone,

Just an update, as I have posted in another forum about it. Well after we got our we waited until the day AF was to arrive before testing again, we used another brand and it was but no AF. Very puzzling because now after AF was 2 days late I received very light pinky brown spotting when I wipe (sorry for TMI) then it stopped then CM and now very light pink watery stuff on the toilet paper no bigger than a 20 cent piece. Its not there every time, just a few times a day. We are confused as hell since my periods are always and I mean always like clockwork and the bleeding is different. What we have been hoping is its implantation bleeding and the bub just implanted a bit late but I dunno really. We've decided that tomorrow I will go to the docs and get this torturous time overwith. Get a blood test to find out for sure. Still getting lots of other pregnancy symptoms so this isnt the start of an early loss.

Hoping everyone in their TWW or whatever else is staying sane. Cheers and have a great new year!

[babysteps]

Welcome Millara,

WA has fairly progressive laws in relation to AC and gay/lesbian parenting which were established about 5 or 6 years ago, and there are a number of clinics in Perth which are popular with lesbians (Pivet, Hollywood, Concept).

Good luck with your decision.

[millara]

Babysteps: thanks for the welcome. Its good to know there are so many options out there as far as clinics. If only SA would get with the times....

[millara]

Hey guys,

Just a quick question. For those that purchased the book "the ultimate guide to pregnancy for lesbians", where did you get it from.

I have seen it on amazon and tried ordering it from angus and robertson online but their server has issues on the final page of payment....

did you buy it from overseas or is there an australian supplier you got it from?

Thanks guys...im keen to do a little "light" reading lol.

P.S. hope everyone is having a good new year.