A Real Live Donor!

The first in person meeting of the donor:

I’m naturally shy, and try to avoid meeting new people. So this was a big meeting. Luckily, my housemates and their kids were there with me to carry the conversation when I wasn’t able to. He is 13 years younger with me, but props to him for bringing up the awkward topic first. He was kind and generous and thanked me for trusting him with this task.

Thank god for texting, because there are some conversations you just don’t want to have aloud

Freezing faux pas:

So in my ten minute face to face conversation with my donor I didn’t quite cover all the basics, apparently Donor had been saving future donations in the freezer and asked if I wanted all five cups filled up for the first date I was inseminating! I explained more clearly that I only needed one sample each time and needed it to be “fresh” within one hour. This is the most I have ever discussed semen with anyone in my entire life!!!

The passing of the cup

After texting on a time and date, I drove up to his house, never having been there before, knocked and waited. He came to the door and we exchanged quick pleasantries, then he gave me the cup and I was out of there. I drove down the driveway and at the stop sign transferred the sample into a small needleless syringe to reduce air exposure and keep it warm between my legs while driving. Then I drove to my friend’s house about 5 minutes away.

When the RV’s a rockin’ don’t come a knockin’

I wanted a close, private location to inseminate myself. I have friends that volunteered their homes but I wanted my own space that I could access anytime. Then I came up with the perfect solution: my friends Jane and Mary Kay had an RV that is parked in their driveway unless they are camping. I thought it would be comfortable, convenient, private and cozy. So this is where I drove with my little swimmers.

Two days later I repeated this process to cover the entire window of possible ovulation. I chose not to use an ovulation predictor kit because my cycles are so regular, and I hate trying to decide if the line is darker or equal, or wonder if the next test is going to be darker, etc. Also, it can be best to have the swimmers there ready and waiting before the egg actually pops out. I also don’t do the temperature monitoring because I wake up slowly and have trouble remembering to do it. I just counted days and monitored my fertile mucus and cervix position. I was planning on doing day 12 and 14, but my donor wasn’t available until day 13 and 15. These days however matched up better with my fertility signs.