..Topic: IVF babies shouldn't get babyshowers!..

So yesterday on my way to work I was listening to the radio(99.5 the Kane Show) and the topic of IVF babies and baby showers came up. This lady called in asking for their opinion if it was right or not that her friend was having a baby shower for her baby that was made through IVF! I was appalled. I couldn't believe what she was saying. She stated that she thinks that IVF babies are not worthy of baby showers because they were conceived in a dish. Are you freaking kidding me? It's a BABY no matter how it was conceived or where it came from. It's a miracle and a blessing that couples are able to have a child through IVF. The baby is no different than one conceived naturally. I hate the way some people view infertility treatments. Just makes me sick.

I know for my husband and I, we are blessed to have been given another opportunity to try IVF again. We are one of those unlucky couples who cannot conceive naturally and without infertility treatments, we would not be able to have a child of our own. How can this be considered wrong? My husbands family is very Catholic. I was baptized Catholic about a year ago to be married in a Catholic Church with a full mass. I was raised protestant and still consider myself a protestant. I had to go through 9 months of classes in order to be baptized. Of course the topic of birth control and conceiving came up. Birth Control is looked down upon and IVF is not accepted. They believe that if God wanted you and your husband to have children, you would. If your infertile, seeking out infertility treatments is against what the Catholic church believes. They believe you should accept not being able to have children and accept your life without them. I think adoption is ok in the Catholic Church, but I'm not positive. Knowing this information, it makes me really nervous and uncomfortable for his family members to find out how we conceived our child. It's not that we want to keep it a secret, we just don't want to hear their opinions in how wrong we are. It's not about them, it's about what my husband and I want and what we believe. His close family members, are supportive and my family is very supportive. Ignorant people really bother me and however my baby is conceived it deserves to be celebrated! My apologies if I have explained wrong what Catholics believe . This is what I was taught from the Church I was married in. I don't have bad things to say about the Catholic faith, I just don't agree with some of their teachings.

I hope that people can be more accepting of babies born by infertility treatments. It's such a controversial issue and it really shouldn't be. Thankfully, for the most part the people that I have shared my story with understand and support us. Our baby will be just as loved as if it were conceived naturally!

It's my journey, my decision and my choice to go down this path of IVF and I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't think this is what God wanted for us! I truly believe this. This wasn't an easy decision to make. We are so excited for this next journey and are ready to embrace everything that comes with it!

Lauren