First baby from eggs stored on ice

AN AUCKLAND mum is the first Kiwi to have a baby created by storing her eggs on ice.

The healthy one-month-old boy is the third child of the couple, who got a big surprise to learn after his birth that his rare conception made him the country’s second frozenegg baby – and the first in which the eggs were stored.

‘‘He’s this groundbreaking little guy,’’ said his proud mum.

The first frozen- egg baby was born in New Zealand two years ago, but that family have never spoken publicly. Unplanned circumstances during their in- vitro fertilisation treatment meant the woman’s eggs had to be frozen briefly. Another woman is due to give birth to New Zealand’s third frozen- egg baby this month.

However, the Auckland motherof- three purposely chose eggfreezing for her latest child and wanted to share her story publicly to offer hope to others considering it.

‘‘It’s very heartening to know it is possible. I would certainly recommend it, especially if you are single and you haven’t met ‘that’ person yet, but want a family, definitely consider it. And do it sooner rather than later.’’

She was in her mid-30s when she met her husband-to-be. After they married, they tried unsuccessfully for a baby for nearly a year before turning to an Auckland fertility clinic for help. ‘‘I was 37 by then and my clock was ticking a wee bit.’’

Tests showed there was nothing preventing them from conceiving, but after initial fertility treatment failed, they tried IVF. It worked and their first son was born nearly four years ago. A year later, they started trying again with their remaining five frozen embryos and succeeded on their final attempt, having their daughter nearly two years ago.

A few months later, they embarked on a second cycle of IVF to try for a third child.

That time, her specialist collected 11 eggs, but the couple decided to fertilise only six and freeze the rest.

Only a few embryos were created from the fertilised eggs, but all failed to take when implanted.

Their five frozen eggs offered the last chance, and were thawed after spending three or four months frozen, but only two were successfully fertilised.

Both embryos were implanted at the same time and one was successful.

‘‘He has completed our family. We feel incredibly lucky,’’ the now 42-year-old mum said of her newborn son.

It cost the family about $20,000 for the two IVF cycles, plus extra fees for a private obstetrician.

‘‘It’s been worth every single bit of it for us. It’s allowed us that wonderful dream of having three children. Each of them are our little miracles, but he, especially, is our extra little miracle.’’

Auckland Gynaecology Group consultant gynaecologist Dr Guy Gudex said women turned to egg-freezing for various reasons, mostly to preserve their fertility for the future because they were single, were not in a position to have children or prior to cancer treatment, which could destroy their fertility.

A few also chose it for ethical or religious reasons to avoid creating lots of frozen embryos.

He said it was also an option for couples undergoing IVF if the man was unable to produce sperm when his partner’s eggs were collected.

Fertility Associates chairwoman Dr Mary Birdsall, an expert in egg freezing, said about 40 to 50 women froze their eggs each year.