Saga and Felicia Wahlström from Sweden are a lesbian couple and would like to have offspring. They thought about how they could both become the biological mother of their future child. They share their plans on Instagram.
Saga and Felicia Wahlström are a lesbian couple from Västerås, Sweden, and have been married since December 2020. Now they have the desire to start a family. When considering who should be the biological mother of the future child, they had an unusual idea: both. But how is that supposed to work?
The plan sounds simple: Saga wants Felicia to insert a fertilized egg. So, in practical terms, they would both be biological mothers – one by her genetics and the other because she carried the child. Until then, however, there are some bureaucratic hurdles to overcome. The two share the process on the "Eggsharing" Instagram account.
Felicia had to be recognized as a donor
Since 2019, so-called double donation has been allowed in Sweden, in which a woman is given an egg cell from another person that has previously been fertilized with donor sperm. This method is actually intended for couples in whom both the man and the woman are sterile. In order to be eligible for this at all, Felicia first had to be recognized as a donor by the Swedish authorities. The applications are now through and she has frozen 13 of her eggs waiting to be fertilized. The star the couple now explained that they only have to fill out the last few applications before the artificial insemination can be carried out.
"In Sweden you have to be healthy and between 23 and 36 years old to be considered an egg donor," says Saga Wahlström. One should not suffer from serious physical or mental illnesses. In addition, one must first be examined by a psychologist.
Felicia Wahlström had to overcome a few hurdles: "I had to get tested to make sure I didn't have any infectious diseases. The psychologist went through questions about why you want to become a donor, ascertained financial security, asked questions about childhood, relationship and relationship physical and mental health. After the test results and the approval of the psychologist, I was ready, "said Wahlström. She didn't find the process particularly difficult.
Double donation harbors health risks
The National Board of Health and Welfare in Sweden advises against such a double donation, according to "Aftonbladet", because the health risks are higher here than with a natural pregnancy. One of them is getting sick of pregnancy poisoning. Saga and Felicia Wahlström thought about it.
"We thought about the risks. Much of the research that exists is mostly about the elderly. We don't worry because we are young and fertile," said the couple. Nevertheless, there are only a few clinics that are willing to make such a double donation.
Saga and Felicia finance everything themselves
Saga and Felicia Wahlström tell that in Sweden, under certain conditions, a same-sex couple can also have artificial insemination financed – unlike in Germany, for example. However, this only applies to a double donation if there are medical reasons, which is not the case with both.
Whether you have your own egg cell fertilized or use a donor cell, you only have a limited number of attempts for both if you let your health insurance fund them. Saga and Felicia, on the other hand, pay everything out of their own pocket. "That's why we have as many attempts as we want," says Saga Wahlström. The couple hope to get the same sperm donor for their future children so that the children can be biological siblings.
Egg donation is prohibited in Germany
In Germany, egg donation is prohibited under the Embryo Protection Act. The legislature wants to act primarily in the interests of the child's best interests and guarantee the unambiguousness of motherhood, it says. Problems with finding the child's identity are also to be avoided by the law – because two different women are involved in its creation. In addition, there are the previously mentioned health risks for mother and child.
But artificial insemination is also associated with many bureaucratic and financial hurdles for lesbian couples in Germany. Not only do those interested have to pay for the treatment in Germany themselves; under the law it is not even possible for two women to be mothers of one child. You must choose the route of co-adoption while an (anonymous) sperm donor is registered as the father.
Saga and Felicia Wahlström hope that their story will change something in the world. "It is sad to read how difficult the process is for same-sex couples in other countries. We hope that other governments learn from our history and that something will soon change."
Swell: Instagram, Aftonbladet, familie.de
This article originally appeared on stern.de.