A woman has given birth after spending about $30 on her first attempt to artificially inseminate herself with donor sperm from the comfort of her home.
Bailey Ennis, 24, decided to go it alone and have a baby via a sperm donor in September 2021 as she was desperate to be a mother and didn't desire a relationship.
She had always wanted to have a child and found an experienced donor online who lived nearby. She purchased an artificial insemination kit for $30 and became pregnant in October 2021. She welcomed a little boy, named Lorenzo, on July 2, 2022, at 6:54 p.m, who weighed 5.2 pounds.
Now, Ennis is settling into life as a stay-at-home single mom and says she "couldn't be happier" with her decision to go it alone.
Ennis, who hails from south London, England, said: "Having a baby by myself is the best thing I have ever done.
"Being a mom is wonderful and I am so happy I decided to go it alone. I've wanted to be a mom since I was a teenager and as a lesbian, I always knew it would need to be via artificial insemination. I didn't have a desire to be in a relationship. I just wanted to have a baby. Lorenzo is amazing and looks just like me.
"I came to the realization that I didn't want to be in a relationship to have a baby.
"I knew I could just do it by myself."
Ennis used a sperm donor website and sifted through profiles to find someone with lots of experience and who was healthy.
"I wasn't looking for particular features, but I just wanted someone trustworthy and as healthy as possible," she said.
"I found someone who had a healthy medical record and had been a donor for two others before for two LGBTQ couples. I found my donor and we WhatsApped and met up for a coffee before both agreeing he would be my donor. He has agreed to be my donor for as many children as I would like. I wanted to have blood-related siblings."
Ennis then purchased an artificial insemination kit online for $30 and let her donor come over to her home when her menstrual cycle had lined up.
"It was really easy and not awkward at all," Ennis said. "He brought over his donation and then helped me use the kit. It has sterile cups, syringes, ovulation tests and that's it."
Ennis found out she was pregnant on October 31, 2021.
"I was so insanely happy," she said. "It was all I had ever wanted in life."
Ennis had a smooth pregnancy and went into early labor at 38 weeks and five days.
"I was having a few contractions for a few days before I went into hospital," she said.
"Then he came very quickly. I did all alone and didn't have a birthing partner. I thought he was gorgeous as soon as I saw him."
Lorenzo was born weighing 5.2 pounds on July 2, 2022 and the pair stayed in the hospital for two days to check his growth before they were able to come home on July 4.
"He has my nose, big eyes like mine and my brown hair," Ennis said. "He smiles when he passes wind it's really cute. I give the donor updates so he can hear about Lorenzo. Lorenzo will know about the donor and will be able to meet him at any point of his life.
Ennis added, "He is definitely going to have siblings when I'm ready. I'm so comfortable and happy being a single mom."
Produced in association with SWNS.
This story was provided to Newsweek by Zenger News.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
