An African American woman from Norwalk is sharing her in vitro fertilization journey, hoping it will become an option for more Black women.
“So, we got married in the summer of 2018 and we were a little older than most, so we were trying very soon after,” said Christa Rider.
Rider says she and her husband Aland were having a tough time getting pregnant, but after her third cycle in the in vitro fertilization process, she had four viable embryos.
“During the IVF process, women are giving themselves daily injections of medication that will stimulate more eggs to grow,” said Rider’s doctor, Shaun Williams, at Illume Fertility in Norwalk.
Williams says the one embryo that was implanted split into two. Less than 1% of IVF pregnancies produce twins.
“It was like emotions of like happy, that again, I can see that’s viable, things were progressing as we hoped, but kind of not anticipating that I would have a set of twins,” said Rider.
On January 8, 2022, Rider delivered healthy twin girls.
“They met each other before I met them. They truly are each other’s best friend,” said Rider.
Harlow and Remington were only about 4 pounds when they were born.
“How did I get so lucky to have such perfect, healthy, wonderful girls?” Rider says.
Rider says women of color don’t typically choose in vitro fertilization because of a combination of access, resources and possibly cultural stigmas.
In vitro fertilization may not be for everyone, but in this case, it was not only successful, it also changed this couple’s life.
“I just cherish every moment I have an opportunity to spend with them,” said Rider.
