Tracey, 26, from Melbourne, Victoria, opens up about her familyโs fertility struggle.
I swirled my glass of wine and cocked my head at Mum.
โReally?โ I said. โYou want another baby?โ
I had just come back from my honeymoon.
Mum, my sister Jade and I were close.
She had raised us on her own after my dad left when I was little.
She was 44 and had me when she was 19 so she was a young mum, and more like a mate than a mother.
For years, she had devoted all her time and energy to raising Jade and me.
But a few years before, sheโd met a lovely guy called Brad, 32.
They married and she was happier than weโd ever known her to be.
Still, I was shocked that she wanted to add to the family.
โWell, Brad doesnโt have kids and now that youโve all moved out thereโs room for another bub,โ Mum mused.
Then her eyes misted up.
โTrouble is, weโve been trying for ages and nothing is happening.โ
My reservations dissolved seeing her upset.
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Mum wanted to create a family with Brad. (Image: Getty)
She told me theyโd been to a fertility clinic and had been told that IVF was their only option.
But they couldnโt afford it.
Later that night, I told my new husband, Kyle, about it.
Kyle and I were both 26 and had good jobs.
I worked as a secretary in the city and Kyle ran his own plumbing business.
โDo you think we could help them?โ I asked him.
I wasnโt sure what his reaction would be, but he immediately agreed.
I kissed him gratefully.
โWeโll have to do it anonymously, though,โ I told him.
โMum would never accept the money from us. Sheโs way too proud.โ
A few days later Mum called me up excitedly.
โYouโll never guess whatโs just happened,โ she cried. โSome kind soul has donated all the money we need to have IVF.โ
She told me that a cheque had arrived in the post with a typed note saying they hoped her dreams for having a baby would soon come true.
โWow, thatโs incredible,โ I said, winking at Kyle.
To my annoyance, Mum thought it was Jade who donated it! Jade was single, and had a good job as a supervisor at Coles.
READ THIS NEXT: โI fell for my husbandโs girlfriend, and now weโre all having a baby together!โ
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I couldnโt bring myself to meet her little boy. (Image: Getty)
โShe denies it of course,โ Mum continued. โBut itโs just so wonderful.โ
I silently blew a kiss at Kyle.
It was so lovely to hear Mum back to her upbeat self.
Mum had to have hormone injections to get her body ready.
Then an egg was retrieved and combined with Bradโs sperm in a lab.
On Christmas Eve, she went in for the transfer.
The next day, Mum refused to drink any bubbly with her Christmas roast, in case she was pregnant.
Two weeks later, came the news we were waiting for.
โIโm pregnant,โ Mum cried happily. โIsnโt that the best Christmas present ever?โ
I was so thrilled for her.
But as the months passed and her tummy grew, I felt a little jealous.
Kyle and I had been trying for our own baby for three years and nothing had happened.
![](https://api.photon.aremedia.net.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/now/2018/12/05/1543985578000_4.jpg?resize=1024%2C854)
Kyle and I had been trying for a baby for three years. (Image: Getty)
Now Kyle had effectively bought Mum a baby for Christmas, but we were still waiting.
I plastered on a smile every time Mum gushed about her scans or the baby kicking.
My mood got so bad that it took me a few days after her son was born to muster up the courage to meet him.
โHe looks like you did as a bub,โ Mum cooed.
I had to look away so she couldnโt see my tears.
Afterwards I picked a fight with Kyle.
โI fell in love with my sperm donor!โ
Listen to the Take 5 Ripper Real Life podcast below to hear Aminahโs story!
โShe makes me feel sick,โ I snapped. โYour money made her pregnant. How about doing the same for me?โ
A year passed and I hardly visited Mum and the new baby.
I couldnโt bring myself to.
โWhatโs up with you? Mum misses you,โ Jade told me.
โTough,โ I said bitterly.
I couldnโt tell her the truth because sheโd tell Mum.
Christmas came and we spent the holiday with Kyleโs family that year.
Then three weeks later I started to feel ill. My boobs were sore, too.
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After so long, Kyle and I were amazed when we found out. (Image: Getty)
With shaking hands, I took a pregnancy test and fell to my knees.
โFinally,โ I cried, sobbing.
We went to see my GP who worked out that my date of conception had been Christmas Day.
A year to the day since Mum had done the same!
Armed with a picture of my scan, I knocked on Mumโs door.
โTracey!โ she cried, holding a gorgeous little boy.
โHi Brandon,โ I said, tears filling my eyes.
I showed Mum the scan image.
โIโve been a terrible daughter,โ I said. โI was too jealous to face you.โ
We hugged and cried. Now, Iโve just given birth to my own daughter, Kaytie.
This Christmas, we will all celebrate together.
Iโm so happy we are all close again.
When the time is right, Iโll tell Mum that my husband got us both pregnant on Christmas Day, but for now, Iโll just count our blessings.