In the scenic setting of Hluhluwe in KwaZulu-Natal, a love story and a shared dream blossomed between Nina and Kersti - a dream to bring a child into their family. As two women, Nina and Kersti Butler knew that growing their family would not be easy. This article documents their perseverance as they wrestled through obstacles and finally enjoyed their IVF miracle.
The Rollercoaster Fertility Journey Begins
Any couple giddy with the thought of starting a family can appreciate the many decisions that need to be made. For Nina and Kersti, a same-sex couple, that would include exploring alternative methods of conception and deciding who would carry their baby. Nina decided to try first.
However, their initial efforts were met with disappointment, as their first try at artificial insemination did not result in a successful pregnancy. Nina tried two more times before they decided to switch roles and have Kersti try. After two attempts, Kersti encountered the same fate.
It was a difficult and trying time as the couple lived in (Hoedspruit) and had to travel to Johannesburg for the procedures, often at short notice due to their ovulation period. This meant the couple had to arrange time off from work at short notice.
"It was difficult. There was also no personal touch at the clinic in Johannesburg, and we were just a number. As a result, anxiety and stress started taking a toll," says Nina.
By 2016, they had spent over R70 000 on each procedure. At this point, Nina and Kersti decided to take a break and regain perspective.
Following a two-year break from trying to conceive, Nina and Kersti decided to look for a different fertility clinic closer to home.
"We found a doctor in Tzaneen that enabled us to take the donor sperm and do the procedure at home. We tried another two times, but it wasn't meant to be," says Kersti.
"We then found a different fertility clinic in 2018 in Polokwane and tried twice there. This was also difficult as, due to work commitments, Kersti had to drive to the clinic alone. It just didn't feel right," adds Nina.
By now, they clearly understood that their road to parenthood would not be a simple straight line. Their determination eventually led them to Nelspruit Surgiclinic Fertility in February 2019. There, they found the compassionate and personalised care they had been missing in their fertility journey under the guidance of Cornelia van Zyl and Dr Joubert.
"We cannot say thank you enough to Dr. Joubert and Cornelia at Surgiclinic for their support. After so many years of trying and hope spreading thin, they have helped with our miracle baby."
Trying Something New
At Surgiclinic, they found a new sense of hope and, more importantly, solutions. Dr Joubert was the first doctor to investigate the possibility of any medical reasons that might prevent their conception.
"He was the first doctor to do any tests to see if either of us had a medical problem that was stopping us from conceiving. We felt comfortable from the start," says Kersti.
"He told us that while Kersti's eggs weren't healthy, mine were. Dr Joubert always found a solution and was very encouraging and passionate to make it work," adds Nina.
Encouraged by this, they decided to try in vitro fertilisation. "The first time, we had 15 eggs extracted and used nine. After five days, two of my eggs were implanted into Kersti, but it was unsuccessful," says Nina. "On our second attempt, three eggs were implanted into me, but this was also unsuccessful," adds Kersti.
That's when the couple decided they needed to take another break from trying to conceive and save money for another try.
Not wanting to give up on their dream, Kersti and Nina decided to try one last time for their IVF miracle. "We made the decision in the new year, and on our wedding anniversary, 3 May 2022, we went for our egg retrieval procedure, then our implantation procedure was on Mother's Day; this could not have been any more special for us," says Kersti.
"Cornelia, the embryologist, was fantastic, encouraging, warm, and so welcoming, and the doctors were available to us to ask questions at any time," says Nina.
"This time, we both decided to try, with the encouragement of Dr Joubert, just to up our chances as both our conditions were great. I went through the treatment and got six eggs, and the 2 eggs were implanted into both of us at the same time," she adds.
Following the implantations, Nina's mum helped the couple for several days so they could lie down and rest per Dr Joubert's instructions.
"We had to wait 10 days – which were the longest ten days of our lives – to see if either of us was pregnant," says Nina. While Nina's cycle started, Kersti's didn't, and she went for a blood test after 10 days. "I had the Lancet app on my phone, and in the middle of the night, the results were loaded. I was pregnant with Nina's egg," says Kersti.
The couple had to wait another two days for a second blood test to confirm the positive result, they were over the moon! Kersti and Nina's baby – nicknamed Bushbaby by Cornelia, as both work in the bush and love nature – was on the way! Overwhelmed by emotions, Kersti remembered, 'We were really emotional when we found out that we were pregnant and were so scared to tell anyone, so we waited until we were 10 weeks.'
'Both of our mums were over the moon. Not long after, Kersti's mum sadly passed away. Before she died, she was convinced that Kersti was carrying a boy… She was right!' says Nina.
At 23 weeks, Dr. Joubert rang up Nina's sister-in-law to share their baby's gender so that she could plan a 'gender reveal'. 'Nina had always wished for a son,' Kersti reminisces. 'We had a cake, balloons, and a blue flare, and she was overcome with emotion as a blue flare lit the skies.'
Kersti and Nina are grateful to Dr. Joubert and Cornelia at Surgiclinic, who supported them throughout this tumultuous journey. 'We cannot say thank you enough to Dr Joubert and Cornelia at SurgiClinic for their support. After so many years of trying and hope spreading thin, they have helped with our miracle baby. Our families and close friends, even our employer, have been amazing with their support on our journey. Everyone is extremely excited,' Nina stated."
Every couple's journey to parenthood is unique and for some it can be a really difficult and long road. Stories like Nina's and Kersti's touch our hearts with their extraordinary resilience and unwavering hope. They are a reminder of the power of perseverance and the importance of personalised fertility care. Life-changing miracles are possible when hope meets the right fertility expertise.