Empowering children with the knowledge of human conception

As parents, we are obliged to give our children the gift of knowledge.

To understand how they were conceived and how they were born is of huge importance to kids.

When we empower our children with the information on conception, it promotes trust, maturity and a huge sense of responsibility.

I have three children. Two of which were naturally conceived, and my third was an IVF baby.

I had the birds and the bees talk with my girls when they were each 8 years old. They had been hearing things at school, funny words and odd references. It is my job as their mother to help them understand human reproduction.

We giggled at the general visual oddness of penis’s and we awed at the incredible lengths our bodies will go to to create new life. I used an illustrated book with pictures to read through together.

Our candid chat did great things for our relationship. They know they can come to me with their weird questions and I am comfortable knowing that they will dismiss the incorrect rubbish they hear in the school yard.

My son is a completely different kettle of fish. Of course I will give him the birds and the bees talk, but he was created outside of my body.

Incredibly, he was harvested as an egg and placed together with the sperm of his father, he became an embryo under perfect conditions in a laboratory, and was then frozen. He was thawed and placed back inside of my body.

I realised that this topic required an illustrated book of its own!

My amazing friend has four naturally conceived children of her own and also became the first legal altruistic (no financial gain) surrogate of twin baby girls in Queensland in 2011.

I asked if she would like to co-author this book with me, she jumped at the chance and we began writing it that same day.

We called it ‘I Am Extra Special – An IVF Story’.

Children_conception_610

Our book took six months to write, illustrate, edit and print. We self published and have created a website online for customers to buy their copies. I look forward to the day that I can read my son his own copy of ‘An IVF Story’.

Without IVF, approximately 1 in 5 woman suffering infertility wouldnt have their own ‘extra special’ children in their lives. It is our pleasure to have written our IVF children’s story book to assist parents when they decide to start the conversation.

Next stop for us. ‘I Am Extra Special – How To Make a Baby’ ie: The Birds and the Bees!

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46 Comments

- - mom81879 said
  - 22 Nov 2015
    8:08 pm
When they’re little, I don’t get why a parent would feel the need to tell their kids they were IVF babies. Yeah, when they’re older, but why take the chance of them suffering in sone way with this knowledge too young?

- - smiles said
  - 30 Apr 2015
    2:30 pm
I love this. IVF is so common now and a book like this will be used by a lot of famiies. Well done.

- - jodiev1980 said
  - 26 Feb 2015
    4:32 pm
I tell my kids that God created everyone to be unique.

- - GeoEllie said
  - 31 Jan 2015
    7:06 am
Very interesting point of view, I don’t know anyone personally who has gone thru IVF but I can see how this book would be a great resource
- mom94125 replied
  
  18 Oct 2015 , 4:08 pm
  yeah it is not an easy process- ivf.
- - mom94125 said
  - 09 Jan 2015
    4:39 pm
this will be great for so many families out there. nice job

- - matildaspice said
  - 09 Jan 2015
    3:17 pm
Great article, I am sure the book will help countless families.

- - mom111751 said
  - 30 Dec 2014
    11:00 am
What an awesome idea.

- - mle00 said
  - 31 Oct 2014
    10:07 pm
I had never actually thought about the importance of telling IVF children where they came from, I think it’s incredibly beautiful that they will know just how much they were wanted

- - jabelle said
  - 30 Oct 2014
    12:40 pm
My 8 year old just asked yesterday why it was Daddy who had the operation to stop us having any more kids, shouldn’t it have been the mum?!!!

- - mom93821 said
  - 28 Oct 2014
    7:20 pm
Thanks again, have been sharing this article.

- - shortaez said
  - 26 Oct 2014
    1:55 pm
I always tell my children where they came from when they ask

- - tam_watters said
  - 22 Oct 2014
    7:25 pm
I am expecting my first child in Feb thanks to the wonders of IVF. Thanks for sharing your story and your success. Congrats on a wonderful idea.

- - bel said
  - 21 Oct 2014
    8:43 pm
Thanks for your message… I just read and am thrilled by your comments. Such a great day for a boost! Marketing isnt easy when we are looking at such a niche market! Your support is so appreciated!
Our fb page is I Am Extra Special – An IVF Story

- - mom93821 said
  - 21 Oct 2014
    10:32 am
Thanks for sharing this interesting and thoughtful article.
- bel replied
  
  21 Oct 2014 , 8:44 pm
  Thanks for your message… I just read and am thrilled by your comments. Such a great day for a boost! Marketing isnt easy when we are looking at such a niche market! Your support is so appreciated!
  Our fb page is I Am Extra Special – An IVF Story
- - tcha said
  - 06 Oct 2014
    11:11 am
Fabulous – our twins (girl/boy) are IVF babies. Seriously considering getting this book. Will see what the rest of the family think:)
- bel replied
  
  21 Oct 2014 , 8:44 pm
  Thanks for your message… I just read and am thrilled by your comments. Such a great day for a boost! Marketing isnt easy when we are looking at such a niche market! Your support is so appreciated!
  Our fb page is I Am Extra Special – An IVF Story
- - Kate Sander said
  - 29 Sep 2014
    6:25 pm
You may as well give kids the right information if they are hearing bits and pieces of info at school and great to write a kids book on such an important subject.
- bel replied
  
  21 Oct 2014 , 8:45 pm
  Thanks for your message… I just read and am thrilled by your comments. Such a great day for a boost! Marketing isnt easy when we are looking at such a niche market! Your support is so appreciated!
  Our fb page is I Am Extra Special – An IVF Story
- - deborah_osborne said
  - 28 Sep 2014
    9:26 pm
It good open conversation,children need ideas of how we began ,maybe not ivy till older to understand the concept.
- bel replied
  
  21 Oct 2014 , 8:45 pm
  Thanks for your message… I just read and am thrilled by your comments. Such a great day for a boost! Marketing isnt easy when we are looking at such a niche market! Your support is so appreciated!
  Our fb page is I Am Extra Special – An IVF Story
- - cloverstorm said
  - 26 Sep 2014
    2:39 am
That’s pretty cool to publish an inclusive & child-friendly book about IVF.
- bel replied
  
  21 Oct 2014 , 8:46 pm
  Thanks for your message… I just read and am thrilled by your comments. Such a great day for a boost! Marketing isnt easy when we are looking at such a niche market! Your support is so appreciated!
  Our fb page is I Am Extra Special – An IVF Story
- - damish70 said
  - 25 Sep 2014
    9:45 pm
What a great idea & way to explain conception via IVF to a child. Well done
- bel replied
  
  21 Oct 2014 , 8:47 pm
  Thanks for your message… I just read and am thrilled by your comments. Such a great day for a boost! Marketing isnt easy when we are looking at such a niche market! Your support is so appreciated!
  Our fb page is I Am Extra Special – An IVF Story
- - amyabby4 said
  - 25 Sep 2014
    11:25 am
Lots of great ideas thanks.my canvas prints
- bel replied
  
  21 Oct 2014 , 8:47 pm
  Thanks for your message… I just read and am thrilled by your comments. Such a great day for a boost! Marketing isnt easy when we are looking at such a niche market! Your support is so appreciated!
  Our fb page is I Am Extra Special – An IVF Story