Mom slammed for paying AU$45,000 to choose baby's gender
An Australian woman has defended her decision to travel to America to undergo IVF gender selection to ensure she gives birth to a daughter.
While most pregnant women have to wait 18 to 22 weeks to find out their baby's gender, one woman decided to take things one step further and choose it from the get-go.
Melbourne influencer Caitlin Bailey has sparked controversy after revealing that she spent AU$ 45,000 (R531,824) for IVF gender selection.
She flew to a fertility clinic in America to undergo the procedure. Gender selection is banned in Australia unless it is for the prevention of a medical condition, such as a genetic disorder, which affects gender.
According to My OBGYN, 'Sex selection is only possible when you have embryos through an IVF procedure, as you can't definitively test the gender of an egg or sperm."
It further states that "PGS/PGD (pre-implantation genetic screening/diagnosis) is then used to determine the gender and assess whether there is evidence of a risk associated with a genetic disease. Unwanted or at-risk embryos may be discarded".
Bailey, who is reportedly due in August, is already a mum to two boys and a girl, whom she welcomed naturally.
However, the 31-year-old wanted to ensure her fourth child is a girl
"Everybody gets a brother, everybody gets a sister,” she told The Courier Mail in an interview.
Bailey travelled to the US to choose the sperm donor, have her eggs retrieved, and implant the embryo.
The single mom reportedly chose a sperm donor and had her eggs retrieved when she travelled to America. The embryo was then implanted.
ALSO READ: Australian IVF clinic admits embryo mix-up
Bailey has included her followers in the experience and shared several videos documenting her journey.
The mom revealed on TikTok last year that she had 4 healthy baby girl embryos and 1 healthy baby boy embryo.
"I’ve always wanted 4 and I’d love my kids to grow up together close in age, and I’ve experienced gender disappointment and never want to feel that again, so I decided to take it into my own hands," she said about her decision.
She also defended her controversial decision.
"If there [are] people out there that it could potentially help and not feel so alone, that's why I shared it."
Some people have accused Bailey of "playing God" to get her hands on a "designer baby".
"There’s people out there who are struggling to have a baby. Then there’s Exhibit A above, who is out here picking what gender baby she wants, like she’s picking from a supermarket shelf. Like just LET nature do its course," one Instagram user said.
However, others have come to her defence.
"Why don’t people just take care of their own life? Don’t agree with that? Simply don’t do it. I wouldn’t do it myself but I’m not here blaming anyone that would."
In 2016, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend were also slammed for choosing the gender of their first child, daughter Luna Simone.
"I’ve made this decision. Not only am I having a girl, but I picked the girl from her little embryo. I picked her and was like, ‘Let’s put in the girl,’” Teigen told People magazine.
The couple have since added three children to their family: Miles Theodore, Esti Maxine and Wren Alexander. Their youngest was born via surrogate.
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