'We're pregnant!' First couple to undergo IVF on live TV celebrate success with fertility treatment 

  • Jessica Menkhausen, 33, from St Peters, Missouri, was filmed 16 days ago as eggs were harvested from her ovaries
  • After learning that her IVF worked she says the next three months are a 'very critical time period for the pregnancy, so no more fast food'

By Sadie Whitelocks

PUBLISHED: 10:57 EST, 10 October 2013 | UPDATED: 11:01 EST, 10 October 2013

A woman who made history as the first to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) on live television 16 days ago, has announced that she is pregnant.

Jessica Menkhausen, 33, from St Peters, Missouri, told the Today show this morning that she is 'ecstatic' about the prospect of motherhood, after years of struggling to conceive.

'In the next few weeks we'll do an ultrasound and by that time we'll be able to hear the baby, or babies', heartbeats and hopefully see one or two fetuses in the womb,' she revealed.

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Parents-to-be: Jessica Menkhausen, who made history as the first to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) on live television 16 days ago, has announced that she is pregnant - her fiance Derek Manion says he feels 'overwhelmed'

Parents-to-be: Jessica Menkhausen, who made history as the first to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) on live television, has announced that she is pregnant - her fiance Derek Manion says he feels 'overwhelmed'

She says that her fiance, Derek Manion, has already started to pick out names for their child.

While he would like a boy, or boys, Miss Menkhausen would love to have a boy and girl, because it would be 'the best of both worlds'.

 

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On September 24 she was filmed by Today under anesthesia, as eggs were harvested from her ovaries by ultrasound guidance at St. Luke's Hospital, Missouri.

NBC's Dr. Nancy Snyderman said from inside the operating room: 'Right now Dr Sherman Silber is inserting a micro needle with a little suction into the ovary and each of these black sacks you see really houses an egg. They're being sucked out and being examined behind us.'

IVF process: The 33-year-old is seen in the operating theater as 'good embryos' are transferred into her uterus

IVF process: The 33-year-old is seen in the operating theater as 'good embryos' are transferred into her uterus

Road to motherhood: Dr Sherman Silber shows exactly where he placed the embryos

Road to motherhood: Dr Sherman Silber shows exactly where he placed the embryos

Viewers were then told how Miss Menkhausen's eggs would be transported to the laboratory where her fiance's sperm would be injected into them to start the fertilization process.

Three days later, three 'good embryos' were transferred back into Miss Menkhausen's uterus.

Pre-surgery, Miss Menkhausen said that she wanted to share her journey through fertility treatment to 'enlighten other women who are having the same challenges.'

'I know that the next three months are a very critical time period for the pregnancy, so no more fast food for me'

'It’s also a form of self-enlightenment - sharing my story is helping me deal with some of my own fears, by courageously facing them head on.'

She had battled fertility issues since a teenager. Every month she would experience 'excruciating' menstrual cramps and went on to suffer two ectopic pregnancies in her twenties.

'It took years to get over,' she said. 'I was really glad when we met Dr Silber, he gave us so much hope.'

To pay for the procedure, which can cost up to $17,000 per cycle, she and Mr Manion have been forced to put their wedding on hold until next year.

Creating a baby: Miss Menkhausen's eggs were transported to a laboratory where her fiance's sperm was injected into them to start the fertilization process.

Creating a baby: Miss Menkhausen's eggs were transported to a laboratory where her fiance's sperm was injected into them to start the fertilization process.

Success: Dr Silber holds an image of the embryos he created

Success: Dr Silber holds an image of the embryos he created

Before getting her eggs harvested Miss Menkhausen went through four weeks of pretreatment at St Luke's Hospital.

This saw her be injected with drugs to suppress her natural hormonal cycle and take daily hits of FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) to stimulate the production of eggs.

'Despite the roller coaster, I know that the first time I hear our baby cry, it will be well worth what we have gone through'

Throughout the drug treatment, her progress was monitored via ultrasound scans and blood tests.

The Missouri-based couple said they were determined for their IVF to work first time around, as they used their savings to pay for the procedure and cannot afford another cycle.

Maintaining a positive attitude throughout, Miss Menkhausen, who works as an accountant, said before learning she was pregnant: 'I want to be positive and I think we're going to have twins and they're going to have red hair and blue eyes. That's what we have to keep thinking.'

'Despite the hormone roller coaster, bruising from injections, and the constant "what-if" analysis going on in my head, I know that the first time I hear our baby cry, it will be well worth what we have gone through.'

Revealing the fertility treatment process: A team of medics from St Luke's Hospital in Missouri harvest eggs from Miss Menkhausen with the cameras rolling

Revealing the fertility treatment process: A team of medics from St Luke's Hospital in Missouri harvested eggs from Miss Menkhausen with the cameras rolling on September 24r

Step-by-step process: Before having her eggs harvested Miss Menkhausen had injections to suppress her natural hormonal cycle and daily hits of FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) to stimulate the production of eggs

Step-by-step process: Before having her eggs harvested Miss Menkhausen had injections to suppress her natural hormonal cycle and daily hits of FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) to stimulate the production of eggs

Staying positive: Miss Menkhausen says that she thinks she's going to have twins and with red hair

High hopes: Miss Menkhausen says that she thinks she's going to have twins and with red hair

She and Mr Manion, received a telephone call from Dr Silber this week telling them their IVF had worked.

Miss Menkhausen said that she hopes to show her children the televised recording of her IVF treatment one day, to show them how much we wanted them.'

She added: 'I know that the next three months are a very critical time period for the pregnancy, so no more fast food for me.

'Ultimately were are praying for a safe pregnancy and healthy babies . . . This whole process has been an amazing journey for both of us.'

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If IVF were a new thing this would be interesting, but it has been around forever. Nothing remotely news worthy except this couple should disclose how much they got paid for the tv appearance. Yawn.

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I like this couple sharing their full, baby journey with us. People who can get pregnant easily have no idea what infertile people go through to have a baby. I hoped this would open their eyes, but sadly those fortunate, fertile people are just back on the internet making nasty remarks.

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Oh, please... there is no comparison between a blocked artery and a blocked fallopian tube. If you read the article carefully, you would note that only "good" fertilized eggs were implanted, so-called "bad" fertilized eggs were discarded. That is a problem for those who believe that life begins at conception, many of whom find the celebration of IVF in media offensive. It's not a shallow, ignorant, or hypocritical opinion.

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Surprised about all the negative comments on here - mind your own business re their marital status. Very happy for them, I know yearning for a baby you can't have naturally is heartbreaking. I hope IVF works for me. Inspirational couple

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Disgusting people can't keep private things to themselves any more. Just because something is possible doesn't make it acceptable.

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The 'we' are pregnant thing drives me nuts. She is pregnant, she will be pushing that baby out, get in line Mister.

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Couldn't agree more , the totally ridiculous statement infuriates me ! What part of the morning sickness , leg cramps , never ending heart burn , child birth etc do the men suffer ? !

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I was just about to write that "We're Pregnant" drives me crazy. I think it may be worse than "We're Over the Moon!" It's a close call.

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Fantastic news. Congratulations to them both :-)

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I really hope things work out for them, very brave telling people SO early on, an arguably stupid thing to do.

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What is up with all these married comments?? That is not the subject matter. Please for them I'm currently pregnant via Ivf and its a horrendous experience and guess what I'm not married to the father of my baby. So what.

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TMI Is NOTHING sacred anymore?? Get married! And it is she is pregnant not we are pregnant!!! Unless of course he is pg too!! LOL

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Obviously learning English is not sacred anymore. Appalling grammar.

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