Stockholm,Sweden – At 47,Sara is expecting a baby girl after a decade-long pause,made possible by advancements in egg freezing technology. The pregnancy comes after a fertilized egg, stored since January 1, 2019, was successfully implanted.
Sara reports experiencing fatigue and joint discharge, but overall finds the pregnancy surprisingly manageable. She notes it took time to fully grasp the reality of carrying a child, stating, “Now it is slowly starting to sink in that it is for real. In the beginning, I wondered if it was really a child in there.” The delivery is scheduled for October 19th, and Sara and her partner, Patrik, are preparing to re-enter toddlerhood.
The pregnancy highlights the evolving landscape of reproductive medicine. As 2019, Swedish law allows for fertilized eggs to be stored frozen for a maximum of ten years, extendable with approval from The National Board of Health and Welfare for medical reasons. Karin persdotter Eberg, head of care for reproductive medicine at Karolinska University Hospital, explained to Aftonbladet that egg freezing extends a woman’s fertile period, and is often funded by the county council for treatments like cancer therapy. Individuals pursuing egg freezing for social reasons typically cover the costs at private clinics.
The process involves ovarian stimulation to develop multiple eggs, followed by retrieval via a thin needle. Mature eggs are then assessed by embryologists and stored in liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees Celsius. Sara expressed her amazement at the technology, saying, “It is so cool that you can be frozen for ten years and that heart and othre organs still work. It’s staggering.” She describes the prospect of motherhood again as “a puzzle piece that has fallen into place,” and anticipates “participat[ing] in the immense love you feel for a child again.”
