Mother Warns of Risks After Son’s Progress Concerns Linked to Facebook Donor
A woman in teh United Kingdom is raising concerns about the potential risks of unregulated donor insemination after her son, born via a donor she connected with on Facebook, exhibits developmental delays. The mother, identified as Coldman, underwent four inseminations at the donor’s home in Yorkshire to achieve pregnancy, ultimately giving birth to Felum Anthony Ryan in April 2022.
Coldman recounts making “several trips” to the donor’s house over six months to collect samples. The insemination process took place in a basement room described as resembling a waiting room, were she would wait 20 minutes after submission before the donor would return.
While she successfully conceived, Coldman now expresses regret over the method, citing a lack of medical oversight, unknown health history of the donor, and potential legal and psychological risks. “I do not recommend this method,” she stated, adding she was never fully aware of the donor’s background.
Currently, 2-year-old Felum does not communicate verbally and does not demonstrate typical danger awareness for his age. coldman has initiated medical evaluations to determine if he is on the autism spectrum, though a diagnosis is pending. She has already modified her home for his safety, removing furniture from his room, and plans to pursue language therapies and hearing tests.
Coldman suspects a genetic link between Felum’s development and the donor, noting she herself exhibits no neurodivergent traits. This belief has been strengthened by contact with othre mothers who used the same donor and report similar developmental characteristics in thier children.
The case highlights the potential dangers of seeking reproductive assistance outside of established healthcare systems. Coldman reiterates that this type of insemination “implies important risks and can have serious long-term consequences.”