Influencer Chessie King, 33, has given birth to her second child, a baby boy, with her husband Mathew Carter. King announced the news on Instagram, sharing that her planned homebirth transitioned into a C-section at the hospital.
King explained that during her home labor, she began to feel unwell and decided to go to the hospital with her husband after sensing something was not right. Upon arrival, medical professionals presented her with two options: continue laboring at home for potentially several more days or undergo an emergency cesarean. "The home birth I had visualized for my entire pregnancy disappeared in one conversation," King wrote. "And somehow, we felt completely at peace with it. Because by then my body had been telling me for hours that something wasn't right."
Her son was born safely at 5:15 p.m. after 41 weeks and four days of pregnancy. King, who also has a five-year-old daughter named Auraelia, described her path to having her second child as difficult, having undergone a challenging IVF process that lasted 446 days and involved 86 injections, as well as experiencing a miscarriage.
Reflecting on her fertility journey, King emphasized her desire to reframe the often negative narrative surrounding such struggles. She spoke about the emotional and physical toll of IVF but also highlighted the strengthening of her relationship with her husband. "It's [IVF] a huge toll on your body, physically, mentally, everything," she stated. "But it was the closest Matt and I have ever been in our relationship in 10 years, and it just kind of felt like we were both doing it together."
King also shared her intention to offer hope to others facing similar challenges. "I always just share things online hoping that it gives that solace and that comfort, some optimism and hope," she said. "Because for me when I was looking at IVF on Instagram, I only saw IVF failures. I didn't really see IVF success, and that is the reality of IVF and fertility."
She described her experience with her fertility clinic as supportive, noting they provided significant hope. The cost of IVF, however, was substantial, with King describing the medication alone as "absurdly expensive."
King had announced her pregnancy in December, sharing a video on Instagram expressing gratitude for IVF/ICSI. She acknowledged the nervousness and disbelief, especially after a previous early miscarriage, and extended well wishes to others on similar journeys.
King's journey to motherhood has been marked by openness, including sharing her experiences with her sister Bronte, who was also pregnant. Despite some online criticism, King stated she is not significantly affected by trolling, understanding that her openness invites varied opinions.
King previously planned a homebirth for her second child, having had a C-section for her firstborn, Auraelia.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a medical procedure used to treat infertility. It involves combining eggs and sperm in a laboratory and then transferring the resulting embryo into a woman's uterus. Success rates for IVF can vary depending on factors such as age and the cause of infertility. Guidelines in the UK suggest IVF may be offered on the NHS to women under 43 who have been trying to conceive for two years, though private treatment is also available at a significant cost.