A same-sex couple announced they are pregnant at the same time. Lesbian married partners Toby Fleischman and Lindsay Lanciault are both having baby boys and their due dates fall around three weeks apart.
The couple made their announcement via an Instagram post. Both held a sign bearing "It's a boy," and their dog was also in the picture with a "big sister" sign.
"Yes, you read that correctly. We are both having a baby...at the same time," the photo's caption read, as Fleischman wrote. "Well, three weeks apart to be exact," she said, adding she's thrilled she's sharing this experience with her best friend. Their "twin" sons are due in the summer.
A post shared by Toby Fleischman (@tobyfleischman) on Feb 6, 2017 at 7:36am PST
Fertility doctor Dr. Kristin Bendikson call this a parallel pregnancy but it's not something common among lesbian couples. "The overwhelming majority of lesbian couples that I see are usually focused on one person getting pregnant at a time," Bendikson said, per as Pop Sugar.
One pregnancy at a time was what Fleischman and Lanciault initially sought to do when they got married three years ago. Fleischman got pregnant via a sperm donor first in 2015 but she miscarried and lost the baby.
The couple then sought the help of an acupuncturist. Danica Thornberry not only healed Fleischman physically. She was also able to help both women heal emotionally at a time when they were struggling in their relationship.
The couple decided they can both try having a child again and this time do it together especially since they have an unconventional setup. Fleischman eventually conceived again in November 2016. A few weeks later Lanciault also learned she was pregnant. Their story has other lesbian couple sharing their experiences in the difficulties of conceiving as a same-sex couple.
"I wish more women had spoken openly to me about it before and during our process," Fleischman said, as per Babble. "It wasn't until I started sharing the details with some friends that I learned I wasn't alone."
The excited parents said they intend to legally adopt each other's child as a precaution as there are uncertainties among LGBTQ families under President Donald Trump, Redbook reported. They shared that their parallel pregnancy is also rife with highs and lows due to hormone overdrive.
