Lesbian couple who are first in UK to give birth to each other’s sons say finding a sperm donor was like ‘using Tinder’

A lesbian couple who gave birth to each other’s sons said looking for a sperm donor was like “using Tinder.”

Emily Patrick, 38, a creative producer, and Kerry Osborn, 35, a teacher, from Hampshire, had two sons named Elvis and Ezra, who born to the couple via IVF.

It is the first time the procedure, known as simultaneous reciprocal IVF, has been tried in Britain.

Elvis was created from Kerry’s egg that was fertilized and implanted in Emily’s uterus, and Ezra was created from Emily’s egg and implanted in Kerry.

Speaking on Lorraine this morning, the couple said they decided to do it this way so they could feel a special bond with each other’s children. They revealed that they wanted their babies’ biological father to “look like them.”

Elvis was created from Kerry’s egg which was fertilized and implanted into Emily and Ezra was created from Emily’s egg and implanted into Kerry

Meet Elvis, 10 weeks, and his 11-day-old brother Ezra, who, along with their mothers Emily Patrick (right) and Kerry Osborn (left), made British history

Emily said: ‘We decided to do it this way, we’d never heard of anyone doing it this way before, we thought it would be really fun to share each other’s journey and be pregnant at the same time.

“And even though we are not genetically linked to the other child, we still share that bond.”

Elvis was born naturally on New Year’s Day weighing 4.5 kg. Ezra arrived via C-section on February 28 weighing 3.5 kg.

The procedure cost the couple £25,000 and is currently unavailable on the NHS.

The duo also opened up about their experiences with the sperm donor process, adding that it was like ‘Tinder’.

“You get minimal information about them and there are a lot of donors, but you have different attributes for each of them,” Emily said.

“We wanted a donor who was very similar to us.”

Kerry added that finding a healthy donor with a good background was the most important thing for the couple.

“It’s important to know your biology and (our kids) are going to have questions and we’re happy to answer them, but we’re hoping to get into that a little bit before they have to ask them.”

Elvis was born naturally on New Year’s Day weighing 4.5 kg. Ezra arrived via C-section on February 28 weighing 3.5kg

Elvis resembles his biological mother Kerry with his big eyes and button nose. Ezra resembles his biological mother Emily with his tuft of red hair (above)

It is the first time the procedure, known as simultaneous reciprocal IVF, has been tried in Britain. Emily pictured on March 6, 2024

Ezra (left) and Elvis (right) baby scans. The two new mothers plan to spend their first ever Mother’s Day at the beach near their home

“One of the things the donor said on their profile was that he would like to talk to them about their biology.”

Emily added: “We will always support them on whatever path they choose to take to find where they come from

Kerry also revealed that things weren’t all plain sailing as Emily had a few issues with endometrial polyps, an abnormality in the uterine cavity that can interfere with the implantation of embryos.

“We assumed we were healthy, but Emily also had some problems with polyps and other things and that took a little longer,” she said.

When asked if they planned to have more children, the couple said that one child is enough for them, adding that their family is now complete.

Kerry and Emily also hope to travel back to New Zealand later this year with their two sons, where the couple first met.

Kerry advised others who may be in their position: “Don’t hesitate. The process takes a long time, but you can pause it in all the different parts. You don’t know what’s going to pop up.

“Get the ball rolling, there’s plenty of time to freeze it and pause at any time.”

Last year, Emily told the Mail on Sunday: ‘We wanted a family where we both felt deeply physically and emotionally connected to each other’s babies,’ says Emily. ‘There was no blueprint for it, but it made sense for us’

‘In a heterosexual couple, both parents share in the creation of their child. We can’t do that. But we can be equal mothers to both sons. They will have the same father and we will be their mothers in different but equally profound and loving ways.

‘We wondered beforehand whether we would ever consider the fact that the baby we are carrying is not our own biological child.

“But feeling a child growing inside you is such a physical and emotional experience that it’s impossible for it not to be ‘yours.'”