Some stories begin long before a baby arrives. Susana and Ericka’s story is one of them, one that started with a simple “I want this too,” and slowly became the most meaningful decision of their lives.
Today, they celebrate the beginning of their family with their son, Erick, but reaching this moment required courage, questions, long conversations, and the kind of support that helped them move forward with confidence: the support they found at Ingenes.
The shared dream that started it all
Susana and Ericka had been together for years when the idea of having a baby stopped being a “someday” and became something they genuinely wanted to pursue. Like many lesbian couples, they knew their path to motherhood wouldn’t happen by chance or without preparation. It would require planning, information, and a team of specialists they could trust.
What they always knew for certain was this: They wanted to build a family together.
But turning that dream into a plan took time. “We were excited, but also scared because we didn’t know where to start,” Susana remembers. “We’d heard wonderful stories, difficult stories, confusing stories… and we just wanted clarity. We wanted to know we could do this.”
They visited different clinics, browsed websites, spoke with other families, and gathered as much information as they could. But something was always missing—empathy, emotional support, and honest, clear guidance.
Until they found Ingenes.
Feeling seen, welcomed, and understood from day one
Their first interaction with the Institute changed everything. They didn’t just receive medical information, they felt genuinely welcomed, respected, and understood.
“From the very first call, the tone was different,” Ericka says. “They explained the programs available for families like ours, why it was important for both of us to evaluate our reproductive health, and how we could choose a path that made sense for us as a team.”
One thing mattered deeply to them. They both wanted to be part of the journey. They didn’t want one of them to feel like “the biological mom” and the other like a secondary figure. They wanted to build motherhood side by side. The Ingenes team understood that from the start.
With patience, they walked them through the options available for lesbian couples, always respecting their values, boundaries, and vision as a family. That level of respect and professionalism was what made them say: “This is the place.”
The decision that changed everything: “Let’s try.”
After completing initial exams and evaluations, they reached the moment that felt the most symbolic, deciding who would carry the pregnancy. It was a conversation full of laughter, tears, vulnerability, and deep connection. Ultimately, they chose Ericka to be the one to carry their baby, while Susana committed to being involved in every step.
From the moment they made the decision, they began the treatment recommended by their medical team. And this is where, they say, Ingenes truly made a difference, because it never felt like just a medical process. It felt like accompaniment, like partnership.
“They explained every stage with incredible patience,” Susana says. “And on the days when we were nervous, they knew exactly how to reassure us without dismissing what we were feeling.”
The process: a journey of love, challenges, and hope
Like any family going through assisted reproduction, Susana and Ericka experienced days full of excitement and days filled with uncertainty. But they never felt alone.
Each appointment, each ultrasound, each step reminded them they were building something together. And little by little, the team at Ingenes became an extension of that support, caring not only for the medical aspects, but also for their emotional well-being.
“I always felt they understood us as a couple,” Ericka shares. “There were moments when I needed peace, but Susana needed more details—and somehow, the team managed to support us both without leaving anyone on the sidelines.”
Of course, there were difficult moments. The emotional load, the waiting, the natural fear that comes with the unknown. But every time they needed guidance, someone from the Institute was there to explain, reassure, and remind them why they had begun this journey.
The moment that changed their lives: meeting Erick
When the positive result finally arrived, Susana and Ericka experienced one of the most powerful moments of their lives. Their shared dream suddenly had a name, a future, a heartbeat: Erick.
“We couldn’t believe it,” Susana says. “We cried, we hugged, we shook from emotion. We had imagined this moment so many times that when it finally happened, all we could say was, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.’”
What made it even more special was how Ingenes celebrated with them. The team that had walked with them from the beginning shared their joy, offered emotional support, and ensured they continued with the same level of care during the pregnancy.
“It really felt like they cared,” Ericka says. “We weren’t just another case, they treated us like a family in the making.”
A message for other families dreaming of a baby
Susana and Ericka know that many gay couples face the same initial questions:
Can we really do this?
Will anyone understand us?
Will we be welcomed and respected as a family?
Today, holding Erick in their arms, their answer is simple: “Yes. You absolutely can.”
They want other families to know their dream is valid, that support exists, and that they don’t have to walk this path alone.
“Being scared is normal,” Ericka says. “We were scared too. But fear changes when you dare to take the first step.”
Susana adds:
“Family is built from love. If this is your dream, seek information, ask questions, reach out. Don’t let uncertainty stop you.”
The beginning of a new chapter
Now, with little Erick brightening their days, Susana and Ericka live motherhood just as they imagined it—together, as a team, grounded in love and connection.
Every smile, every late-night feeding, every moment of wonder reminds them that their decision was worth it.
Ingenes played an essential role—not as the protagonist, but as a trusted ally. A place where they could dream, decide, try, and achieve what they had longed for.
Motherhood wasn’t something that “just happened” to them—it was an act of love, freedom, and courage.
And that act changed their lives forever.