DIY VIRAL
Congratulations are in order for a The Real Housewives of Potomac former student. Nneka Ihim and her husband, Dr. Ikenna Ihim, are pregnant with their first child!
Source: Clifton Prescod/Bravo
The couple shared the news with PEOPLE, specifying that their child will be born in May.
“It’s so exciting,” Nneka said. “I always wanted to be a mom and for so long it felt like the vision of having the family I wanted wasn't possible. But now my dream of starting a family is coming true, and it's so special.
“I still have to pinch myself sometimes, it’s so surreal and shocking,” she added. “Even now, I'm trying to plan my baby shower and I'm just like, 'Wow, this is really happening for me.' “
Nneka and Dr. Ikenna posed for maternity photos for PEOPLE, featuring Nneka beaming in a SKIMS bodysuit while holding her ultrasound.
Nneka Ihim unfortunately lost one of her twins during this pregnancy
The former Real Housewives of Potomac has spoken openly about her fertility struggles and was seen on #RHOP undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI), also called artificial insemination, which involves placing sperm directly into the uterus to increase the chances of pregnancy.
Source: Clifton Prescod/Bravo
She said PEOPLE that after two failed attempts, she moved on to in vitro fertilization and even considered surrogacy.
However, after the third IVF cycle, she learned that she was expecting twins after implanting two embryos, a boy and a girl, but during her regular prenatal check-up after eight weeks, doctors told her that she had lost one of them. .
“We showed up for an appointment and one of the twins didn’t have a heartbeat,” Nneka said emotionally. PEOPLE. “So it was really, really difficult. I mean, the second I walked out of my doctor's office, I burst into tears.
She added,
“We felt truly blessed when we found out it was twins. After all that, there it was, and I had my heart's desire: a boy and a girl. I said, “My God, you really did it for me!” At my first ultrasound we saw the two gestational sacs with the two embryos there. The following week we saw both of their heartbeats. And then unfortunately, for reasons we still don't know, it was just one of them. »
Despite the huge loss, Nneka and Dr. Ikenna are excited to expand their family and are already planning to have another baby.
“I know this is not the end for me,” Nneka said. “I'm already thinking about my next pregnancy, because I want to have the complete family we want and now I know it's possible. It may take a little longer than expected, but at least our child will know that he is very loved. Because we fought a hell of a fight to have to welcome them into this world.
Congratulations, Grandma!!!
DIY VIRAL
