My Mother Wanted Another Baby—and Asked Me to Help

WHO:

Newsweek - Emillio Mesa, a gay writer based in Orlando, Florida, described helping his mother with IVF while he was a closeted teenager; he is working on a memoir about his life with his mother’s husbands.

Yahoo - Emillio Mesa described helping his mother with IVF while he was a closeted teenager; the article identifies him as a writer based in Orlando, Florida, working on a memoir about his life with his mother’s husbands.

Newsweek - Mesa’s mother, her then-husband and Mesa’s stepfather, Mesa’s grandmother, Mesa’s biological father, a sperm donor, and the fertility-clinic staff are described in the account.

Yahoo - Mesa’s mother, her then-husband and Mesa’s stepfather, Mesa’s grandmother, Mesa’s biological father, a sperm donor, and fertility-clinic staff are described in the account.

WHAT:

Newsweek - Mesa helped his mother undergo IVF, attended appointments, learned to give her intramuscular hormone injections, and tracked her cycle, medication dosages, dates, and side effects.

Yahoo - Mesa helped his mother undergo IVF, attended appointments, learned to give her intramuscular hormone injections, and tracked her cycle, medication dosages, dates, and side effects.

Newsweek - His mother told him, “You’ll be a big brother-godfather. You can even name the baby.”

Yahoo - His mother told him, “You’ll be a big brother-godfather. You can even name the baby.”

Newsweek - The first IVF round caused his mother migraines, mood swings, severe acne, and lumps described as golf-ball-sized on her hips. Her doctor’s orders required a four-week wait before another attempt.

Yahoo - The first IVF round caused migraines, mood swings, severe acne, and golf-ball-sized lumps on his mother’s hips; her doctor required a four-week wait before another attempt.

Newsweek - The treatment could cause ovarian cysts or liver damage, according to Mesa’s account.

Yahoo - Mesa said the treatment could cause ovarian cysts or liver damage.

Newsweek - The second round resulted in a pregnancy with twins, but his mother miscarried four months after the pregnancy was announced at Mesa’s high school graduation.

Yahoo - The second IVF round resulted in twins; Mesa’s mother miscarried four months after she was newly pregnant at his high school graduation.

Newsweek - Mesa said he came out at 22, five years after helping his mother with IVF.

Yahoo - Mesa said he came out at 22, five years after helping with his mother’s IVF.

Newsweek - Mesa’s mother said, “Nothing replaces the experience of having a child grow inside you,” and, after the miscarriage, “I can deal with physical pain. Not the loss.”

Yahoo - Mesa’s mother said, “Nothing replaces the experience of having a child grow inside you,” and, after the miscarriage, “I can deal with physical pain. Not the loss.”

WHERE:

Newsweek - Mesa was 17 and living in New York while helping his mother; his stepfather was in Mexico for work.

Yahoo - Mesa was 17 in New York while helping his mother; his stepfather was in Mexico for work.

Newsweek - Mesa’s mother and grandmother discussed a gay teacher’s son in the Dominican Republic.

Yahoo - Mesa’s mother and grandmother discussed a gay teacher’s son in the Dominican Republic.

WHEN:

Newsweek - Mesa assisted during his final year of high school; his mother was one month pregnant at his graduation and miscarried four months later. He came out at 22, five years after the IVF experience.

Yahoo - Mesa assisted during his final year of high school; his mother was one month pregnant at his graduation and miscarried four months later. He came out at 22, five years later.

WHY:

Newsweek - Mesa’s mother sought another child and proceeded with IVF using a sperm donor while her husband was away; she said she wanted to experience carrying a child.

Yahoo - Mesa’s mother sought another child and used a sperm donor for IVF while her husband was away; she said she wanted to experience carrying a child.

Newsweek - Mesa hoped a brother would take over his family role as the “good son,” allowing him to stop hiding that he was gay.

Yahoo - Mesa hoped a brother would take over his family role as the “good son,” allowing him to stop hiding that he was gay.

HOW:

Newsweek - Mesa’s mother used daily hormones to support egg cultivation; he received instruction from a nurse on intramuscular injections and administered them to her lower back.

Yahoo - His mother used daily hormones to support egg cultivation; Mesa learned to give intramuscular injections and administered them to her lower back.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 01:28 UTC)

At 17, while living in New York, Emillio Mesa helped his mother through IVF as he kept his sexuality secret. His mother wanted another child and hoped to experience carrying a baby, while her husband was away working in Mexico. Mesa accompanied her to appointments, tracked medications and side effects, and learned from a nurse to give her daily hormone injections. She told him he would be a “big brother-godfather” and could name the baby. The first treatment brought migraines, mood swings, severe acne and painful lumps, and her doctor required a four-week wait before another attempt. The second round led to a twin pregnancy, but his mother miscarried four months after announcing it at Mesa’s high school graduation. She told him, “I can deal with physical pain. Not the loss.” Mesa came out at 22 and is now writing a memoir about his life with his mother’s husbands.