Donate to Iris & Mara's Postpartum Fund

Mara and I are over the moon to share that in January we are expecting our first child! It's been quite the journey for us, but we are so grateful that we can now share our joy with others and that in only a few more months, our little one will be in our arms.

For many couples, conception can be challenging, and it can be particularly complicated for queer couples. When Mara and I began our conception journey almost two years ago, we didn't realize just how tricky it could be, and we optimistically set forth on making a baby.

After months of failed at-home ICIs, several rounds of assisted IUIs, and countless tests, supplements, and medications, we concluded that IVF was our best bet for success. Being two womb-bearing individuals, we were lucky enough to be able to pursue reciprocal IVF.

With IVF came its challenges, including several insurance mishaps and quite a few unexpected bills. All in all, we've already spent upwards of $20,000.

Once the baby arrives, the financial tight rope really begins. Mara is awarded only two weeks of fully paid parental leave, and as a self-employed tattoo artist, I have none.

We want to be able to spend as much time with our newborn as we can and soak up all of the transitional bliss that comes with becoming new parents. To relieve some of the pressure and allow us to ease back into full-time work slowly, we are asking our community to help us raise $7,000. This will hopefully allow our new family unit to bond with each other for two months before we stagger our return to work.

With your help, Mara and I will be able to take the much-needed time off to bond with our little one and adjust to our beautiful new reality.

Your donations will help cover:

~ Rent, bills, etc.

~ Postpartum meals

~ Baby supplies

~ Unexpected medical costs

Each of your donations will have an impact and make a huge difference in our postpartum lives.

Thank you all for your love and support,

Iris & Mara

P.S. If you've been waiting to get a tattoo from Iris, now is a great time to do so! They will only be tattooing for a few more months before transitioning to parenthood!