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Singer Ailee opens up about IVF journey
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Korean singer Ailee has given fans a deeply personal look into her IVF (in vitro fertilization) journey with husband Choi Si Hun, opening up about the emotional and physical challenges they are facing together.
On January 4, Ailee uploaded a new video on her YouTube channel, where she documented a visit to their IVF clinic. The video followed the couple as Ailee prepared for and underwent a hysterosalpingography, an X-ray test used to check for possible causes of infertility.
Before the procedure, Ailee admitted, "I'm trying to calm my nerves by playing a game. I'm so nervous...They said it would be painful, and I'm scared... In a way, this is just the first step towards becoming a parent. It's exciting, but it's also too much. I'm scared it will hurt."
Choi Si Hun stayed by her side, trying to lighten the moment and comfort her by playfully talking to their future child, saying, "Coco-ya, be good to your mom and dad."
Ailee couldn't help but laugh at the moment, responding, "We've already created a nickname for a baby that doesn't even exist yet. It may never exist."
As they waited for the doctor, the couple's anxiety was clear as they held hands in silence. After the procedure, Ailee confirmed that it had indeed been painful and described what she saw afterward in the recovery area: "I went back and saw many expectant mothers laying in hospital beds. They were just lying there. Some of them were in extreme pain, while others hadn't even started their anesthesia yet and were just lying calmly."
She went on to explain how frightening the experience was, especially after hearing warnings beforehand.
"I had to have my fallopian tubes cleared, and it was so painful. But before it even started, I was already scared [of] what they said. They told me, 'If it hurts, don't hold it in, just tell us. Some people have fainted from holding it in.' It was so scary."
What ultimately helped her push through, Ailee shared, was thinking about the other women going through the same process. "I thought about the sight of all those hopeful mothers in the hospital beds outside. Just thinking about how desperate they must have felt... Even though it's so hard and painful, we're going through all of this just because we want children that badly. Suddenly, I just started crying."
She added that she sincerely wished for every woman she saw that day to eventually succeed and be able to hold a child of their own.
Fans can watch Ailee's full video and her latest update on her IVF journey on her YouTube channel.
Meanwhile, here are local celebrities who had kids through IVF:
