Mom Shares Story of Siblings Conceived Together, Born Years Apart

A mother from Kansas City, Missouri, Taylor Greenhagen, has shared her unique journey of having her son and daughter conceived simultaneously through in vitro fertilization (IVF) but born three years apart. Taylor, a dental hygienist, lives with her husband Justin, a pharmacist, and their two children, Owen, who is 3 years old, and Dylan, 7 months old.

Looking at pictures of Owen and Dylan, the family resemblance is clear. Greenhagen describes their bond as strong, with Owen warmly embracing his role as the big brother. ‘Owen has been the sweetest big brother from the very beginning,’ she shared. ‘Dylan adores him and lights up when she’s watching him. They’re still little, but I believe they’re already best friends.’

Greenhagen’s journey to motherhood was challenging. She was among the 250,000 Americans who turn to IVF each year after struggling with anovulatory polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). ‘We chose IVF after several medicated cycles and unsuccessful IUIs,’ she explained. ‘IVF seemed like the best option for growing our family.’

While she is grateful for the clinic’s care and her husband’s support, she described IVF as a demanding process. ‘It’s physically, emotionally, and mentally challenging,’ she noted.

Despite the hardships, IVF enabled Greenhagen to become a mother to two children conceived through the same process. ‘In IVF, after eggs are retrieved, they are fertilized and monitored for five to six days to see which ones develop into embryos,’ she explained. ‘We had eight embryos, all growing side by side in the lab.’

In the IVF community, children from the same batch of embryos are sometimes called ‘fraternal twins.’ Although not biological twins, this term acknowledges that they were conceived together and transferred at different times. Greenhagen believes this has forged a ‘special bond’ between Owen and Dylan. ‘It’s as if they already knew each other before they met,’ she reflected.

Every fertility journey is unique, even with IVF, Greenhagen acknowledges. She advises others considering the process to be kind and patient. ‘Surround yourself with a supportive system and advocate for yourself,’ she advised. ‘Choosing IVF is a hopeful decision and it’s done out of deep love for the family you’re building. Though there will be tough days, there is also room for hope.’