Rachel is aware that traditional Judaism supports assisted reproductive technology in some cases and, after discussing it with her rabbi and her family, she felt confident deciding on this approach for herself. As the child would be made with her egg, he or she would be Jewish, in accordance with Jewish law.

Although some experts on Jewish approaches to fertility treatment recommend non-Jewish sperm to be employed in order to avoid worries about mamzerut (persons born of ‘forbidden’ relationships or incest), Rachel instead chose Jewish sperm from the sperm bank and had the sperm tested. She did this to be sure the sperm donor was not a close relative and also to be sure that it did not carry any of the genetic diseases more common to Jews.

Rachel produced several embryos and was successful on her second attempt at IVF in becoming pregnant. She is now raising her child with the support of her extended family and friendship group. She has a very positive approach to breastfeeding, which in Jewish tradition is seen as a special way the mother passes on spiritual identity to her child. Rachel is aware of the biblical story about Sarah, who was 99 years old when her son Yitzhak was born. She breastfed him so people would know that she was his mother, despite her age, and she did so for two years. Rachel likewise plans to breastfeed for at least two years. When she is ready for a second child, Rachel hopes to continue breastfeeding through her fertility treatment and to tandem-feed, which is permitted by halacha (Jewish law).