Too good to be true (October 2026)

I never believed in anything that seemed too good to be true. But this, you have to read this story! Our experience with Human First in Istanbul! The time actually startles me: our twins turn 1 this coming Saturday.

After we were blessed with 2 healthy boys from 2 good pregnancies, somehow it just didn't work anymore…. Getting pregnant wasn't the problem, but every time, after 6–9 weeks, we had a miscarriage. After 8 miscarriages I'd had enough. In the Netherlands I did have a few small tests, like having my ovaries and uterus checked, and there was no problem. Just bad luck, the doctor said. We couldn't let go of our wish for one more child. I'd heard of IVF but didn't really believe in it, certainly not in the Netherlands! I'd read so many bad experiences from people, and often no pregnancy after the treatment.

One day I typed IVF in Turkey into Google and landed straight on the Human First website. Without really knowing how such a treatment worked, I went straight to the reviews. Too good to be true, I thought: just a quick trip to Istanbul and you come home pregnant, because that's how easy it seemed.

I got in touch right away and wanted to go to Istanbul that same month. Everything went so smoothly; especially the quick replies on WhatsApp and the calls with Human First were so great! And everything in Dutch! We chose to start the injections in the Netherlands, otherwise we would be away from our children for too long. No sooner said than done, and off we went to Istanbul. Everything was arranged down to the last detail: we were picked up at the airport in a luxury taxi, and at our hotel we were warmly welcomed. The very next day we went to our appointment at the hospital, and there we met our contact person Hatice. So lovely, because she also spoke Dutch, and what a sweetheart; we're still in touch! My belly felt like it was about to burst, so out with the eggs, quickly. The conversation with the doctor himself was good too, but the doctor was very cautious. Of course I wanted to hear that I would go home pregnant. And I really wanted to have 3 eggs put back; I think the doctor genuinely thought I was crazy, because he was absolutely not going to do that! But back in the Netherlands I had already decided: if I'm going to do IVF anyway, and in Turkey, then I want twins haha. I cried like a little child because I would only get 1 put back. We had to wait a few days to see what the eggs would do. Hatice kept us informed right away about how fertilisation was going: we had 12 mature eggs, of which 10 were fertilised. So good to know! Again, the communication is really excellent! I think we had to wait about 6 days for the transfer. And in those 6 days anything could happen with the eggs; the days were exhausting, so nerve-wracking! I sent Hatice messages at least 3 times a day asking how things stood, and always got an honest answer! In the meantime we went for lovely walks around Istanbul, and of course I shopped for baby clothes there, I had so much hope! In my head I was already completely pregnant.

On the day of the transfer: whenever you have an appointment at the hospital, the taxi always picks you up. Hatice arranges everything and tells you the evening before what time you'll be collected. So you really don't have to arrange anything yourself there!

First we had a conversation with the doctor: we had 5 eggs in perfect condition. So happy!! And then, then the doctor told us he dared to put 2 eggs back. My god, how happy I was! Crying again, yes, I cried with happiness! My husband out of misery, he thought I was completely nuts haha

So the dream of twins was definitely not over yet!

The transfer itself was a breeze, you don't feel a thing.

Everything was in, and now we could go home. That was the worst part of all: waiting until you could test. I was still in touch with Hatice every day; she often messaged me herself to ask how I was feeling and so on. So sweet!

I was actually supposed to wait another 3 days, but I'd had enough. Just before going to bed I took a test, not even with morning urine. A big fat line! For 6 weeks I tested every day, I couldn't believe it! Finally, after 6 weeks, an internal ultrasound, and yes, there was the little embryo, so special again. Only 1 embryo was visible on the scan and the other sac was empty, but no despair: after 1 week I went for another scan and yes! 2 sacs and 2 embryos! Our happiness knew no bounds! Yes, eventually my husband's too.

We're already 2 years on, and he still teases me: remember how you wanted 3 eggs, how you cried like a baby over 3 eggs haha. It's a good thing the doctor works with sense and certainly doesn't just listen to what people want. The uncertainty stayed with me for a very, very long time, because what if it went wrong again. But all my hope and faith was in Human First! And nothing could be truer, because this is simply real! This is our story, with our happiness! All my love to Human First and all the people who are part of it, what stars! You reassured us, you gave us hope, but most importantly you were always honest! Our eternal thanks to you! Thanks to you we were given beautiful twins, a boy and a girl, what more could you want! We simply have a healthy daughter! And 3 healthy sons!! Oh yes, by the way, we still have 2 eggs left, which we had frozen in Istanbul, you never know…..

And oh yes, my pregnancy was great! Never had any trouble, and the birth, naturally! A breeze! Definitely recommended haha.

Both babies weighed over 3 kilos; after 37 weeks I'd had enough and had myself induced.

So if you don't believe in things that are too good to be true either: believe me, it really can happen!!!

Claudia