Rosa and Leah are a lesbian couple. They always wanted to start a family together. But they also wanted the process to feel equal for both of them.

They decided to try reciprocal IVF. This is a special method for same-sex female couples. One partner provides the egg. The other partner carries the baby in her womb. Both women are physically part of the pregnancy.

For Rosa and Leah, this felt like the right choice. Rosa's egg was used to create an embryo. Leah carried the embryo and became pregnant. This way, both women had a role in creating their child.

Rosa's friend loved to tell people about the plan at parties. She would say: 'Rosa is going to have a baby next week.' People would look at Rosa, confused. She had no baby bump. They smiled politely, but they were clearly puzzled.

But Rosa was not joking. She was about to become a mother. Just not in the traditional way.

On a warm morning in October, their baby girl was born. She weighed 6 pounds and 10 ounces. She was 19.5 inches long. Her skin was pink. Her first cry was loud and strong.

Rosa stood by Leah's side during the birth. She held her wife's hand. She was there when their daughter came into the world. A daughter who had started from Rosa's own egg.

Reciprocal IVF is becoming more popular among lesbian couples. It allows both partners to feel deeply connected to the pregnancy. One woman experiences the biological start. The other experiences the physical journey of carrying the baby.

For many same-sex couples, this method brings a special kind of closeness. It shares the experience of parenthood in a unique and meaningful way.

Rosa and Leah's story shows that families come in many forms. With modern medicine, lesbian couples have more choices than ever. Their path to motherhood was different. But their love for their daughter is just the same.