Amanda Rakel

Said “hi” to my maybe-future kids 👶👋

On August 24th, the Swiss news channel SRF aired a documentary on egg freezing.
Back in March, SRF producer, Karl, contacted me and asked if I’d take part in the documentary. 🙏

I’m so thankful to have been asked to take part, and to have been able to share my own journey, which I hope helps anyone else thinking about going through the process—especially as a single woman in Switzerland. 🩷

In June, we travelled to Copenhagen to re-trace my steps and to have a chat with the clinic where I did it. I also had a chance to see where my eggs are stored. 👀

When you see the freezer your eggs get plopped in, it’s a pretty weird concept to wrap your head around. I just found it really strange that something as intimate as my own eggs, that have been nestled in my body, and that have this huge hope attached to them that they might give me a family in the future, are just hanging out in -196 C compartment. So casual.

It’s surreal to see the documentary come to life after so many months, but my story is just one of them. There are plenty of other perspectives and experiences that are really interesting and worth your while to watch! If you are a non-German speaker, simply add the auto-generated captions on YouTube to follow along. Link in my bio! 🍼

I was lucky to be asked to take part in a documentary about egg freezing for the national Swiss news channel SRF.

I shared my own story about why I did it and having to go to Denmark to do the procedure due to Swiss laws—here in Switzerland, to gain access to your eggs you must be in a relationship. You may not become a single mother. This remains an infuriating law for me. I cannot believe that something as initmate as my own eggs, cease to be my own property until I meet a societal requirement.

As a single person, it was simply too big of a gamble hoping I would meet someone within the 10 years eggs are allowed to be frozen here.

I wanted to make sure I gave myself the option of becoming a mother on my own, so I went to Denmark where using your eggs as a single person is allowed.

The documentary is in German, but I compiled my parts and added English subtitles so family and friends can follow along. If, however, you are a German speaker, I'd highly encourage you to watch the documentary as there are lots of interesting and important perspectives from other people ❤

Here is a link to the documentary on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NFZoR3htVtE?si=QAd425S_lEa2SPSI See less

Just over six months on from freezing my eggs, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on planting my future kids (or not) into a freezer in Copenhagen.

In honour of the national Swiss news outlet, SRF, featuring my story in their documentary on egg freezing (out Aug 24), I’ve tried to make a non-exhaustive list of things I wish I knew before doing the procedure and things I learned along the way. Maybe it helps someone else 🩷

Please keep in mind that I am not a doctor—I am merely sharing my own personal experience.

Obviously a very rational way of making big life decisions.

Also….Is this where I start playing gigs? 👀 🎶 it’s been really fun to see my music consistently playing in cities in Australia ☺️ that makes me super happy - or, just happy in general that people are still tuning in 🫶 thank youuu 🩷

Less than 70 days to go until I’m sitting on a plane to Sydney ☺️

To clarify: I meant free diving and seeing koalas as separate statements. 🤿 🐨

There were many elements that came into play when deciding to go to Australia. I exhausted many avenues and have stayed in Switzerland longer than was healthy because I didn’t want anyone to say I didn’t try hard enough.

I love Switzerland—it’s where I’ve spent the majority of my life. I’ll miss the beauty of it, the orderliness, Bailey 🐾 and the people I do have here. But I think at some point you need to acknowledge when a change is healthy.

The video would have been too long if I’d deep dived into each thing, but the last thing I want is for anyone to feel I didn’t appreciate their presence here in CH - I really, really did 🙏 I just feel it’s time for a change of scenery now ❤️

I’m seeing this as a massive opportunity and
adventure.

Like I said, terrified but excited ❤️ Hope you’ll follow along as I make the move 🥰 first stop: Sydney!

Here we go again 🫠 at least I have my Migros pen fan…