'Miss America' Winner Deidre Downs Gunn Performed Her Wife's IVF Transfer

As a fertility specialist, Deidre Downs Gunn got the go-ahead to perform her wife's embryo transfer in hopes of starting a family.

BY ALEXANDRA SAKELLARIOU PUBLISHED JULY 7, 2021

Former ‘Miss America’ winner Deidre Downs Gunn and her wife, Abbott Jones, are opening up about their unique journey to expanding their family via IVF.

Abbott is currently expecting the couple’s first child together and she’s already in her third trimester. During an appearance on the Pregnantish podcast with Andrea Syrtash, the couple revealed that Deidre performed her wife’s embryo transfer. PEOPLE Magazine explains that Deidre is a fertility specialist at the University of Alabama, so it made sense for her to do the procedure.

Deidre said she chose not to perform the egg retrieval because it was too “invasive,” but she felt comfortable with the embryo transfer. She explained the only reason she was able to do it is that she’s qualified through her work. Deidre said she got the approval of their embryologist before doing the procedure.

Luckily, the IVF transfer was successful. Abbott is currently expecting a baby girl and is due to give birth on Labor Day. She originally discovered she was expecting in December, New York Post reports.

The couple went on to explain their decision to open up about their experience with IVF. Deidre said she wants other families to realize there are a lot of untraditional options for starting a family. She said that your fertility journey rarely happens the way you expected. Deidre added the most important thing is “being open to learning” and educating yourself on the different options.

Deidre and Abbott have been married since April 2018. The couple held a romantic ceremony at the Birmingham Museum of Art in Birmingham, Alabama in front of 200 guests. They used the hashtag “DrandMrsAmerica” to celebrate their nuptials. Deidre’s son from her first marriage, who is now 11-years old, gave his mother away and also acted as her best man during the ceremony.

Deidre was previously married to her college sweetheart, Andrew Gunn. They married in 2008 and welcomed their son in 2010 before divorcing some time later. Deidre has previously said their marriage ended when she realized she was gay, but the co-parents remain on good terms. The fertility specialist originally rose to fame when she won the ‘Miss America’ pageant in 2005. She previously earned the title ‘Miss Alabama’ in 2004. Deidre also acted as a judge for 2014’s ‘Miss America’ pageant.

Deidre later met Abbott online in February 2017. Deidre proposed to the lawyer and writer by Christmas of the same year. Abbott later also proposed to her future wife and asked her son for approval, PEOPLE notes.

https://www.babygaga.com/deidre-downs-gunn-embryo-transfer-wife-pregnant/