Anyone who’s watched the Real Housewives of New York reboot knows that Brynn Whitfield is not afraid to speak her mind, make an off-color joke, and have a little bit (okay, a lot) of fun. But now she’s going deep. Earlier this week she shared a joyous Instagram post after freezing her eggs in a U.K. clinic, complete with a Saltburn dance reference, in true Brynn style.
While she’s talked a bit about her fertility decisions on the show, since her announcement, she’s been an open book about her experience, sparking an outpouring of well wishes from fans celebrating her choice, opening up about their own experiences, and relishing in the shared sense of relief that comes with making a huge life decision.
Here are 6 ways Brynn’s announcement is giving us life right now.
She’s naming the feelings that so many women experience
Wanting to have kids as a single, mid-30s woman who is concerned about her biological clock isn’t just an issue for jet-setting New Yorkers. (Brynn has also been open about her difficult upbringing and the void it has left in her life). So many women from all walks of life can relate to the stress, procrastination, and anxiety that Brynn describes, and also the relief of not having to worry so much now that she finally froze her eggs. Naming and acknowledging those feelings goes a long way in helping other women feel understood, and, who knows, it may even spur someone to take action when it comes to their own family planning.
As one person commented on her post, “Thank you for doing this. I’m scared of starting the process, but I’m so much more relieved!”
And another wrote, “I did it as my 35th bday present to myself! Almost 5 years later it’s the best investment I’ve ever made in myself. It’s so nice knowing I still have time.”
She’s demystifying this process
In the days after her announcement, Brynn has been answering hundreds of questions in her DMs, as well as sharing questions and answers in her stories, tackling everything from why she did it (she wants to be a mom!) to why she went to the U.K. (it’s cheaper!) to how many eggs were retrieved (15) and how the egg storage process works.
Her candidness around this entire experience is pulling back the curtain on a procedure that’s not often talked about, which can feel daunting and downright scary for some people. Brynn’s message is clear: It’s okay to invest in your future, it’s okay to not have a partner, and this procedure is not something to be afraid of—it’s a short-term discomfort in exchange for feeling free.
“It's great you are sharing this experience to help normalize that there are lots of different ways to become a Mom. Hoping your experience was positive and that one day you get to create the family you want,” one person commented.
She’s being super transparent about money
Perhaps the most asked question in Brynn’s comment section is, why did she go to the U.K. to freeze her eggs? One big reason is money. But unlike most people, she doesn’t stop there, she actually gives figures. In an insta story highlight, she writes that she did her research and found that the healthcare in London is top-notch, and the cost difference between clinics there vs. New York City was huge. “I was quoted at 32K to 34K in NYC for one round, and in London it was €8K which is around $10K.”
She also notes that she has a big support system of girlfriends in London, who were there to take care of her, offer her a place to stay, and allow her to rest and relax, which also factored into her decision. But, if you don’t have that, she says you’d need to consider the price of a hotel, missed work, and other cost-related things. Money aside, her best advice is to have it done in a place where you have a support system.
She’s acknowledging her privilege
It’s one thing to know that egg freezing exists, but quite another to be able to access and afford it, and Brynn isn’t shying away from that conversation. In her original post, she talks about how grateful she is to have the privilege of being able to freeze her eggs, and in a follow-up story, she speaks her mind on how it’s not fair that so many people can’t afford it, and asks for any non-profits that she could promote on her platform to help people with the cost of egg-freezing, or advocate for any legislation out there that would require insurers cover it.
“Wish this was affordable, every woman deserves this opportunity,” said a commenter.
And another said, “I’m so thrilled for you! I was unable to afford the procedure back in 2010 and could not afford IVF when I married later in life. As someone who wanted a baby since I was a child we forget what a blessing it is and the struggles women go through just to have a family. You will be an amazing mommy! All the best. 🙏🏼🥰😘”
While this issue isn’t likely to be resolved soon, Brynn using her platform to bring eyes to this cost disparity is definitely a refreshing take.
She’s tapping into a sense of joy and celebration
Brynn’s post, which currently has 495 comments that are mostly people congratulating and celebrating her decision, has clearly unearthed a wellspring of emotion among like-minded people. Some highlights include:
“Isn’t it the most freeing thing ever when you don’t have to worry about your biological clock anymore, right? Congrats!” said one person.
“Congratulations!!! Sharing your journey means so much to so many of us ❤️,” shared another.
“ 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 holding my IVF 4 month old right now! Egg retrieval was the hardest part for me! You’ve got this!” another fan said.
Finally, she’s spurring other women to talk about shared experiences
Whether egg freezing has allowed women to have a family later in life, or it has given them the opportunity to have kids on their own, so many people have responded by opening up about their own journey with starting a family in a non-traditional way—and that’s a beautiful thing!
“I froze my eggs at 38! And had a baby boy on my own at 42 😊,” said one person.
“Do it. Single motherhood is so hard but so worth it. Every single day is the best day of my life ❤️,” shared another commenter.
“Yes girl!!! 🥚💉 we are just a bunch of hens this week! I just had my egg retrieval this week!” wrote another fan.
Another person shared, “YAY!!! My biggest regret is that I never did this in my youth. I promise you that whenever you decide to transfer your embryo(s), you’ll look back and see that the timing was always perfect. After YEARS of IVF, I had one good egg at age 44 which I froze until I was 46. My dreamboat son is almost 3 now and was worth the hormonal chaos, every tear and injection.) Cheers to you, liberation and your marvelous future that awaits! 🫶🏼🙌😘.”
Here’s to hoping we get to see more of Brynn’s journey to starting a family in upcoming seasons of Real Housewives (with a healthy dose of drama thrown in, of course).
