Cricket: Megan Schutt hits out at trolls after IVF backlash

After sharing her and her wife’s reciprocal IVF journey in a bid to increase understanding and awareness, Megan Schutt has hit back at uneducated trolls for their hurtful backlash.

Australian spearhead Megan Schutt has taken to social media to shut down of internet trolls who posted offensive comments of a photo of her with pregnant wife, Jess.

Schutt, and her Aussie vice-captain Rachael Haynes, spoke openly in an article published by NewsCorp networks last weekend, about their joy of both their partners, expecting babies later this year, conceived via reciprocal IVF.

Schutt posted the photo to her Twitter account captioned: “Oof, I’m pretty lucky”.

But by Wednesday, the 28-year-old, had had enough of ignorant comments asking: “Who’s the father?”, and felt she had no choice but to put a stop to it.

While also thanking those who had thrown their support behind her and Jess, Schutt said anyone who thought all babies were conceived “the natural way” insulted more than just same sex couples.

Aussie cricketer Megan Schutt is having a baby with wife Jess. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

In an extensive post on social media, Schutt said enough was enough.

“Alright. There have been MANY comments and/or quote tweets on the photo of my wife and I,” she wrote.

“I’m very sick of giving the benefit of the doubt to those asking “how is this possible?” or even better, “who is the father?”

“ If you have access to Twitter, then you would have access to the internet. So guess what fellas? Look it up. I understand that IVF isn’t a common topic in some countries, but to think all babies are conceived the “natural way” is an insult to more than just same sex couples.

“I’ve been a part of articles that explain the process we have gone through, so if you genuinely want to know, read them (again, they’re on the internet that you clearly have access to). If you’re commenting with any abuse, hostility, malice or on behalf of YOUR religious beliefs.

Alright. There have been MANY comments and/or quote tweets on the photo of my wife and I… I’m very sick of giving the benefit of the doubt to those asking “how is this possible?” or even better, “who is the father?”

— Megan Schutt (@megan_schutt) June 22, 2021

If you have access to Twitter, then you would have access to the internet. So guess what fellas? Look it up. I understand that IVF isn’t a common topic in some countries, but to think all babies are conceived the “natural way” is an insult to more than just same sex couples.

— Megan Schutt (@megan_schutt) June 22, 2021

I’ve been a part of articles that explain the process we have gone through, so if you genuinely want to know, read them (again, they’re on the internet that you clearly have access to). If you’re commenting with any abuse, hostility, malice or on behalf of YOUR religious beliefs

— Megan Schutt (@megan_schutt) June 22, 2021

Then you will be blocked or muted. No one wants to read your hurtful comments… but a big thank you to all those that have shown their support and love, we need more of you in the world 💕😘 end rant.

— Megan Schutt (@megan_schutt) June 22, 2021

“Then you will be blocked or muted. No one wants to read your hurtful comments… but a big thank you to all those that have shown their support and love, we need more of you in the world ... end rant.”

Fertility wasn’t openly discussed until Cricket Australia released a revolutionary leave policy. It has been life changing for so many players and their partners. Megan Schutt shared her story.

One of the world’s best fast bowlers, Megan Schutt, was pottering around her Adelaide home, trying to keep herself busy, when her phone rang.

She’d been expecting the call from wife, Jess, but the 28-year-old Aussie spearhead didn’t know what would happen when she answered.

It had been two weeks since Jess had undergone the couple’s first round of reciprocal IVF,whereby Schutt’s egg, fertilised with donated sperm sourced from the United States, had been implanted in Jess.

Jess was due to hear from their fertility doctor about whether the implantation had been successful and was calling to tell Schutt the results.

Meg Lanning and Megan Schutt during a game against New Zealand. Picture: Kerry Marshall/Getty Images)

Schutt took a deep breath and answered her phone….

“I didn’t know if I was getting good or bad news,” Schutt recalls.

“Sure enough, it was ‘Congratulations!’.”

“I’m not a huge bawl-my-eyes-out kind of crier, but I teared up hearing that we were having a baby.

“Nothing really prepares you for when you hear it.”

Schutt admits fertility wasn’t something openly discussed within the team until Cricket Australia released a revolutionary parental leave policy in 2019, that ensures any player whose partner is pregnant or adopting is given up to three weeks of paid leave, taken anytime within 12 months of the birth or adoption.

The new policy also means any player who falls pregnant can transfer to a non-playing role until they give birth and be eligible for 12-months paid parental leave.

They will be guaranteed a contract extension for the following contract year, in line with their contractual arrangements.

“I’m scared, nervous, excited. It’s really cool just getting things together,” Schutt says.

“So with the house, I’ve finished painting bubba’s room in a neutral light grey, and we did our first tip to Baby Bunting the other day and picked out a cot.

“I’m trying to get everything together as quickly as I can to make sure it doesn’t bite us in the butt if she comes early.”

Originally published as Cricket: Megan Schutt hits out at trolls after IVF backlash