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Issue 4 • September 2006 |
made in AldridgeMade in Aldridge differs slightly this issue, as we look at the stories of five couples who joined us at the party and recount their experiences through fertility treatment. Right now, their treatments all seem a long memory away as we watch their babies and toddlers enjoying the huge amounts of attention being lavished upon them. Some were lucky and had a baby after just a single cycle of treatment, while others endured numerous cycles, negative pregnancy tests and/or miscarriages. And their treatments are so varied; some shared their eggs, another needed a surrogate and another experienced ‘spontaneous conception’ after IVF. It’s what MFS is good at – the ‘tailor-made’, rather than the ‘off-the-peg’ approach to treating patients. Julie and Neil Glover from Tamworth celebrated a triple delight at this year’s party.Julie was diagnosed at 17 with polycystic ovaries syndrome (PCOS) and was told at the time ‘you will probably not be able to have children’! After she and Neil tried to conceive for two years, their GP recommended MFS where the Fertility Investigation Package confirmed her PCOS and also discovered that Neil’s sperm had low motility and a poor survival rate. 
Julie, Neil, Jack, Victoria and Isabelle Glover, with Dr Gillian Lockwood Following a single cycle of ICSI treatment which requires just a single healthy sperm to be injected directly into the cellular structure of the egg, using a glass needle 1/10th the width of a human hair – rather than the 150,000 sperm required for each egg with standard IVF – their son Jack William was born in August 2003, weighing 8lb 8oz. When Jack was 14 months old, Julie and Neil returned to MFS for a second cycle of treatment. Although they were delighted to get a second positive pregnancy test, Julie miscarried at 12 weeks. “The miscarriage was devastating for us, especially when we had been through so much with the IVF,” said Julie. “Neil and I were very low for sometime, but as we wanted another child we decided to give treatment another go.” In July 2005 they started their third cycle and twins Victoria Jane and Isabelle Denise were born at 37 weeks in May 2006 weighing 5lbs and 6lb 2oz respectively. “The treatment cycle after the miscarriage was especially difficult as we desperately wanted it to work,” said Julie. “When the pregnancy test was positive and the six week scan showed two heartbeats we were shocked and delighted. However, we didn’t begin to relax with the pregnancy until well into the fifth month and so were overjoyed when Victoria and Isabelle were born.” Sangeeta Bhatia and Rohit Prabhakar also had two reasons to celebrate.After trying to conceive for more than two years and being advised that a miscarriage in 1998 may have caused her infertility, Sangeeta (35) and Rohit (37) were referred to MFS by their consultant. 
Sangeeta Bhatia, Rohit Prabhakar, Bhavini and Dev, with Dr Gillian Lockwood After a single cycle of IVF at MFS, their daughter Bhavini was born in August 2003, weighing 7lbs 4oz. Then in 2005 Sangeeta visited her GP after quickly gaining, and failing to lose, weight. A test and a scan confirmed she was already three months pregnant after conceiving naturally, and their son Dev was born in February 2006. “‘Spontaneous conception’ after fertility treatment is not uncommon,” said Dr Gillian Lockwood, medical director of MFS. “The hormone manipulation in assisted conception reminds the woman’s body how to ovulate and successful treatment can also lower stress levels in a woman, which reduces prolactin, a natural contraception.” Catherine and Paul Beddowes from Llanarth in Ceredigion joined the party with Lucy.When Catherine (32) and Paul (50) met, she was 22 and knew that he’d had a vasectomy after the birth of his four children. At the time, having a child was not a priority for Catherine, and Paul was already looking forward to retirement from the police force. But when Catherine was 27, having a child together became important to them both. 
Catherine, Paul and Lucy Beddowes, with Dr Gillian Lockwood They were advised that the chance of a successful vasectomy reversal was very slim and that they would require fertility treatment which would include surgically retrieving Paul’s sperm and fertilising Catherine’s eggs using the ICSI procedure. At MFS, clinicians obtained sperm from Paul by a needle biopsy and embryologists used the ICSI procedure to fertilise each egg. Catherine also agreed to donate half her eggs to a woman who was unable to produce her own eggs, so allowing another couple the chance to conceive. Following the transfer of a single embryo – which reduced the risk of twins, but also reduced the chance of conception – and after an ‘easy’ pregnancy, their daughter Lucy was born in November 2004 weighing 7lbs 11oz. “We were very lucky to have our baby after just a single cycle of treatment – we know that other couples aren’t so fortunate,” said Catherine. “I’m really pleased that our treatment also gave another woman the chance to conceive with the eggs I donated. The change in the law which lifted donor anonymity didn’t discourage me and I plan to donate eggs again as an altruistic donor.” “I thought my family was complete with my four children and I can’t believe how much I’m enjoying being a dad all over again for Lucy,” said Paul. “I wouldn’t be without her, and her two eldest sisters, in particular, really dote on her.” Carole and Robert Dix from Oswestry joined the party with their son Robert.After trying for a baby for nearly three years, hospital tests revealed Paul had sperm problems, probably caused by a rope swing accident when he was 15 years old. While he could produce sperm, he required a surgical procedure to retrieve it and he and Carole would need ICSI fertility treatment to conceive. 
Carole, Robert and Robert Alan Christopher Dix, with Dr Gillian Lockwood Over two years, Carole and Paul had four cycles of ICSI which all resulted in a negative pregnancy test. “It could have broken our hearts but we had to remain positive to continue with treatment and to have any chance of having child,” said Carole. Finally after five treatment cycles, they had a positive pregnancy test and their six week scan confirmed a single heartbeat and a due date in late December 2004. But breathlessness in mid-September indicated pre-eclampsia and Carole spent the following six weeks in hospital on complete bed rest. A scan at 33 weeks showed the baby had stopped growing and following an emergency caesarean section, Robert Alan Christopher was born in November 2004 weighing just 3lbs 5oz. He was eventually allowed home when he was 26 days old and his weight had increased. Emma and Andrew Hattersley of Streetly attended the party with lots of family including two very special ‘Annies’ – their daughter and Emma’s mum.Emma (36) was diagnosed with histiocytosis X when she was 19, which means she has to avoid strain on her heart and lungs. Surrogacy was the only option to allow her and Andrew (35) to have their own child. 
Emma, Andrew and Annie Hattersley, with Annie Casserley (Emma’s mum) and Dr Gillian Lockwood Emma’s mum, Annie (54), volunteered to be the surrogate and because she was fit, healthy, a non-smoker and had completed her family, MFS agreed that she would be the ideal surrogate. MFS embryologists collected Emma’s eggs, fertilised them with Andrew’s sperm and transferred two embryos into Annie’s uterus. After a trouble-free pregnancy, Annie Trinity was born on 29 September 2005, after an elective Caesarean section, weighing 7lbs 8oz. Emma and Andrew were the first people to hold their daughter, while Annie recovered from her general anaesthetic. “We can’t believe Annie Trinity will soon have her first birthday and we wanted to be a part of MFS’s 19th birthday celebrations, because without the expertise of the doctors, scientists and nurses, she wouldn’t have been born,” said Emma. “Mum helped make our dream of having a miracle baby come true and it was wonderful to see so many other miracle babies at the party.” linksFeature your story
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