My little Miracle

Having suffered 2 miscarriages over 4 and a half years of trying for a baby and reaching my late 30's we decided to speak to our GP about our concerns that I may never carry a baby full term even if I could manage to get pregnant again.

I had never really suffered any gynae problems other than having some irregular cells removed from my cervix in my late 20's. However my sister had had trouble conceiving and was prescribed a course of Clomid which was followed by 2 successful pregnancies.

My husband already had 2 daughters who we have every weekend and I was desperate for a baby of our own to complete our family. We'd already undergone the basic tests a year before as nothing had happened after 2 years of trying after the first miscarriage.

Just after my husband had given his sample to be tested we found out that I was pregnant and therefore halted the investigations. We were overjoyed but unfortunately I lost the baby at 7 weeks.

This was totally unexpected and I couldn't believe that this was happening a second time. It seemed so unfair. We tried again and when nothing happened after 6 further months we visited our GP again. My GP was very sympathetic and referred us immediately to the fertility clinic at our local hospital.

The consultant there couldn't see any reason why I wasn't falling pregnant from our test results and since I was losing them he suggested that maybe my hormones needed a boost. He prescribed a 3 month course of Clomid, just like my sister had taken. I was so happy as it had worked for her and I was convinced this was all it would take.

We waited a month before starting the Clomid to make sure I was in the best shape physically and emotionally. We had changed our diets, cut out all alcohol and neither of us were smokers. I carried on taking Folic acid as well as an array of herbal remedies including an awful tasting drink made up of ground up macca root.

Once I started on the Clomid I was monitored very closely by the clinic and my overies had to be scanned every other day for a week to ensure that they weren't being overstimulated. A number of eggs ripened and then one became larger than the rest.

The fertility nurse told me to go away and do the fun part. We did but nothing happened that month. I was so dissapointed but after the 2nd month of taking Clomid I fell pregnant and we found out early December. It was the best Christmas present although I was so nervous that it could also be the worse Christmas if history repeated itself.

We held our breaths all through Christmas and a scan the week after showed up a little heartbeat at 7 weeks. We were thrilled. We went for the NT scan at 11 weeks and I was so surprised that the baby was still there. Everything was normal and my risk of Downs Syndrome dropped to the equivalent of a 27 year old - not bad as I was 38. We decided not to go for further tests based on these results as there was a 1% chance of miscarriage after an amnio.

This baby was so wanted and nothing was going to put it at risk. At around 14 weeks I suffered some spotting. My world fell apart but after a scan at the early pregancy clinic everything appeared OK and the heart was still beating. My pregnancy continued and at the 20 week scan we found out we were having a healthy baby girl.

I was on such an emotional high. I went into overdrive buying all the things she would need. 8 days before my due date I woke up at 1am to go to the loo. It felt strange and when I got back into bed I started to cramp. Suddenly I felt a gush as my waters broke. My contractions started and they were every 7 minutes. There was meconium in my waters so we rang the delivery suite and were advised to come in within the hour. During the 20 minute journey my contractions continued and were 4 to 5 minutes apart by the time we arrived. I was examined on arrival and the midwife was concerned that the baby may be breached.

They strapped a monitor to me and a consultant came in with a mobile scanner. He confilrmed that the baby was breach although this had never been picked up prior to this. He recommened an emergency C section. By this time my contractions were coming every 3 minutes and were increasing in pain. I wasn't sure how much more I could take so the thought of getting the baby out now was appealing.

I had to wait for the theatre to become available and during this time my contractions were becoming unbearable. I wasn't offered any painkillers as I was soon to have a spinal block. I can't tell you the relief when I was finally wheeled into theatre and given the spinal. I had a contraction during the procedure to administer the spinal but that was the last one as it worked immediately.

Within 40 minutes Rosie May was born. She came out with a cry and opened and closed her little fists. After being examined she was given straight to me onto my chest and she had her first feed within 10 minutes. This was such a special time and I couldn't believe I was finally a mummy.

My life was now complete. Rosie has been such an easy baby and fills my day with joy as we continue to watch her grow. To my surprise when Rosie was 9 months old we discovered I was pregnant again!! This was such a shock as it was completely unplanned and I had got used to the idea of her being my only child.

So far I am 21 weeks pregnant and fingers crossed this little miracle will be born in January 2009. Words cannot describe how grateful I am that not only have I got the daughter I always wanted but we are now looking forward to welcoming a little sister for her so that she will have someone to grow up with.