Our miracle after 9 rounds of IVF
A COUPLE who feared they would never have children have become parents after enduring nine rounds of IVF – at a cost of more than £50,000.
Andrew and Frankie Stanley said it was “a dream come true” when baby Yasmin Lucy was born after almost a decade of failed attempts.
The couple had ignored the advice of NHS fertility doctors and went ahead with more treatments, even while Frankie underwent treatment for a rare autoimmune disease that she believes was the barrier to her getting pregnant.
The Stanleys, from Doncaster, started trying for a baby in 2008, nine months before they married.
But after two years without success, they underwent tests after no obvious cause for their infertility was found, prompting them to start IVF.
A “heart-breaking” journey of failed attempts then ensued for Frankie, 39, a primary school teacher, and Andy, 50, a supply chain manager, who has two older children from his first marriage.
After researching various alternative treatments, the couple’s ninth attempt saw a change of plan.
As well as injecting all the conventional IVF drugs, Frankie had monthly £1,500 intravenous infusions of IVIG – a blood product pooled from thousands of donors that neutralised immune system cells that may have been harmful to her chances of conceiving.
And, against the odds, baby Yasmin was delivered naturally at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.
Delight
Frankie said: “I took the home pregnancy test a day early and waited with baited breath and my eyes shut.
“With sheer delight, I saw two very strong lines – apparently I was pregnant. We were thrilled, but incredibly scared because of our history.” She added: “It was so emotional. We couldn’t believe that our baby was finally here. Overwhelmed with mixed emotions, we cuddled our baby girl, feeling humbled and blessed after such a heart-breaking journey.
“There were many dark days throughout those nine years and times when we questioned whether it would ever happen. You do what feels right in your heart and I ultimately felt I could and would eventually become a mum – it just took longer than we ever anticipated.”
Frankie’s parents, Flo and Brin Scully, helped out with the costs. She added: “We will never be able to thank my parents enough. If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t have our little girl.
“They gave us the greatest gift.”