Parents blessed by ‘rainbow’ baby
IMAGINE spending your life waiting for the right time to have a child, only to be told you had a 1% chance.
For Emily, 33, and Matthew Woodrow, 43, becoming parents was always on the cards.
So when the couple decided to tie the knot in 2015, they immediately started trying to conceive.
But after two long years and with no result, the pair decided to seek help and got a referral with Toowoomba fertility specialist Dr John Esler.
Test results revealed Matthew had a very low sperm count, meaning the couple’s only option was IVF, with just a 1% chance of conceiving naturally.
Later that year, Emily was also diagnosed with endometriosis – an often painful condition where tissue that normally lines the uterus, instead grows on the outside of the uterus.
A cyst was also found on one of her ovaries, impacting how it works.
“At first it really was a shock to the system, and our chance of having a baby, even through IVF, was very low,” Ms Woodrow said.
“It was especially hard for Matthew, and I think it can be quite hard for males to come to terms with that … even as females, we blame ourselves, but no one should ever blame themselves – these things just happen.”
In 2018, the couple started their first round of IVF, and Ms Woodrow began injecting herself with hormones to stimulate her egg follicles.
Five eggs were retrieved during the collection procedure, but only one embryo was transferred.
By Christmas that year, the couple was elated to discover they were pregnant, but heartbreakingly, experienced a miscarriage during the first trimester.
Devastated by their loss, the pair waited a year before they attempted their second round of IVF.
Nine eggs were collected, but only four were considered to be high-quality.
One embryo was created but sadly, after the transfer, it was unsuccessful.
“It’s such a rollercoaster ride, especially the first time because you have no idea what’s going to happen, and you really need to prepare yourself mentally,” Ms Woodrow said.
When the country faced its first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, IVF, along with many other procedures, was put on hold, causing delays until services restarted.
Emotionally and physically exhausted, the pair decided it would be the last time they tried IVF.
At this point, Ms Woodrow said she was taking medication and injecting hormones twice a day for two weeks.
Fortunately, the third round successfully produced seven eggs, six of which were mature and injected.
Three eggs fertilised and created three embryos.
The couple welcomed their beautiful daughter Lily into the world on October 19, last year.
“It’s so surreal, but it’s absolutely amazing that she’s here with us now … we’re over the moon,” Ms Woodrow said.
“If it wasn’t for Dr Esler, the nurses and his team, we wouldn’t have Lily and we are just so grateful.”
Ms Woodrow said her advice for anyone going through fertility issues was to take it day by day, prepare themselves for all outcomes, turn to their support network and seek help from a professional.
“If people are wondering if something is wrong and they’ve been trying, don’t be afraid to go get tested, and if you hit a bump in the road, don’t be afraid to try IVF,” she said.
“When we finally got our little rainbow, the money spent, every heartache and all the blood tests, injections and medication, was so worth it.
“It’s surprising to know how many people do go through IVF because it’s not discussed openly, but people shouldn’t feel ashamed by it – every child is a miracle, no matter how they are conceived.”
Grateful for little Lily, the couple has also frozen two embryos, in case they choose to grow their family sometime in the future.