Sixth time of asking

She had the surgery and after 18 months became pregnant.

Dr Bird was the first person she contacted, and despite being on maternity leave, she took charge of Cath’s case and booked her in for a scan. But the baby had failed to grow and Cath had to undergo surgery to have the foetus removed.

At 42, Cath knew her chances of conceiving were growing slimmer. Just as she had given up hope, she got pregnant again in 2017, and went into a panic.

Once again Dr Bird was with her every step of the way.

“She scanned me every two weeks, which was the only thing I had to hold on to. Alice and my midwife Linda Bishop were there for me all the way through.”

Cath’s caesarean was planned for 36 weeks, and Phoenix was delivered by Dr Bird, who said: “Cath and Jonny showed unbelievable bravery. I was delighted to deliver Phoenix.”

Cath added: “The moment I saw him will stick with me for ever, the smile on Alice’s face as she held him up. I’m not sure which of us was the most relieved.

“Dealing with the years of loss and grief has been overwhelming at times, has left me a totally different person than I was before.

“But thanks to Alice and the amazing NHS, we got our longed-for gift of life.”

A Just Giving Page is raising funds for Ormskirk Maternity and Neonatal Unit. Any extra money raised will go to other charities who provide help and research into miscarriage, neonatal death and stillbirth.

To donate visit justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/rainbownhs

Marley with new little brother Phoenix leaving hospital

Marley with his baby brother, Phoenix, above; left, Catherine Ascroft with eight-year-old Marley and partner Jonny Hall had almost given up hope of having another baby until Phoenix came along

Hendrix, above left, who lived for just 12 hours; his baby hand and foot prints, left; Marley’s letter to Hendrix, above right, which reads: ‘I hope you like heaven and you have a good time there’