Emily, a mom to her daughter from a previous relationship, never thought she would face challenges in conceiving again after meeting Tom. The couple from Bognor Regis started their journey to expand their family, but after over a year of trying with no success, they decided to seek help from Wessex Fertility. It turned out that Emily was experiencing secondary infertility. Luckily, after undergoing IVF treatment at Wessex Fertility, they are now the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl named Ella.
Emily, 32, and Tom, 29, crossed paths in 2011 and tied the knot four years later. “When we got married, I figured we’d start trying for a baby right away, and I honestly didn’t expect any issues. But as time passed, a year had gone by and we hadn’t conceived, which started to worry us,” Emily recalls. Concerned, they visited their doctor, who initially thought Emily had a cyst that needed to be removed.
However, the news was far worse than expected when Emily woke from surgery. “They informed me that they had to remove my entire left fallopian tube, which was devastating. Still, the doctors reassured us that there was no reason we couldn’t conceive if we kept trying, so we pushed on for another six months,” Emily reflects.
After a total of 18 months of trying, they decided it was time to look into fertility treatments. “We stumbled upon Wessex Fertility online and were drawn to its personalized approach, as we really didn’t want to feel like just another case. Reading the success stories on their website gave us hope; I thought to myself, that could be us! The welcoming atmosphere during our initial call made us feel comfortable,” Emily shares.
They opted for a Rapid Fertility Assessment, a service that allows Wessex Fertility to diagnose infertility issues and suggest treatments in a streamlined two-hour appointment. “The semen analysis, ultrasound, and AMH results were all normal. But during the HyCoSy test, Dr. Ingamells discovered that the dye couldn’t pass through my tube. We had a candid discussion right after, and IVF was presented as an option. The doctor indicated that everything was there for us to have a baby, but the path was blocked,” Emily explains.
Determined, Emily and Tom dove into treatment right away, attending their first appointment that same month where they learned how to administer medication. “The emotional journey was tough, but the treatment process itself wasn’t as bad as I had feared. It was always in the back of my mind that it may not work, but staying positive helped. My sister was a great support, and I connected with other moms online who became wonderful friends,” says Emily.
About six weeks later, Emily underwent the egg collection procedure, resulting in nine eggs being retrieved. Those eggs were then fertilized with Tom’s sperm and carefully monitored in an advanced EmbryoScope. “Seven of the eggs fertilized, leading to three high-quality embryos. We still have pictures of them!” Emily beams. After selecting an embryo, it was transferred to Emily’s uterus, and they entered the nerve-wracking two-week wait to see if it was successful.
“The wait was agonizing! I had no pregnancy symptoms, just feelings similar to my period, which didn’t boost our hopes,” she remembers. Then, on Father’s Day 2017, the couple received the life-changing news they had been longing for. “When I saw that positive test, I rushed to Tom and said, ‘Happy Father’s Day!’ It was an unforgettable moment,” recalls Emily.
A few weeks later, they went for their first scan at Wessex Fertility, bringing along Emily’s daughter, Ruby. “I was so nervous about bringing her, but everything went smoothly. The heartbeat showed up right away, and we were all emotional,” Emily recounts.
On March 5th, 2018, Emily welcomed a gorgeous baby girl, Ella, who weighed 7 lbs 4.5 oz. “Holding Ella for the first time was surreal. After a four-day labor, it was the most incredible moment! Seeing Tom hold her made everything worthwhile,” Emily reflects.
“Wessex Fertility was phenomenal. Their warmth and support were invaluable during what was a scary time for us. They made sure we felt genuinely cared for, so I never dreaded our appointments. Our little Ella is our miracle, and we owe it all to the expertise, encouragement, and compassion from the team at Wessex—thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Emily concludes.
If you’re interested in learning more about home insemination, check out this guide on how to use an at-home insemination kit. Also, if you’re looking for valuable insights on pregnancy and insemination, you can find excellent resources here. For a lighter side, don’t miss out on some of the funniest quotes from kids in this blog post!
In summary, Emily and Tom’s journey through secondary infertility was filled with challenges, but their determination and support from Wessex Fertility led them to become proud parents to their daughter, Ella. Their story is a testament to hope and perseverance in the face of adversity.