A woman who spent 15 years trying to conceive has finally given birth aged 48 after going through five rounds of failed IVF, one ectopic pregnancy and even the start of the menopause.
Fiona McCluskey, now 49, from Edinburgh, and her husband Darren, 47, began trying for a baby on their honeymoon to Jamaica in 2004 but as the weeks, months and years passed – it became apparent that something was not quite right.
The couple had blood and hormone tests and were advised by medics to try IVF, which they spent £50,000 on.
After five unsuccessful rounds of IVF – one of which resulted as an ectopic pregnancy – Fiona’s chances of becoming a mum becamse increasingly slim when she began experience menopause symptoms aged 45.
But she didn’t let her hopes and dreams of becoming a mum fade away and received specialist treatment in Barcelona, Spain, which involved a new protocol to start her periods again.
The couple were over the moon when their sixth and final round of IVF was a success and they welcomed Ella-Jane in May 2019.
Fiona McCluskey, now 49, from Edinburgh, is pictured with her baby girl Ella Jane in May 2019 after 15 years of trying to conceive
Fiona was 48 when she gave birth to baby Ella-Jane, pictured. She endured five rounds of failed IVF, one ectopic pregnancy and even the menopause
Fiona said: ‘We never thought this would happen to us; sometimes I wish I had started trying for a baby sooner, but I am grateful that I finally have my little miracle.
‘Darren, who is a key account manager, and I have been on an emotional rollercoaster ever since 2004. It has been so hard especially when friends, family and colleagues had babies and I didn’t, but I remained positive and hopeful and never gave up.
‘After two years of trying naturally, we went to the doctors who discovered I had a low ovarian reserve and needed IVF – we got the first round free and then paid for another on the NHS but they were both unsuccessful.
‘It was devastating, but we were able to pick ourselves back up and continue trying.
Fiona, now 49, and her husband Darren, 47, (pictured together) began trying for a baby on their honeymoon to Jamaica in 2004
After several months of trying, the couple had blood and hormone tests and were advised by medics to try IVF, which they spent £50,000 on. 15 years later they welcomed baby Ella-Jane, pictured with Fiona
Fiona is pictured at the IVF clinic in Barcelona, she travelled to the Spanish city to try and conceive
Fiona is pictured a few weeks before giving birth, she took 15 years to conceive her
‘We used our life savings and work bonuses to fund the treatment, but it was all worth it for our bundle of joy.’
In 2010, the couple went to a private clinic in Glasgow for Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ISCI) – an assisted reproduction technique used as part of IVF treatment.
They went on to have this procedure with every round of IVF to ‘boost’ their chances of becoming parents.
Fiona says the hardest part was juggling a demanding job and appointments, as she feared telling colleagues about her medical appointments as she feels infertility is stigmatised. Newborn Ella Jane is pictured
Fiona, pictured the day after giving birth, said she is now sharing her story in the hope to stop the stigma around infertility
She said: ‘I got “pregnant” which was great news, we were thrilled, but medics discovered it was a biochemical pregnancy which was heartbreaking.
‘My body had basically tricked itself into thinking it was pregnant, but I was grateful to see my body works.’
Fiona says the hardest part was juggling a demanding job and appointments, because she feared telling colleagues about her medical appointments, feeling that infertility is stigmatised.
She is now sharing her story to help break the infertility taboo.