World IVF Day 2022: Meet the miracle babies born via IVF

For four Warrington families this moment was even more special as the babies were much longed for with the parents receiving fertility treatment to help them start a family.

The couples have shared their IVF stories with us to mark International IVF Day, which is celebrated on July 25 each year in honour of Louise Brown, who was the first baby born through IVF on July 25, 1978.

Here are their stories:

Tracy and Mike Gough from Latchford had IVF treatment after trying for six years to start a family.

Tests showed that Tracy, who has cystic fibrosis, had a tumour on her pituitary gland, which she needed treatment to shrink.

The daily injections and regular scans at the Hewitt Fertility Centre at Liverpool Women's Hospital was the first part of their IVF journey and they had nine embryos suitable to be implanted.

Tracy, who developed gestational diabetes at 28 weeks, said: “We were able to see the embryos before they were implanted, which was amazing.

“We were incredibly lucky as it worked first time and I was pregnant with twins.

“I had about a month of gestational diabetes but then my waters broke at 33 weeks.

“Baden was born weighing 4lb 5oz at 3.25pm on April 27, 2009, and Jamie was born 32 minutes later weighing 3lb 2oz.

“They were in intensive care and the neonatal unit for 16 days and I was able to stay with them – Mike came every day to visit us all.

“The boys are now teenagers and have just finished Year 8 at school.

“We feel so lucky that our IVF journey was so successful.”

Tracy and Mike Gough with Baden and Jamie

Baden and Jamie on the day they came home from hospital

The twins at the end of Year 8

Jemma and Nathan Fannon’s road to starting a family was long and traumatic.

The couple, who live in Orford, had been together for 11 years when Jemma was referred to St Mary’s Women’s Hospital for tests.

Jemma had cysts on her ovaries, endometriosis and blocked fallopian tubes having been in pain for several years and they were told there was no way she would fall pregnant naturally.

Jemma underwent several operations and once her body had recovered, they could start the IVF treatment.

Jemma said: “I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

“It was awful – a five-year journey.

“Twelve eggs were collected but we were told all the embryos were very poor and wouldn’t survive.

“The doctors advised us to have two implanted as they needed to be back where they belonged, but we were prepared for the worst.

“Amazingly, it worked and I was pregnant with twins!”

Matilda and Myles Fannon

Jemma’s pregnancy was no plain sailing as she was sick every day and went from seven-and-a-half stone in weight to 12-and-a-half stone over nine months.

The twins were born via C-section at 37 weeks with Matilda arriving first at 9.56am on October 14, 2019 weighing 6lb 5oz and Myles making an appearance just one minute later weighing 6lb 12oz.

Matilda and Myles on the day they were christened

Jemma said: “Everything went perfectly when the twins were born and we were allowed home the day after.

“I remember the car journey home was very surreal.

“I kept getting upset and wondering how I was going to cope with two babies.

“It was very emotional to think that our wish came true and we finally had the family we’d hoped for.”

Jemma and Nathan Fannon with Matilda and Myles

When Vicki Hogan was 15 months old she was diagnosed with Wilms tumour – a rare form of kidney cancer that affects young children and the chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment causes infertility.

Vicki was told she would never have her own children naturally and after trying for two years she was referred to The Hewitt Fertility Centre and placed on the NHS waiting list for IVF.

Vicki said: “I was racing against the clock as I’d been told that in addition to infertility problems, I could face early menopause.

“I had numerous rounds of IVF after my parents paid for us to go to a private hospital and then had further rounds on the NHS.

“It was a long five years and very much trial and error as the medication needed to be adjusted during each round.

“I had three embryos implanted and was told to wait two weeks to do a pregnancy test as the medication can cause a false positive result.

“I waited ten days and the result came back positive.

“I then did a pregnancy test every day for a month – it cost a fortune in pregnancy tests!”

Mum Vicki Hogan with new daughter Robyn

When Vicki was 24 weeks pregnant she had to stop working and rest as her legs swelled and her doctors and midwives didn’t know why.

Her waters broke at 35 weeks and two hours later, at 10.09am on March 31 2005, Robyn arrived weighing 5lb 8oz.

Robyn Meredith when she was just a few days old

Vicki added: “There were so many disappointments along the way and I feel so lucky to have Robyn.

“She was such a good baby – she’s fantastic.”

Vicki’s daughter Robyn is now 17 and having just finished a course in hairdressing, she is about to start studying travel and tourism at Warrington Vale Royal College.

Vicki and Robyn

Katie Bradshaw and her partner Karl, who live in Latchford, spent six years trying for a baby as Katie suffered from polycystic ovaries and had four miscarriages.

Katie said: “The fourth miscarriage happened at 12 weeks which meant the doctors were able to do tests on the foetus.

“They found I had a rare condition that affect my blood which meant that once I’d conceived, the baby wasn’t receiving the right nutrients to survive.

“We were referred to CARE Fertility Chester and started our IVF treatment.”

Katie, who is 31, was on the waiting list for six months but once treatment started they made quick progress.

Katie said: “I had eight eggs harvested but only one embryo survived – my only egg was literally in one basket.

“We knew it was the only embryo, so it had to work.

“Due to my blood condition, I had daily injections and scans every three weeks to monitor the baby and I was induced two weeks early.

“My waters broke straight away and I spent 16 hours in labour before the baby became distressed and I had to have an emergency C-section.”

Reid and mum Katie

Reid and dad Karl

Reid Chester was born at 8.39am on May 20 this year weighing 6lb 6oz and had to be resuscitated before being rushed to Warrington Hospital’s intensive care unit and then to Alder Hey.

Katie said: “I signed myself out of Warrington Hospital the following day as I just wanted to be with my baby.

“Reid had two lots of surgery at seven days old.

“He was born with his arteries wrapped around his trachea and they found a hole in his heart.

“The surgeries were successful and we were all able to come home after three weeks.”

Katie added: “It’s a complete blur really and he just seemed so tiny – very unreal.

“It’s like a fairy tale.

“As hard as it was, everything is perfect now and we’re just so happy.”

Reid at just a few days old

Reid at 12 weeks old