Real-life inspiration: IVF success stories

As these stories show some couples will do anything to have a baby! Be inspired and enjoy their stories, and we hope you experience their good luck.

Louisa's story

Chantal's story

LOUISA: 'I took my fertility for granted'

Having had a child already, who was conceived naturally and without trying, I took it for granted that I'd be able to go on to have more. So it was a real shock to find out I couldn't conceive the second time around. A laparoscopy showed that I had damaged tubes and polycystic ovaries.

I was young, so I had age on my side, but the doctors couldn't believe the poor quality of my eggs. Thanks to the IVF treatment, though, we now have two gorgeous baby sisters for my little boy.

All about me…

Name: Louisa
Age: 24
Job:Full-time mum
Lives: Peterborough
Significant others: Husband Graham, 35, Jordan 7, Hollie and Piper born May 2001
Type of treatment: IVF
Trying for: 4 years

Don't give up, because you don't know how close you are to your dream.

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Our son Jordan was conceived naturally in 1995 with no trying so we had no idea that there was a problem.

We started trying for another baby in 1997. My periods were all over the place, so we thought there was probably a hormone problem. I had a laparoscopy in March 1999, which showed that I had damaged tubes. We also found out that I had polycystic ovaries. We were absolutely devastated, as we always wanted more children.

We had our first IVF cycle in February 2000. We only ended up with two embryos, but they weren't very good quality. We weren't that surprised when my period showed up early. As I'm still in my early 20's the doctor wasn't expecting the embryos to be such bad quality.

We decided to have a break and got married in October 2000. The following year we thought long and hard about trying again - we weren't sure if we could go through it all again. But we decided it had to be worth another go, and started our second cycle in August 2000. This time we were using different drugs. We had 14 embryos collected. Eleven of them were mature and nine fertilised perfectly.

We had two embryos replaced and found out two weeks later that it had worked. At first, I didn't believe the test and so I did another one. In fact, I did quite a few every day for four or five days!

At seven weeks, we found out it was twins. I had a brilliant pregnancy and carried them to 38 weeks and three days. After a normal labour with only gas and air our twin girls were born. They came home two days later.

Hollie and Piper are gorgeous and they were worth every bit of the IVF.

CHANTAL: 'Our treatment was like a holiday'

My husband Jason and I were so relaxed about our IVF treatment. We were being treated at a hospital in London and so we decided to see it as a little holiday. We stayed for two weeks of scans and egg retrieval and implantation, and in that time we relaxed as much as possible and did all the tourist bits.

I am now the proud mum of a little girl called Molly born on 6th February 2003. She's the most beautiful girl in the world.

All about me…

Name: Chantal
Age: 27
Job:Full-time mum and deputy care service manager
Lives: Norfolk
Significant others: Husband Jason, 30, Molly born February 2003
Type of treatment: IVF
Trying for: 14 months

Just relax and don't let it stress you out.

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I had my IVF treatment at St Barts Hospital in London. We were on the NHS waiting list for a year and two months, and had the treatment for free.

The staff and doctors at Barts were really nice and gave us all the time in the world. We were not rushed or dismissed and were treated like human beings.

We stayed in London for the two weeks of scans and egg retrieval and implantation, and used this time as a mini holiday. We did all the tourist bits and sightseeing, and we relaxed as much as possible.

From starting the nasal spray to egg implantation was only just under five weeks - I was surprised at how quick the treatment cycle was.

Throughout the treatment, I tried not to think about whether it would work or not. Getting through the next two weeks was the hardest time. It actually passed quickly, but it was like the countdown to either the end of my dreams or the beginning of my future.

At 5am on the morning of the day I could do the test, I crept out of my bed to the bathroom to do the test on my own. Three minutes later, my dreams had come true.

I was continually sick throughout the day for the first 16 weeks of my pregnancy. Then I felt fine. When I felt the baby move for the first time at 17 weeks it was amazing. Until that point I was panicking all the time that something would go wrong. As soon as she started moving I was reassured that everything was OK.

Then, on the 6th February this year, at 38 weeks, I went into labour and my beautiful miracle little girl Molly was born weighing a healthy 7lb 5oz.

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