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.
She said: ‘I had a very demanding job, in advertising and marketing, with long hours, which kept me very busy throughout the process. In hindsight, I used work as a coping mechanism because I never took time off to dwell on anything I was going through.
‘I was a bit of a workaholic, who was up and down the country for meetings and meeting strict deadlines.
The couple tried several rounds of IVF but were forced to put their dreams of becoming a family on hold in 2011 after both being made redundant
After meeting a Spanish doctor at a fertility event in Glasgow they travelled to a Barcelona IVF clinic in 2014 where they began trying again. Fiona is pictured with baby Ella Jane in September 2019 on holiday in Gran Canaria
Fiona and Darren met in 1988, they are pictured here on a trip to London in 1989 (left). Fiona and Darren are pictured on their 10 year wedding anniversary in 2014 (right) They began trying to conceive on their honeymoon 10 years earlier
In 2015, she endured more heartbreak as another round failed and then she began to experience ‘horrible’ hot flushes and her GP gave her a menopause diagnosis the following year. Miraculously, she conceived four years later
‘I didn’t let my personal life affect my work and kept everything what was happening bottled up by not telling anyone, and occasionally making up excuses when I needed time off for appointments.
‘I regret not taking time off when going through so much stress and heartbreak, but I didn’t want other people to know.’
The couple were forced to put their dreams of becoming a family on hold in 2011 after both being made redundant.
But after meeting a Spanish doctor at a fertility event in Glasgow they travelled to a Barcelona IVF clinic in 2014 where they began trying again.
Fiona adds: ‘During our three year break, I continued to exercise, eat healthily and take vitamins, go to acupuncture – I even went to hypnotherapy sessions but they didn’t work.
‘Our desire to become parents became stronger and stronger – it was upsetting seeing friends with their children and feeling sad and a bit jealous.
‘Once we both settled into new jobs, we began saving again and flew to Spain for another round of IVF and it was successful!
‘We couldn’t believe it – our dreams had come true but at eight weeks, I had severe cramps during my train journey home from a work appointment in Birmingham.
‘When I got back to Scotland, I was bleeding and we went straight to the hospital to be told it was an ectopic pregnancy.
‘I was absolutely totally heartbroken, but I found some comfort knowing I could carry a baby.’
Fiona said: ‘Our desire to become parents became stronger and stronger – it was upsetting seeing friends with their children and feeling sad and a bit jealous’. The couple are pictured on their honeymoon in Jamaica in 2005
In 2015, she endured more heartbreak as another round failed and then she began to experience ‘horrible’ hot flushes, and her GP gave her a menopause diagnosis the following year.
She thought ‘it was over’ but the clinic in Barcelona introduced her to a new protocol and the pill to start her periods again.
In 2018, two embryos were transferred and a pregnancy test revealed, following the agonising ’14 day wait’ Fiona was pregnant aged 47.
Special day: Ella Jane is pictured at her christening with her parents and Fiona’s sister Hazel (right)
The deighted mother said that Ella-Jane was ‘totally worth the wait’. Her parents can’t wait to take her to Barcelona, becuase of its signifigance in her life story
She said: ‘I was absolutely over the moon but still couldn’t quite believe it – I was smiling from ear to ear and so was Darren.
‘But I couldn’t help but feel frightened as I thought something bad might happen and worried a lot during my pregnancy but tried to keep busy and put it out of my mind but it was terrifying at times, thinking the worst but stayed calm and used hypnosis soundtracks at night to switch off.
‘My parents were ecstatic as they finally got a grandchild in their late 70s.
‘Ella-Jane is a gem, our rainbow baby and she was totally worth the wait – I can’t even remember my life before her – it is like she has always been here!
‘It can be hard at times as I am not as young as I used to be but I am fit and regularly work out and keep myself healthy.
‘Barcelona will always have a special place in our hearts and we can’t wait to take Ella-Jane there.
‘And we’re so very grateful and lucky we met the Doctor from the Barcelona clinic.’