The couple’s ‘absolute joy’ after giving birth to a baby after six miscarriages

A married couple have shared their “absolute joy” after welcoming a miracle baby into the world following six devastating miscarriages. Charlie and Lynette Bathgate, both 42, endured ten agonizing years of unsuccessfully trying to have a child.

They were on the verge of giving up on their dream of parenthood when a doctor suggested Lynette try a drug commonly used before IVF treatment, available on the NHS. Lynette was stricken with anxiety when she discovered she was pregnant for the seventh time, having previously suffered six heart-wrenching miscarriages.

Their daughter – aptly named Faith – was born by emergency C-section on December 10 last year, weighing 8lb, 5oz. Charlie, a lorry driver, and Lynette, a residential care worker, from Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, revealed they had their first miscarriage around 2014.

This heartbreaking pattern continued for years to come, with pregnancies never progressing past 12 weeks. Lynnette was diagnosed with polycystic ovaries, a condition that causes irregular periods and an excess of male hormones, making conception difficult.

She said of the experience: “I spent most of my time doing pregnancy tests and ovulation tests and it kind of took over your life. It was also really painful to see friends get pregnant and have babies and family members and things like that.

“After my sixth miscarriage, I kind of gave up. It was in August, just before Covid. We were supposed to go on vacation on the same day. I had bled a little and had to move on. holiday a few days later.

“And then I had to go back for a scan in hospital the same day I was going on holiday and was told there was no heartbeat or anything.”

Lynette said a doctor at Old St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, encouraged her and Charlie to persevere in their attempts to become parents despite the setbacks. He then offered her the opportunity to try a drug called Bemfola – usually given to IVF patients before surgery – which helps eggs grow in the ovaries.

Lynette underwent treatment through a series of self-administered injections before trying to conceive naturally. Speaking about discovering she was pregnant for the seventh time last year, she said: “My anxiety was through the roof because of what happened previously.”

“A week after I found out, I had a little bleeding. I just thought, “Here we go again,” it was exactly the same as before with the miscarriages. But it must have been a tough cookie and it kept hanging on. .”

When Faith was born by C-section, she was initially taken to a special care ward – Lynette allowed her to meet her a few hours later. She recalled: “They took me to bed and took me to her. She was incubating and I said, “Can I hold her, please?”

“It was quite strange because her oxygen level was very low, but as soon as they put her on my chest, her oxygen level went back to normal.”

Proud dad Charlie revealed that six months after giving birth, Faith is fit and healthy. He also said that one of her favorite activities is watching cricket matches with him on TV.

Charlie said: “) He likes to watch cricket. I love it, and if you put the cricket on the TV, she’ll sit on my knee for an hour and a half, two hours, watching cricket with me.

The parents are planning a fundraising event in August to raise money for two miscarriage charities as a way of showing their gratitude and helping others facing similar situations.