A couple who tried for a baby for seven years were finally blessed with a baby boy – after experts told them to give up exercise and avoid wearing perfume.
Nicola Szymanowski, 38, and husband Mark, 39, from Bury in Manchester, spent £20,000 on during an ‘utterly physically and emotionally exhausting’ ordeal trying to get pregnant. Along the way, Nicola, who for long spells spent day after day arriving at the hospital for 6.30 am appointments, sufferedfour unsuccessful courses, and two miscarriages. It was only after a doctor, at clinicin Tamworth, advised the couple to make dramatic changes to their lifestyles – including telling Mark to give up his morning boxing sessions and Nicola to avoid perfume, that their dream came true. The couple welcomed 6lb 10oz Charles Henry John in May this year.
Nicola said: “The doctor said Mark doing strenuous exercise would lead to his body releasing endorphins to repair the muscles, which could affect our chances. And she also said chemicals from perfume or make-up would get into my bloodstream, so I stopped using perfume. I even asked people who were coming to see me ɴᴏᴛ to wear perfume. It was an horrific journey, absolutely horrific. There were times when we were so low. But we finally got what we wanted. We were overjoyed when Charles arrived. We were very fortunate that Mark’s parents and my parents and step-parents helped us out with the bill. Without them it wouldn’t have been possible.”
Nicola added: “Without we wouldn’t have our family. Science is amazing. The whole process was totally and utterly physically and emotionally exhausting. We had some really rough times, there were times when I couldn’t speak to people, and times when I ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ get out of bed. But now Charlie is here. He is a beautiful mixture of Mark and I, and is doing well.” Dr Lockwood, Consultant and Executive Director at Midland, said: ” It is a pleasure to be part National fertility Awareness Week, helping to celebrate the 40-year anniversary of pivotal advancements in. Midland was the clinicthat welcomed the first baby born in the UK from a frozen egg, and the first baby born from a vitrified egg and so we’re keen to continue supporting UK advancements.’
