Having a baby at 53 after 25 years of artificial insemination

After dozens of failed IVF attempts, Helen Dalglish, from Scotland, finally successfully conceived her first child at the age of 53.

The IVF process lasted 25 years and cost her and her family nearly £100,000. Speaking to the Daily Record about the joys and pains of giving birth, Dalglish said she never gave up on her dream of becoming a mother.

"When you get that little miracle at the end of the road, you forget about 25 years of hard work. I looked down at my growing belly and thought, 'Am I dreaming?'," she said.

Dalglish moved to Cyprus in her 20s, and began trying to conceive with her husband at 28, but was unsuccessful. The couple returned to Scotland soon after for fertility treatment. However, tests showed no complications and they were both diagnosed with idiopathic infertility.

Doctors in Cyprus later discovered that Dalglish's uterus was severely misaligned, making it difficult for her to conceive. The couple had undergone four rounds of intrauterine insemination, in which sperm is placed directly into the uterus, without success. So Dalglish and her husband decided to undergo IVF.

They were only eligible for one free treatment on the National Health Service (NHS). The next 20 years were filled with repeated failed attempts, despite the initial embryos being of good quality. But Dalglish remained steadfast in her plan to have a child.

“Sometimes, I feel overwhelmed emotionally. There are too many physical and financial burdens,” she confided.

During the time she was trying to conceive, Dalglish would occasionally take a year or two off to give her body a break. She began practicing meditation and yoga to improve her health.

"Every time I failed, I would feel like I was going through a death. I would collapse for a few weeks, but then get up and think: 'If I want this child, I need to take action.' I tried to forget the failures and start over," she said.

Dalglish also suffered from constant anxiety each time the doctor attempted to transfer the embryo back into her uterus, a procedure that was unbearably painful. She was sedated for the transfers, but the results were always negative.

Helen Dalglish and daughter Daisy Grace. Photo: Daily Mail — Helen Dalglish and daughter Daisy Grace. Photo: *Daily Mail*

Over more than two decades of her IVF journey, Dalglish became pregnant several times but miscarried.

"That was when I was 41 or 42. I was only about nine or 10 weeks pregnant. Sometimes I almost gave up and told myself not to punish myself like that. But I kept seeing the image of the baby even in my dreams," she said.

Dalglish then decided to use donor eggs, but that too failed. Despite creating 10 healthy embryos, all of the fetuses died before they could take shape.

In a state of grief, Dalglish returned to Cyprus and decided to try one last time at the Dunya Fertility Centre. After two embryo transfers, the couple were stunned to receive an email confirming pregnancy within a fortnight.

"We both burst into tears and screamed. They were tears of relief and happiness," she recalled.

During her pregnancy, Dalglish suffered from diabetes and preeclampsia, a condition that causes high blood pressure. But with each passing month, she became more confident that she would meet her baby. Finally, she successfully gave birth to Daisy Grace at the age of 53.

"When I got home, I burst into tears. It felt like 25 years of grief had ended when I least expected it. She is getting healthier, more obedient, more comfortable and happier. She is exactly what I had been expecting for a long time. I want to thank all the staff and doctors. My daughter is a worthy gift after 25 years of waiting," she said.

Dr Alper Eraslan, Dalglish's primary physician, said her determination would be an inspiration to others, despite the difficult journey of IVF, mentally, financially and physically.

Thuc Linh (According to Daily Mail )

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