IVF success despite covid obstacles
Weston super Mare couple Bilitis and Simon Hammond were quick to respond to an invitation to take part in celebrations of the 40 year anniversary of the first ‘Made in Bristol’ babies, and delighted to introduce three-year-old Avery, a child born as the result of fertility treatment at Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine (BCRM) straddling Covid, to the team who helped his parents have him.
When Bilitis was 35 and her husband Simon was 39, they had consulted their GP after trying unsuccessfully for a baby for two years and were referred to Southmead Hospital for tests under specialist fertility consultant Amanda Jefferys.
The test results meant they were offered one round of fertility treatment on the NHS at a clinic of their choice.
Bilitis said: “I’d done a lot of research, and joined various fertility Facebook groups and everything pointed to BCRM being the best clinic for us to go to, because they have the highest success rates in the area and are highly rated for their patient care.
Since Amanda Jefferys is on the BCRM team as a consultant gynaecologist and subspecialist in reproductive medicine and surgery, Bilitis and Simon requested that they continue their treatment under her care.
Bilitis said: “We were so pleased to be able to have that continuity of care and the clinic was very accommodating over this.
“But then Covid struck, and like many other couples going through fertility treatment, we had to live with some delays and restrictions.
“It was a very stressful time, but the team at BCRM did everything they could to enable our treatment.
“We had online appointments and consultations: they were very good and gave us everything we needed, they were really lovely and understanding.
“Since we’d had some initial tests done at Southmead, we just needed three more done at BCRM before our treatment started.
“Simon and I each had to attend the clinic individually because of the Covid restrictions – being greeted with masks and Covid tests at the door.
“Because of our particular fertility issues, we were told ICSI was likely to produce the best outcome for us and our treatment started properly as soon as the clinic resumed limited services in October 2020.
“We were very lucky because I became pregnant the very first time, and we couldn’t have been more delighted.
“I’d had eight eggs collected, three viable embryos resulted, one was implanted and became our gorgeous Avery.”
“It was such a whirlwind of a time because of Covid, but the standout thing for me was how efficient and nice everyone was, and what a smooth process we encountered.
“There was no need to chase for information and the care was just exactly what you want when you are going through that and already putting your body through so much.”
Avery was born at Southmead Hospital on 4 September 2021, weighing 8lb 4oz /and Bilitis and Simon enjoyed every moment of their parental leave, and settling into parenthood.
Bilitis, who is a vet nurse by training, now works part-time in sales for veterinary equipment, while Simon is an estimator in window fabrication for a builders’ merchants. Bilitis’s mum ‘Grangran’ helps provide care for Avery several times a week, and he also attends a day nursery.
BCRM www.fertilitybristol.com has one of the best success rates with IVF and other fertility treatments in the UK and is involved in innovative research covering a range of fertility issues.
