Dalton mum's 'joy' at giving birth to baby after six miscarriages

Charlie and Lynette Bathgate, from Dalton, had been trying to have a child for eight years.

And they almost gave up on their dream of becoming parents until a doctor urged Lynette to try a medicine on the NHS normally taken prior to IVF treatment.

She was 'filled with anxiety' when she then fell pregnant for the seventh time, having suffered six heartbreaking miscarriages before.

But their daughter - appropriately named Faith - arrived by emergency caesarian section on December 10 last year, weighing 8lb, 5oz.

Baby Faith was born in December (Image: Submitted)Lynette said of the moment she first held her baby girl: “It was the most fantastic feeling in the world. I can’t describe it.

“I’ve always heard people say holding your own child is the best feeling in the world, and I never could relate to it really.

“I think I blocked those feelings out, thinking I would never have a child.

"But I just can’t describe the absolute joy and love I had for her straight away. She’s such a little character already.

“She’s so independent and so funny and she’s just fantastic. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Lynette and her daughter Faith (Image: Submitted)

Lynnette had been diagnosed with polycystic ovaries, a condition leading to irregular periods and the release of excess male hormones, making conception harder.

She said about the experience: “I spent most of the time doing pregnancy tests and ovulation tests, and it kind of took over your life in a way.

“It was also really hurtful seeing friends get pregnant and having babies and family members and things like that.

“After the sixth miscarriage, I had kind of given up in a way. It was in August just before Covid. We were due to go on holiday the same day.

“I’d had a bit of bleeding and I was due to go on holiday a few days later.

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

READ MORE: 'We kept the faith' - Couple welcomes miracle baby after six miscarriages

Lynette said a doctor at Old St Mary's Hospital, in Manchester, encouraged her and Charlie to keep going with their attempts to become parents despite the setbacks.

He then gave her the chance to take a medicine called Bemfola - offered to IVF patients before surgery - which helps to stimulate the growth of eggs in the ovaries.

Lynette took the treatment through a series of self-administered injections before attempting to conceive a baby naturally.

She said of learning she was pregnant for the seventh time last year: “My anxiety was through the roof because of what happened previously.

“A week after I found out, I had a little bleed. I just thought, ‘Here we go again’ – it was just exactly the same as I had before with the miscarriages.

"But she must have been a tough cookie and kept hanging on.”

Lynette and Charlie after Faith was born (Image: Submitted)

The parents are organising a fundraiser for two miscarriage charities in August to thank them and help support others going through similar experiences.

They have also organised an open-for-all family fun day at Dalton Cricket Club on Sunday, August 25.

To donate visit their Just Giving Page here.