A mum who forked out £70,000 on IVF has welcomed a “miracle baby” at 47 following four devastating miscarriages.
Jessica Peacock had always dreamed of having children but faced years of heartbreak before finally welcoming her son Oliver, now one.
The 47-year-old and husband Ian, 49, began trying for a baby in 2017 but were told they were unable to conceive naturally due to Jessica’s low egg reserve.
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Because Ian already had two children from a previous relationship, Annalise, 19, and Jacob, 17, the couple did not qualify for NHS-funded IVF treatment.
Stay-at-home mum Jessica and planning engineer Ian endured four miscarriages before Oliver, now one, was born.
“I was devastated when I found out we couldn’t have children naturally and that we didn’t qualify for IVF,” Jessica from Essex, told Need To Know.
“We’ve spent about £70,000.
“When I fell pregnant after the first round of IVF, I was absolutely over the moon and couldn’t believe it had worked.
“I felt like the happiest, luckiest girl in the world and was crushed when I miscarried.
“My dreams were shattered.
“I’d been thinking about what the baby would look like and whose features would it have.
“I was very confused and naive because I thought I’d fall pregnant and that would be that.
“I was turning 40 but I didn’t think about age because me and Ian met later in life and all I cared about was being happy and having a child.
“I didn’t know why I miscarried.
“There was a lot that I didn’t understand, the grief was really hard.”
The couple had paid privately for two IVF cycles in the UK but Jessica tragically miscarried at 10 weeks.
She had to undergo a manual vacuum procedure following the miscarriage.
The second cycle failed entirely, leaving the couple searching for other options abroad.
They used money from the sale of Jessica’s flat and savings to fund it.
Jessica said: “I’m quite a positive person and had always wanted to be a mum so I didn’t want to give up.
“Ian was amazing and so supportive but he found it hard to watch me go through all the emotions and drugs.
“Even though, Ian had children, there was no funding in Cambridge and Peterborough.
“It’s a postcode lottery with IVF.”
Determined not to give up, the couple travelled to a clinic in Spain where women can undergo IVF treatment until the age of 51.
The couple tried IVF using a donor egg and Ian’s sperm.
But the heartbreak continued.
Jessica was later diagnosed with endometriosis and fluid in her fallopian tubes, conditions which can make pregnancy more difficult.
Jessica fell pregnant again but miscarried at eight weeks.
The couple underwent seven IVF cycles in total and endured two more miscarriages during that period.
Eventually, exhausted physically and emotionally, Jessica felt she couldn’t continue.
She said: “I was done.
“I told Ian I couldn’t do it anymore.
“We’ve spent all our money trying to have a baby but i was physically, mentally and emotionally done.
“But I was still yearning to have a baby.”
In a final attempt, Jessica visited another clinic in the UK where doctors identified a previously undiagnosed problem, her body was attacking the embryo.
With new medication and treatment in place, Jessica became pregnant once again.
Alongside the medical treatment, Jessica focused on improving her health.
Jessica, who is a holistic fertility an wellness mentor, said: “I was so scared.
“My anxiety was huge until about 20 weeks.
“I tapped into nutrition, gut health, did yoga and went on walks every day.
“I had a lovely pregnancy with no issues and I had a lovely little bump.
“I was very lucky.”
Oliver was eventually born six weeks early via Caesarean section.
Now one, Jessica says he has transformed their lives.
Jessica said: “Life has been amazing.
“I feel so blessed.
“He’s such a happy little boy.
“We have the best time together.
“Oliver is my world.”
Jessica added that becoming a mother later in life has been incredibly special and the couple are even considering trying for another baby in the future.
She added: “I love being a new mum in my forties.
“My family and friends know I’ve wanted a baby for as long as they can remember.
“We’ve lived our lives, we’ve travelled and we’ve partied and now we have a family.
“I wouldn’t change it for the world.
“Everything happens for a reason.”
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