At Care Fertility, we meet many couples who arrive with years of unanswered questions behind them. Alice and Connor Smith, from Castleford in West Yorkshire, came to us after trying to conceive for several years without success. Their story reflects the realities of fertility treatment, the strain it can place on everyday life, and what it can look like to keep moving forward together. What follows is Alice’s account of their journey, in her own words.
Life before treatment
After Connor and I got married in 2011, we decided to enjoy a few years together before thinking about starting a family. In 2020, we felt the time was right to try for a baby.
We tried naturally for over three years but had no success. As time went on, and with neither of us getting any younger, we decided to speak to our GP about potential fertility treatment.
Finding Care Fertility
After discussing our options with our GP, IVF was recommended as our best chance of having a baby. Our GP referred us to Care Fertility in Leeds, and that was the start of our treatment journey.
Starting treatment
Our treatment began in January 2024 following our GP referral. At the start, everything felt daunting. We were nervous and did not fully realise just how much I would go through physically during treatment. We knew it would not be easy, but it was still an eye opener once it began.
Following egg retrieval, we were able to create four embryos for transfer.
Alice and Connor sharing a moment together on the day of treatment, finding space to smile before heading into theatre.
The difficult moments
We had two unsuccessful embryo transfers, which took a real toll on us. With each failed attempt, the number of embryos we had available dropped, and that was hard to process. There were points where we started to believe the treatment might not work for us and that we might not get the chance to grow our family.
The treatment also had a physical impact on me. I work at a special needs school and had to take several weeks away from work due to the amount of medication and treatment involved.
We got through the tougher days by supporting each other and reminding ourselves that while we still had frozen embryos, there was still a chance. That helped us keep going.
The outcome
Our third embryo transfer, in November 2024, was successful. Alice’s pregnancy was confirmed on 11 December 2024.
On 18 August 2025, we welcomed our first child, a beautiful baby boy called Zachary.
Life now
After nearly four years of unsuccessful attempts, we were finally able to expand our little family. Having Zach in our lives has changed everything for the better. He is our perfect little boy, and we cannot imagine life without him.
Baby Zachary Brian Smith, photographed shortly after his birth on 18 August 2025.
Reflections on the journey
The hardest part of the process was finding the strength to put the failed transfers behind us and continue. It is not easy to separate yourself emotionally from each outcome, but we knew stopping would mean never knowing.
What helped the most was having each other. Being able to talk openly and support one another through the tougher moments made the process feel more manageable.
Looking back, we wish we had understood just how much treatment would be involved. The months of injections, appointments, and check-ups do take their toll, and that was not something we weren’t prepared for.
What kept us going was the possibility of having a baby. It was something we had wanted since we got married, and we always tried to keep that end goal in mind.
Alice and Connor with their newborn son, Zachary Brian Smith, not long after he was born.
Our experience with Care Fertility
We had a very good and supportive experience with Care Fertility. We always felt properly looked after and were given clear advice about next steps throughout treatment.
Although we cannot remember specific staff names, every member of the team was fantastic and went above and beyond when caring for us.
A message for others starting out
Our advice would be to keep going, even when things feel difficult. The process is not easy, but the outcome can change your life.
