When Charlie and Tom started trying for a baby, they never imagined they’d need IVF. But after setbacks and unanswered questions, they turned to Care Fertility Tamworth—and everything changed. Now, they’re sharing their journey, both here and on TikTok (@ivf_griggsjourneyto3), to reassure others going through the same thing—there’s always a way forward.
We are Charlie and Tom, and at the time of starting our fertility journey, we were 31 and 29. After postponing our wedding in 2020 due to Covid-19, we finally said ‘I do’ in August 2021 and couldn’t wait to start a family.
After trying for eight months, we fell pregnant naturally and couldn’t believe it—all our dreams had come true! But just a few short weeks later, we miscarried. We were heartbroken. Still, we knew getting pregnant and becoming parents was what we wanted more than anything, so we started trying again straight away.
Trying again and facing disappointment
After another eight months with no success, we started questioning why. So many people had told us things like “You’ll fall pregnant straight away now,” and “Your body knows what it’s doing.” We clung to those words, hoping they were true. But month after month, we were met with nothing but disappointment.
We decided to see a holistic fertility reflexologist, so I had weekly treatments while we both made lifestyle changes. We learned how to track ovulation properly using a thermometer to check my basal body temperature, and we made adjustments to food, drink, and supplements to help with Tom’s sperm health. It felt like our whole world revolved around fertility. But despite all of this, nothing changed.
Following advice from our reflexologist, we had some tests done. They revealed that I had a low ovarian reserve and Tom had low sperm morphology. That’s when we knew IVF was our next step—a new, scary, but also exciting chapter in our journey to becoming parents.
Overcoming the challenges of IVF
There were so many obstacles to overcome, both emotionally and physically. One of the biggest for me was my phobia of needles. The first stimulation injection took me hours to do, and at one point, I was doing three injections a night. But somehow, we got through it. It made us both so much stronger as individuals and as a couple.
We initially had treatment abroad, but sadly, it was unsuccessful, leading to even more heartache. We had been open about our journey from the start, sharing everything on social media. For us, it was the best thing we ever did. We became part of an incredibly supportive community, filled with people in similar situations. Sharing our story helped us, and knowing we were helping others made it even more worthwhile.
Through that community, we found Care Fertility Tamworth. So many people recommended them, and after everything we had been through, we knew we needed a clinic that really listened.
Moving forward with Care Fertility
By this point, we had already gone through two egg retrievals and one failed transfer. We felt much more equipped with knowledge and a better understanding of the process.
When we booked a consultation with Care Fertility Tamworth, we felt heard.
Our past experiences were taken into account, which gave us so much confidence in choosing them for our next round of IVF.
With my low ovarian reserve and previous low retrieval numbers (just three eggs both times), we decided on a multi-cycle package with ICSI. This gave us our best chance and also some breathing space if the worst happened and we had another failed transfer.
Our protocol was similar to our previous round, but with some changes to the medication. This meant an extra injection each night, and it definitely affected my hormones more. It was tough, but we kept thinking about the bigger picture. Every time I injected, we reminded ourselves: this is magic medicine. This is what’s helping my body do what it needs to do to make our dreams come true.
We continued sharing our journey, which helped us cope with the brutal emotions that come with IVF. We know being open isn’t for everyone, but having a support system—no matter how small—is so important. Physically and mentally, we just had to take it one day at a time and remember to be kind to ourselves and each other.
The moment that changed everything
On 21st December 2023, we found out our transfer with Care Fertility had been successful—we were pregnant! That moment, standing in front of our Christmas tree and seeing the positive pregnancy test, will stay with us forever.
And now, as we write this, we’re sitting in front of the same tree, but this time, we’re holding our Christmas miracle in our arms. It still doesn’t feel real. But we really did it!
Looking back
This month, we’ve been reflecting on our journey and everything we’ve been through. We are so proud of ourselves. It wasn’t easy, and there were times when it felt impossible. But now, being on the other side, we can say without hesitation—we would do it all again in a heartbeat to have our baby girl in our arms.
If you’re about to start your own fertility journey, just know that you are never alone. You are stronger than you think. Make sure you have a support system, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. There is no such thing as a silly question. Knowledge is power, so ask, research, and reach out to others who have been through it. People like us will always be happy to help—our TikTok inbox is always open: @ivf_griggsjourneyto3.
The most rewarding part of this whole journey—other than having our beautiful girl—is how strong it has made us as a couple. We’re so proud of the way we supported each other and the fact that we never gave up, no matter how hard it got.
A thank you to care fertility
We also want to say a huge thank you to Care Fertility Tamworth. From our first consultation to our pregnancy scan, they were incredible. We honestly can’t fault them, and we cannot wait to take our baby girl in to meet the team who helped bring her into the world.
They changed our lives in ways we never thought possible, and we will forever be grateful.
Everyone’s path to parenthood looks different, but no one has to go through it alone. Charlie and Tom’s story is proof that even when things don’t go to plan, the right care and support can make all the difference. If you’re thinking about treatment, we’re here to help whenever you’re ready.
