Every fertility journey is different. Some move quickly, others take years, with pauses, pivots, and moments where plans change entirely. Jack and Vicki’s story reflects what IVF can really look like over time — not just the milestones, but the waiting, the adjustments, and the learning along the way. They’ve shared their experience here in their own words.
Starting out, with different expectations
Our story started just after our wedding, when we decided to start trying for a baby. Coming off the pill on our honeymoon, we thought it wouldn’t be long before we became a family. Looking back now, that feels quite naïve.
When things didn’t feel right
A few months later, after a menstrual cycle that lasted over 100 days, we realised something might not be quite right. We were patient, tried ovulation sticks to time things properly, but after a year of very long cycles and negative pregnancy tests we went to the doctor. Vicki was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). As part of the process, Jack was tested too and, much to our surprise, he was found to have a low sperm count linked to childhood operations. It was becoming clearer why nothing had happened so far.
Choosing Care Fertility and the plan forward
We chose Care Fertility after seeing their success rates published online, and from the very beginning they were fantastic. Everything was explained clearly, and we were told we’d need intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) because of Jack’s sperm count.
We started with egg collection. It felt like the journey had properly begun. Once we got into the routine of medication and injections — something that felt daunting at first — it became manageable.
Learning that waiting is part of the process
Expecting a fresh transfer soon after collection became unrealistic. Vicki had produced so many eggs that her body had been overstimulated and needed time to recover. There was excitement at how many eggs had been collected, but also disappointment that we’d have to wait longer. At that point we hadn’t fully appreciated the process and we just wanted to get the embryo implanted.
We ended that round with eight blastocysts frozen. At the time, knowing we had eight chances felt reassuring.
Eight blastocysts and early transfers
Our first embryo transfer went smoothly, but it wasn’t successful. The second was the same. By then, the disappearing blastocysts were starting to worry us. A cruise around the Med helped take our minds off things for a while.
The third attempt didn’t even make it to transfer. Vicki’s womb lining just wouldn’t thicken enough. Care Fertility gave extra time and medication to try to get it right, but eventually the cycle had to be cancelled.
Adjusting, trying again, and keeping going
By the fourth round, we were apprehensive. Medication was tweaked again, including Viagra, which made us laugh when it was prescribed. We reached transfer day, everything went to plan, and we told ourselves this had to be it. When pregnancy test day arrived, we didn’t test early. The result was negative again. This was when things started to feel really tough, and it became hard to believe it would ever work.
The transfer that felt different
By the fifth attempt, we knew exactly what we were doing. We tried not to build things up, telling ourselves it would be easier if it didn’t work. Something feels different during the transfer this time, there was a much more relaxed environment, maybe we just know the process so well it just feels normal? We chatted about hot chocolate — Jack always made the most of the clinic hot chocolate — and then it was done.
The two week wait afterwards felt endless. We kept ourselves busy as best we could.
The longest wait
After a restless night, we took the pregnancy test in the early hours of the morning. As Vicki put the test down on the side for Jack to look at once the timer was up, she caught a glimpse of a plus. We both couldn’t believe what we had seen and a Christmas miracle was appearing right in front of us.
Waiting for the next hurdle
That led to a new kind of worry. We hadn’t reached this point before. Just days before the viability scan, Vicki had some bleeding and we assumed that was it. The drive to the appointment was silent. Sitting in the waiting room, watching another couple come out smiling, we felt sure the odds wouldn’t fall our way too.
Seeing and hearing a heartbeat on the screen changed everything. The relief was overwhelming. One of the nurses who had seen us through years of disappointment hugged us, and that moment will stay with us forever.
Being open with friends and family
We were very open with friends and family about our IVF journey from the start. So many people don’t realise that it’s very intrusive to ask when you are having a baby or speculate that you might be pregnant if you don’t have any alcohol, so we just explained that we would be going through this journey and were happy to answer questions, but asked people to bear with us if we turned events down or were a bit sad or grumpy now and again.
We have started a new tradition every year on ‘successful transfer day’ to have a hot chocolate, so we will never forget the journey we have been on and how grateful we are to all those who helped us have our baby girl.
Jack and Vicki’s baby girl, photographed shortly after birth, following treatment with Care Fertility.
Looking back, and speaking to others starting out
We are extremely grateful to everyone at Care Fertility. They played a huge part in helping us become a family, and we will never forget how far we had to come to get there.
If anyone else is just starting, or partway through treatment, take time to understand the process and set expectations that feel realistic. Make space for things that help you cope — whether that’s favourite food, a day out, a holiday, or settling in with a familiar film or series.
Care Fertility were compassionate and straight-talking throughout. They explained every decision and why it was made, even when it wasn’t what we wanted to hear at the time. Every member of staff treated us as individuals, and that mattered more than we can say.
Jack and Vicki’s baby girl celebrating her first birthday — a milestone made possible with support from Care Fertility.
From Care Fertility
Thank you to Jack and Vicki for trusting us with their care and for sharing their experience so openly. IVF can involve waiting, reassessing, and taking things one step at a time, and no two journeys look the same.
If you’re thinking about starting treatment, or you’re partway through and need guidance on what comes next, our teams are here to talk things through with you. You can get in touch with us to book an initial chat or ask a question by clicking here
We’re here to help you understand your options and decide what feels right for you.
