Reka and Jerry’s story began after they got married in 2020. After three years of trying to conceive, fertility testing, a diagnosis of unexplained infertility and NHS funding approval, they started IVF treatment with Care Fertility Woking.
Here, Reka tells their story, from the heartbreak of pregnancy loss and the loneliness of keeping fertility treatment private, to opening up, trying again, and welcoming their baby girl, Nora Sofia.
Trying to conceive after getting married
Our story began back in 2020, just after we got married. We had been trying to get pregnant for three years with no luck, so we went to see our GP, who referred us to the hospital for fertility testing.
It was a long process. In the end, the only thing they found was potential mild endometriosis for me, and we were told we had unexplained infertility.
We applied for NHS funding and decided to try IVF. Care Fertility Woking was the obvious choice for us. It’s local, and we had heard very good things about the clinic and its success rates.
Starting IVF treatment
Once our funding was approved, things moved very quickly.
We had our initial consultation with Dr Riddle, who explained everything in detail. We started treatment in May 2024, and the nursing team were exceptional. They told us how to do everything and made sure we felt confident.
Care Fertility also uses an app called Salve, where we could contact the team any time we had a question. We found this really helpful.
The treatment itself wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. I powered through the injections with very little discomfort.
Our first embryo transfer
After egg collection, we ended up with three healthy embryos and transferred the first one after five days.
I had read about the benefits of acupuncture alongside IVF treatment, so I attended regular sessions before and after the transfer. I figured that even if it didn’t help, at least it would help me relax, and it did.
Eleven days later, I took a home pregnancy test, and it was positive. We were overjoyed.
The next step was to wait for our first ultrasound scan at seven weeks.
Pregnancy loss after our first positive test
Unfortunately, at the scan, there was a sac but no heartbeat. We were told to come back a week later for another scan, just in case it was too early.
To our surprise, there was a heartbeat. However, the baby was measuring behind, and sadly, a week later, we lost the pregnancy.
Nothing prepares you for a loss like this, even though we always knew there was a chance of miscarriage.
The nurses at Care Fertility Woking were absolutely amazing with their support throughout.
Taking time to grieve
Naturally, we wanted to try again as soon as we could, but life had other plans. We lost a close family member in August, so we took some time out to grieve both losses.
We decided to have another frozen embryo transfer in November, but unfortunately, this was unsuccessful.
We felt hopeless. We only had one embryo left.
Christmas was on the way, and it was one of the toughest seasons for both of us mentally and emotionally, especially because we hadn’t told our family about our journey. Only a few of our closest friends and our sisters knew.
Opening up to our families
After a few months’ break, we both decided to tell our families. I genuinely felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders when it happened.
Spring came, and we both started healing, and hoping again.
Our final frozen embryo transfer
We transferred our last frozen embryo in March, and the long two-week wait began.
This time, I took a few days off work and decided to throw everything at it. We surrounded ourselves with positivity. I had regular acupuncture, short walks, good nourishing meals, apart from the essential McDonald’s chips on transfer day, watched lots of happy films and did a lot of couch camping.
Reka and Jerry on embryo transfer day, keeping up the much-loved IVF tradition of McDonald’s fries.
This time, it felt different.
I remember feeling sick after eating some cake on Jerry’s birthday, and deep down I knew I was pregnant.
A few days later, we had a positive test. We were so happy, but also very cautious as we waited for the seven-week scan. It was the longest few weeks of our lives, although I did have a lot of nausea, which felt reassuring.
Hearing the words we had waited for
We went for the scan, and there it was, a healthy heartbeat and a tiny spot measuring just right.
We could finally breathe.
I will never forget those words: “Congratulations, there is a baby and a heartbeat.”
A week later, we were discharged from Care Fertility Woking and started our NHS midwife appointments.
Welcoming Nora Sofia
The pregnancy itself was very smooth, with a few normal symptoms, and it went really quickly.
We welcomed our beautiful baby girl, Nora Sofia, in December. By then, all the dreadful moments felt like a long distant memory.
It was a very bumpy road, but when we met her, everything just fell into place. She is the most beautiful, cheeky baby, full of smiles, and we cannot thank Care Fertility Woking enough for giving us the most beautiful gift.
We will forever be grateful.
A special thank you to Dr Riddle, Becky, Jo and Sue, who we saw the most, but also to the whole team, as we know they all played a part in our journey. And, of course, to our friends and family who checked in, prayed for us and kept us going when things were hard.
The moments that made every injection, appointment and setback worth it, Reka and Jerry with baby Nora Sofia.
Our advice for anyone going through IVF
To anyone who is going through IVF, or planning IVF, our advice would be to talk to someone you trust and know that you are not alone.
If you prefer talking to a stranger, which I did at the beginning, there is also an IVF in the UK Facebook group, which is an amazing community. I found it really helpful, especially when I just wanted reassurance or a little extra support.
IVF can feel daunting and lonely, and it’s okay to take some time out if it helps.
Keep believing that your blessings are on the way. One day, you’ll look back and be grateful you didn’t give up.
We’re here when you’re ready
Every fertility journey is different. For some people, it starts with unexplained infertility. For others, it includes miscarriage, failed transfers, waiting, grief, hope, and decisions that feel hard to make on your own.
At Care Fertility, we’ll take the time to understand your story, arrange the right fertility tests before your doctor consultation, and help you understand your results, treatment options and next steps with care and clarity.
To speak to our team, call 0800 564 2270 or click here to get in touch
