Ryan and Samantha's Story

Ryan and Samantha’s journey to parenthood is one filled with ups and downs, from the heartache of infertility to the joy of welcoming not one, but two beautiful daughters. Their story began in 2017, battling male factor infertility and the added stress of Sam’s weight affecting their eligibility for NHS treatment. Read their story:  

Ryan and Samantha's Journey to Parenthood 
Our Care Fertility journey began back in 2017, after trying to conceive (TTC) since 2015. Despite undergoing all the standard NHS tests, we discovered that we had male factor infertility. Unfortunately, we were ineligible for NHS funding because I, Sam, didn’t meet the BMI criteria. Weight had always been a challenge for me, and although I was often told to "just lose it," it wasn’t that simple. So, we decided to explore private options. 

We read about different clinics online, but Care Fertility Bath stood out to us. They offered regular, free tours where nothing was hidden, so in July 2017, we decided to book a tour and chat with the staff. We were immediately impressed by the clinic—everything was open and transparent. We loved how welcoming and honest everyone was, and the tour left us confident that this was the place we wanted to trust with our future ‘embabies’. 

Starting the Process with Care Fertility Bath 
Just a month after the tour, we booked our first consultation with Dr. Walker. By the end of September 2017, we were sitting down to discuss our treatment options. Dr. Walker thoroughly reviewed all of our tests, including sperm samples, blood work, and a laparoscopy. He was upfront with us: while there was still a small chance we could conceive naturally; he gave us the option to try for another six months. But after more than two years of trying, we hadn’t even seen a faint positive pregnancy test. We were ready to take the next step. 

We had just enough funding for one round of ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), and we decided to go ahead. If it didn’t work, I planned to continue losing weight while we saved for another round. Dr. Walker told us we could start as soon as my next cycle, so on October 26th, 2017, I took my first injection. 

Balancing Fertility Treatment and Life 
Even though we were starting our fertility journey, we were determined not to let it consume our lives (though, of course, it did in many ways!). Dr. Walker was supportive of our efforts to remain relaxed and positive. We took a five-day trip to Paris during the process, and with his blessing, I even enjoyed a glass of wine or two while I was still on down-regulation medication. However, once I started the second round of injections, that all stopped. The process was tough, both physically and emotionally. 

Egg Collection and Heartache 
Our egg collection took place on November 28th, 2017, and we retrieved five eggs. I was heartbroken. I had convinced myself that since male factor infertility was our main issue, it was my job to give us the best shot. Seeing other women in online support groups reporting twenty or thirty eggs made me feel like I had let us down. But Helen, one of the nurses, reminded me that quality matters more than quantity. Her reassurance helped me regain hope. 

Out of our five eggs, four were mature and injected with sperm. Three fertilized, and we suddenly had our embabies! All we needed was for them to keep developing. We were hoping for a day-five transfer, and the updates were positive—our embryos were developing well, and their quality was good. 

Our First Positive Pregnancy Test 
On December 3rd, 2017, we transferred one hatching blastocyst and froze two more great-quality embryos. The two-week wait was one of the hardest parts, but we stuck to the protocol, resisting the urge to test early. On December 17th, we took the test—and to our amazement, there were two strong lines. We couldn’t believe it. After all the years of trying, it had finally happened. Our first ICSI cycle had worked, and we were pregnant! 

At our viability scan, we saw our little jelly bean’s heartbeat flickering away, strong and clear. Our due date was set for August 21st, 2018, and we were officially discharged from Care Fertility back to the NHS for antenatal care. It was a surreal moment, but we were finally parents-to-be. 

On September 2nd, 2018, at 04:58 am, we welcomed our beautiful daughter Luna into the world. She had a head full of dark hair and big, dark eyes—just perfect. From the moment we started trying to conceive, we dreamed of her. We loved her from the moment she was just a group of cells as a blastocyst, and now she was finally here, in our arms. 

Moving to Kent but Trusting Care Fertility Bath 
By February 2020, we felt ready to try for a sibling for Luna. However, by that time, we had moved back to Kent to be closer to family and friends. Even though there were clinics closer to us, we didn’t trust anyone but Care Fertility Bath to take care of us. We had built such a strong bond with the team, especially with Dr. Walker and Helen, that we didn’t want to go anywhere else—even if it meant a three-hour one-way commute. We knew they were the only team we trusted to help us expand our family. 

Trying for a Second Miracle 
We saw Dr. Walker again, this time with Luna in tow, to discuss our options. Given that our case was straightforward, we were thrilled to learn we could go down the natural frozen embryo transfer (FET) route—no heavy medications or injections, and it was much less expensive than a fresh cycle. 

We planned to start in the spring, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed everything. Once things began to return to normal, we tracked my cycle using ovulation tests and booked a blood test six days after ovulation to check my progesterone levels. Although my progesterone was slightly lower than ideal, Dr. Walker advised us to proceed, adding progesterone pessaries after the transfer to support the pregnancy. 

A Second Positive and Another Miracle 
On October 26th, 2020, we made the six-hour round trip from Kent to Care Fertility Bath to transfer one of our frozen embryos, with Luna by our side. I tried not to get my hopes up—it seemed impossible to be lucky twice—but on November 9th, we found out that I was pregnant again! 

At our viability scan, we saw another flickering heartbeat. Our second jellybean was on the way, with a due date of July 14th, 2021. On July 21st, 2021, at 09:01 am, our second daughter, Violet Amelie, was born at home. She was the complete opposite of Luna—fair hair, big blue eyes—but she felt like she had been part of our lives forever. It was surreal to think that she had been on ice for years, waiting for us at Care Fertility Bath. 

Gratitude to Care Fertility Bath 
Words can never fully express our gratitude to the entire team at Care Fertility Bath. They helped us welcome not just one, but two beautiful daughters into the world. Even though we now live in Kent, the commute was worth it to be in the hands of the people we trusted the most. We know Care Fertility Bath will take care of our final frosty until we’re ready to try again. 

To anyone wondering if lightning can strike twice, we hope our story gives you hope—it truly can. Thanks to Care Fertility Bath, we are now a family of four, and we are forever grateful. Thank you for everything.