Heartbreak a second time

Dec 13 2009 by Mieka Smiles, Sunday Sun

CELINE DION’S much-publicised efforts to have a second child hit the headlines last week with the Canadian superstar saying she is once again ready to undergo fertility treatment. Here MIEKA SMILES takes a look at secondary infertility and its often heartbreaking emotional impacts . . .

FERTILITY problems can put a strain on the strongest of couples.

Treatments such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) can be an emotional rollercoaster for couples who undergo them for the first time in a bid to conceive.

However, there are thousands of women who feel they have to go through a secret heartache when suffering from secondary infertility, those with one child who are unable to become pregnant the second time around.

Many feel they must suffer in silence, often coming up against the attitude of "you should be blessed with what you have".

Here we talk to Victoria Head, from Darlington, who is currently trying for a second child, as well as two experts in the field, looking at both the help available on the NHS and the emotional impacts of the condition.

Case study

MIDWIFE Victoria Head, 33, and her husband Simon, 39, a chef, were delighted when their first child Annabel, three, was conceived after a tumultuous course of fertility treatment.

Now the couple, from Darlington, wish to extend their happy family.

Victoria said: "We started trying for Annabel when I was 27 and about 18 months later we went to the GP to say that there was something not right.

"I had a laparoscopy in 2003 and was diagnosed with endometriosis. I was given an injection for this, the only treatment available aside from pregnancy, which puts you into the menopause. But I still wasn’t getting pregnant.

"After I had no success with that I was given Clomid for nine months. The side effects can be very bad, including hot flushes, sweats, mood swings, lethargy and weight gain. I don’t think I was a nice person to know.

"In October 2004 I started to see a consultant. We were put on the IVF waiting list but were told to keep going to see how things are.

"We then moved on and had IUI – including one round in February that didn’t work. We then had a round in March/April 2005 and actually had Annabel as a result of that, after three and a half years of trying in total. It was a horrible time, particularly as I was looking after women with their own babies every day. It was physically and emotionally draining.

"I think you think that everyone else seems to have babies so easily and that it will happen for you too, but it didn’t.

"I was over the moon when I found out I was pregnant. We were on holiday with my mum and dad at the time.

"You could look at the pregnancy test after five minutes, but after 10 I still couldn’t look at it. My husband did – there was an awful lot of swearing and crying. We were overjoyed . . . it was lovely.

"We wanted two children as both my husband and I are from families with two children. It’s just one of those things that’s normal to us. I can’t explain it. It just seems normal as I have a very large family. As well as a brother I have lots of extended family. It just feels absolutely normal to have more than one child.

"It was December 2007 when we decided we wanted another.

"Everybody says that once you have one child your body knows what it is doing.

"At that point we thought ‘if it happens, it happens’.

"About 10 months ago we thought ‘let’s start concentrating on this now’. We were trying but nothing was happening. About six months ago we saw a GP and got referred again.

"We had blood tests. As I had a caesarean with Annabel, I will also go into hospital as an out- patient to see if my tubes are blocked at the end of January.

"The results will decide which way we take it.

"It would be lovely to have a second. Absolutely lovely. It would just be fantastic."

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