A Scottish woman who thought she was going through menopause has finally completed her family after welcoming a miracle baby naturally. Sam Mace, 43, who is already a mother to four-year-old Freddie born via IVF and a step-mother to 12-year-old Lilly, had longed for a third child. After enduring eight miscarriages and a failed round of IVF, she had given up hope. However, in 2020, Sam fell pregnant naturally and is now the proud mother of 15-month-old daughter Charlotte.
Sam, a pilates instructor and fertility mentor, described Charlotte as a complete surprise. She had experienced a traumatic fertility journey, including the loss of two embryos from her first round of IVF to a miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. Sam had moments where she believed her role as a mother was meant to be for her step-daughter, Lilly. But now, with Charlotte, she feels like their family is finally complete.
When Sam discovered she was pregnant with Charlotte, she initially thought it was menopause. However, after taking the pregnancy test, she was overjoyed to find out the truth. She recalled how her period had become irregular, leading her to believe she was menopausal. But then her heightened sense of smell and persistent nausea indicated something else. Despite all the challenges she faced, Sam believes that Charlotte was worth the wait and has truly completed their family.
Sam and her husband had been trying to start a family since she was 35. Unfortunately, none of their naturally conceived children or the first round of IVF resulted in a heartbeat at their eight-week scan. Initially, Sam did not qualify for IVF through the NHS because she was still able to conceive naturally. They decided to pursue a private round of IVF, spending £3,000, but sadly lost both embryos.
After going through immunology testing at a miscarriage clinic, Sam decided to try another round of IVF at the age of 38. This time, she was blessed with her son, Freddie. The couple implanted only one embryo, which led to a successful pregnancy. Now, at the age of 43, Sam can finally say that she has two rainbow babies.
