Baby joy after 10-year heartache

A 38-year-old woman who suffered two strokes and four miscarriages during a 10-year battle to have a baby has realised her dream.

Carys Parker, from Rugby, Warwickshire, has had a blood clotting disorder known as "sticky blood syndrome" and has had serious lung problems.

She has now described Dylan as her "little miracle".

Coventry's University Hospital "gambled" with a cocktail of drugs to help her to conceive.

'Safe cocktail'

Mrs Parker said that she first decided to try for a baby with husband John 10 years ago.

"Because of my medical condition it took a few years to get stabilised and then five years ago we started trying.

"I actually work with children and it's been very difficult having miscarriages and coming back to work looking after other people's children.

"All I've ever wanted is a child, so I just kept going."

Consultant obstetrician, Dr Manu Vatish, admitted the hospital's approach was a gamble, which proved to be successful when she became a mother six weeks ago.

He said: "We created a cocktail of drugs and medication that we knew would be safe, that would increase her chances of continuing pregnancy.

"That cocktail was a gamble, but she was keen to try and we were keen to help and it worked."