Stories behind Bristol’s oldest IVF centre

Violet is smiling into the camera, while her twin brother, Joseph, remains fast asleep in the corner – both are blissfully unaware that they are the miracle babies who made their parents’ lives complete.

Their story is an extraordinary one, but at Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine (BCRM), incredible tales of love, loss and fighting against the odds are an everyday occurrence.

“I cannot say enough about this place, if we did not have it, I don’t know what we would have done,” says Kevin Paul, dad of the nine-month-old twins.

Kevin and Lucy Paul with twins, Violet and Joseph.

Speaking about his and wife Lucy’s journey, he continues: “We started in 2013. I have spina bifida so we had to go through IVF because of my condition. We had the first cycle and lost a daughter at 20 weeks, then we went on to have another six cycles and, again had another miscarriage.”

It was on the seventh and final cycle that Violet and Joseph were conceived.

“This was probably the last chance we could do it,” says Kevin, adding: “It’s difficult to put into words what it means to have the twins after trying for so long. It’s difficult at times having two, but it was fate really.”

Reflecting on their four-year rollercoaster, Lucy says: “We were stubborn and we did not give up. The process was horrendous but we got through it.

“When it did work, I was not very well and it turned out it was because I was pregnant and it was just brilliant. It’s indescribable how I felt. We have had such terrible times and now we have fabulous times.”

The couple only live around the corner in Horfield and the bond they formed with the nurses and staff is plain to see as one person after another stops by to joke with them and hold the babies.

The city’s longest-serving fertility service first opened its doors in 2008 and it is to celebrate 10 years and more than 10,000 cycles of fertility treatment that BCRM invited parents and children back as guests of honour.

Kim and Andrew Clifford, with baby Jacob.

For Kim and Andrew Clifford, it provided a lifeline when all else had failed.

“I was turned away by eight consultants and the NHS before I was accepted by Spire Hospital and came to BCRM to have IVF,” says Kim.

“They accepted me, but said it was very unlikely I would conceive as my AMH levels [an indication of the susceptibility to IVF] were very low.

“It’s the loneliest experience in the world: no-one else understands how you feel as a woman that you cannot do the one thing that you are meant to be able to do. Just to have someone say they can help in any way is just amazing.”

Kim was pregnant by February 2017 and her son, Jacob, was born in November.

Bouncing the happy baby up in the air, dad Andrew is sporting his lucky t-shirt: “I wore this all through the IVF process and during labour,” he says with a grin.

Dr Amanda Jefferys and Dr Valentine Akande

BCRM treats both NHS and private patients and has one of the highest success rates in the UK. It was officially taken on by a private company earlier this year.

“We feel very privileged to have helped many people from Bristol and all over the world fulfil their dream of having children,” says lead consultant Dr Valentine Akande.

“We’re building on our success by investing in the latest technology, to ensure we stay at the forefront of fertility services in Bristol.”

As toddlers and young children run around the confined space, clamoring for ice cream and gathering round in a disorderly fashion to blow out the candles on the cake, it is a scene of chaotic normality.

But behind every smile is a story to be told.

Abigail Perrett with her dad, Nigel Thomas, and daughters Tabitha and Jemima.

“It was a very stressful and emotional roller coaster,” remembers mum Abigail Perrett, laughing with two-year-old Tabitha while nine-month-old Jemima stays fast asleep in her pushchair.

“I conceived the first time with IVF, but I was due to have twins and only Tabitha survived. Jemima was a miracle surprise that followed.”

Claire and Andy Beacham, with Isaac, Amelia and Olivia

“Being back today reminds you how all-consuming it was,” reflects Claire Beacham.

Her and husband Andy count themselves as the lucky ones to have successfully conceived their three children – Amelia, six, and twins Olivia and Isaac, three – through IVF.

“We had a bit more worry with the last cycle – they were telling us each day how the embryos were going and we went from 17 down to two,” recalls Andy. “I was older than Claire, but as she was 26, we had to self-fund for both cycles, but you put every penny in when that’s all you want in life.”

Andrew Palmer with daughters Ava-Rose and Isabella

A celebration of 10 years of making dreams come true.

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