A couple say they are thrilled to have welcomed twins into the world just days before Christmas. Teacher, Charlotte Beardsley, 36, gave birth to her identical twin boys, Alexander and Sebastian, on December 23, after help from Care Fertility Nottingham.
Charlotte and her husband, Luke, who are from Derby, had been trying to conceive for a few years and self referred to the GP who recommended fertility treatment. Charlotte said: "As we are based in Derby we knew Nottingham Care had a really good reputation for success rates.
"We sort of chose them as our main provider, we worked with Nottingham but stayed with Derby, as for all the procedures and the medical side as its the same doctors as Nottingham, so they did the egg retrieval and the implantation, whereas Derby did the appointments. It turns out that I had diminished ovarian reserve and my husband had sperm problems.
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"Our chances weren't really good at all, and it was devastating to hear that. Care were so supportive and so lovely and never once suggested donor eggs or adoption or made us feel like we shouldn't carry on."
The pair began tests and appointments in January 2022, and then started their cycle in March. Charlotte explained: "We managed to get four eggs but only two were mature, those two both fertilised but only one egg made it to day five and then that egg split.
"At all the different stages we were googling statistics. Then I was like the chances of one taking were really slim but actually it did, and then it splitting into twins was just magical.
"It still feels a bit like a dream as we weren't expecting to be so lucky on our first time, as obviously lots of couples go through multiple cycles, and some couples get lots of eggs that they freeze and we had nothing to freeze. I had already sort of lined up all these other clinics abroad or in the UK or finance packages, as I just thought it wasn't going to work with the statistics, but Care were so positive throughout the whole thing, saying it only takes one egg."
Charlotte described the whole process with Care as "really quick."
She added: "They really listen to their patients, I had heard that some fertility clinics have a one size fits all approach and they have a standard way of doing things. They were they really supportive and they actually listen to their patients as well and offer an individualised approach."
When asked how Luke felt after their success, Charlotte said: "He is so excited. He sort of joked oh it could be twins, as I always thought we could only ever have one baby as it's just one egg, and he said never say never as the chance of it splitting was so rare.
"He was always so positive throughout as well. I don't know if its different being the woman going through it, but I tended to see the glass half empty and he always said they wouldn't have said go for it if they didn't think there was a chance, and just always taking on board Care's positivity.
He's just excited really, he couldn't wait to be a dad and see their little faces. The pair describe themselves as being "really lucky" and Charlotte says she is so thankful to Care Nottingham for all their help and support.
She said: "Fertility can be a really scary journey so finding the clinic is really important, so check a clinic out and trust that some of the reviews are true, as it sounds cheesy but I really don't think we would have been successful if we went elsewhere. The supportive nature of it was just incredible, at Care they really did care.
"We were NHS funded and got the bare bones of things really, none of the extra bolts and whistles, and that kind of made me extra nervous and they explained they were just extras and they have success rates without them. It didn't feel like they were trying to squeeze money out of you, they genuinely wanted to help us have a baby."
Following Charlotte's successful pregnancy, Donna Corah, Care Nottingham Clinic Director and Shilpi Pandey, Care Nottingham Medical Director, said: "It’s been such a joy and an honour for all of our teams at Care to be part of Charlotte’s journey.
"We know how hard and emotional it can be for all of our patients embarking on fertility treatment. It’s an incredible feeling to share this experience with Charlotte."
They continued: "We are very lucky to have such a wonderful and experienced team that can truly change lives, we wholeheartedly want everyone to have the opportunity to start a family. This is why our work is so important to us and our patients.
"We are simply overjoyed with Charlotte’s news. From all of us in the clinic, we can’t wait to meet your beautiful twins in the very near future.”
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