A woman has defied the odds after conceiving three children after a stunning 29 years of IVF – despite being told she was “too old”.
Beth Hobson, 55, from Manchester, started IVF fifteen years ago despite being told she had only a 10 per cent chance of conceiving naturally.
The educational consultant, who spent £200,000 to undergo 29 rounds of IVF, began treatment in mid-2009 and had 13 failed attempts before falling pregnant for the 14th time.
In the 11 years since then, she has given birth to two more children. During those years, she also suffered several miscarriages, as well as a stillbirth on Boxing Day 2014.
Against all odds, Beth said she “wanted to prove everyone wrong” and prove that you’re never too old to start a family.
Beth Hobson, 55, from Manchester, started IVF fifteen years ago despite being told she only had a 10 per cent chance of conceiving naturally (pictured with her three children).
She said: “Never tell a northern girl she can’t – they told me I was too old to be a mother and I proved them all wrong.”
‘You never get over the feeling of fear during IVF, even during pregnancy, never knowing when the next scan will be your last. But I always said that it was non-negotiable that this had to have a happy ending, no matter what happened.
The mother of three met her husband, 53, a special education teacher, after colleagues set her up on a blind date in July 2007.
The two married in July 2008 and a few months later began trying to have a baby.
Beth, who was 40 at the time, was aware that “the clock is ticking” and went to see a doctor to find out what her chances were of getting pregnant naturally.
“My doctor opened me up and examined my fallopian tubes,” he recalled. “I remember her saying she was ‘very disappointed’ that I only had a 10 percent chance of becoming a mother naturally.
‘I felt like apologizing on behalf of my tubes. I remember sitting in the small room and thinking, “I’m not going to cry.” I wanted to go out with my head held high, get in the car with my husband and Google IVF clinics.’
Even though she was told her chances were low, Beth was more determined than ever. “I always wanted to be a mother and I was going to achieve it,” she said.
The educational counselor began treatment in mid-2009, and had 13 failed attempts before becoming pregnant for the 14th time.
Beth pictured with her youngest daughter, Grace. Even though she was told her chances were low, Beth was more determined than ever. “I always wanted to be a mother and I was going to achieve it,” she said.
The couple immediately got to work on research and first stumbled upon the Klinikk Hausken clinic, Norway. The clinic had a fairly high success rate and she chose the clinic, starting with five rounds of supervised IVF.
To the couple’s despair, the first five rounds were unsuccessful, so Beth moved to a clinic in London for another round.
“It was so brutal,” he said. ‘I would feel a lot of pain during egg retrieval procedures. I would have to travel from Exeter, where I now live, to London by coach, in excruciating pain.
And even after agonizing egg retrievals, the only one they took turned out to be non-viable.
After researching a condition called immunofertility, which means the immune system mistakenly attacks reproductive cells or tissues, Beth found the IVFSERUM clinic in Athens, Greece.
She tested positive for the condition and underwent seven more rounds of IVF with her new consultant, Penny.
Beth’s two sons, William (left) and Thomas (right). The seventh round was a success and in April 2012, she was overjoyed when she discovered she was pregnant with her son, William, now 11 years old.
Then, on April 27, 2022, Beth had her first child, baby Grace (pictured).
The seventh round was a success and in April 2012, she was overjoyed when she discovered she was pregnant with her son, William, now 11 years old.
She explained: “Penny took me in her arms and said, ‘We’ll take you there.'” Every part of our salary went towards each round of IVF, but it was worth it.
Beth finally got pregnant on the eighth try at the Athens clinic. Even though she eventually became pregnant, Beth didn’t feel like she could relax until William was born.
He was originally a triplet, but sadly she miscarried his siblings during her pregnancy.
Finally, to calm his fear, William was born by caesarean section on January 15, 2013 at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
Still wanting more, Beth continued trying for her third baby, but finally in 2019, at the age of 50, she was told she was “too old” to keep trying in Athens.
Beth pictured enjoying a cuddle with her eldest son, William, on the beach.
A year later, in February 2014, the couple decided they wanted to give William a sibling.
Choosing to continue her IVF journey in Athens, Beth successfully became pregnant for the second time and gave birth to her son Thomas, now eight years old, on November 11, 2015.
Recalling the ordeal, Beth described IVF as “the trenches.”
“You run, you fall, and you get up. Three months after holding a funeral for our stillborn baby and our miscarriage, I found out I was pregnant with Tom.”
Still wanting more, Beth continued trying for her third baby, but finally in 2019, at the age of 50, she was told she was “too old” to keep trying in Athens.
She found a clinic in Cyprus specializing in older mothers and underwent just two rounds of IVF until she became pregnant again.
Then, on April 27, 2022, Beth had her first child, baby Grace.
Beth’s son, Thomas, holding his younger sister, Grace. The mother recalled her IVF experience: “You run, you fall and you get up; three months after celebrating our dead baby’s funeral and miscarriage, I found out I was pregnant with Tom.”
Beth’s two children in the photo. Recalling the ordeal, Beth described IVF as “the trenches.”
Beth has since undergone a partial hysterectomy immediately after birth, which left her unable to have any more babies.
In 15 years of treatment, both Beth and her husband have shelled out £200,000 to undergo 29 rounds of IVF.
“We save money from our salaries, as well as from donations from friends and family,” he explained.
“A lot of it was making sacrifices: not going on vacation, not having any gifts.” All the leftover money went into the pot. “It was worth it, to have our happy ending,” he said.
