A Dumfries couple are set to celebrate their best Christmas ever tomorrow with their miracle baby boy.
Rosie and Paula Houston’s son Ralph was conceived by IVF in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
After a first round of the fertility treatment failed, the pair were due to start their second attempt on the very day Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a national lockdown in March 2020.
With the country coming to a standstill, Rosie and Paula were told their dream of becoming parents would be put on hold until normality resumed.
But after being put on a waiting list, the pair were finally allowed another go in July.
And this time it was a success.
Rosie, 32, said: “We’ve been together more than eight years and were married in February,
“After deciding we wanted to start a family in 2018, we went to the doctor who then referred us to the Glasgow Royal Hospital.
“It was the start of a long process which included counselling.
“We opted for my eggs to be transferred to Paula. It meant I had to take a lot of medication and injections.
“After the first attempt failed, we had to wait two months until Paula’s body was ready to go through it again. But on that very day, lockdown was announced.”
Paula, 30, added: “It really threw a spanner in the works and left us in limbo. It was awful.
“We were put on a waiting list and eventually got a call in July saying we could try again.
“By September, I was pregnant and as well as feeling overwhelmed and excited, we were also scared because IVF comes with risks and nothing is a given.”
Despite a smooth pregnancy, Paula had to have a caesarean section as she was unable to deliver naturally.
And Rosie was by her side as little Ralph arrived at Dumfries Infirmary on May 13.
Rosie said: “It was the best feeling in the world because he was so wanted and we didn’t know if we’d ever get there.
“Ralph was three weeks early but just perfect.
“All of his grandparents adore him and he’s changed all of our lives for the better,
“Having Ralph the way we did was perfect for us and I’d advise anyone in our situation to give it a go.
“Don’t let anything hold you back. If you don’t try, you’ll never know.
“We’ve got five more embryos in the freezer and would love to give Ralph a sibling some day, but we’re happy spending quality time with him at the moment.”
Ralph will spend tomorrow with his mums visiting both sides of the family.
Paula said: “We’ll share him around tomorrow so that everyone can see him on Christmas Day.
“It’s going to be a very special day for us as he really is our little miracle and we’re so proud to be his mums.”
