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Narjas Zatat
Aug 27, 2019
Picture:
iStock and Twitter/Greg Jenner
Greg Jenner has recently welcomed a new baby girl into the world after five years of him and his wife trying for a child.
The historian and Horrible Histories author, who hosts BBC’s You’re Dead To Me! podcast and his wife recently welcomed a child who they have called Esmé, and though it was a happy affair, the couple struggled for many years with miscarriages and IVF treatment.
Taking to Twitter, he shared their challenges online.
In 2014 he married his wife after a decade together, and they began trying to get pregnant.
What followed in the next few years was two miscarriages, and then a third ectopic miscarriage.
Then in early 2017, an ectopic miscarriage. I can’t tell you how devastating it was to feel hope then despair on a… https://t.co/9uTpCHjkhx— Greg Jenner (@Greg Jenner) 1566850199
After the “devastation,” they were put through for two rounds of IVF through the NHS, which both failed, prompting the pair to look into adoption
We started to look into adoption, and decided it would be our next step if more IVF failed, but chose to gamble our… https://t.co/xfciMWiUZy— Greg Jenner (@Greg Jenner) 1566853540
Eventually they decided to pool their life savings and fund private IVF. It was the “biggest decision” of their lives.
Three rounds of that failed, but the fourth time, they got pregnant.
We did 4 private rounds of IVF in 2018. The doctors kept tinkering with the medicine. Eventually, the last one work… https://t.co/fqMxU4xjHq— Greg Jenner (@Greg Jenner) 1566853546
Dogged by anxiety for the baby, the mother was also diagnosed with hyperemesis, which is basically severe morning sickness. ‘She endured 20 weeks of vomiting 8-12 times per day, lost so much weight and was hospitalised twice for dangerous dehydration.”
She endured nearly 20 weeks of vomiting 8-12 times per day. She lost so much weight, and was hospitalised twice for… https://t.co/ZJ7TCcdUV8— Greg Jenner (@Greg Jenner) 1566853550
And then, Esmé was born.
And on Thursday night, thanks to my wife’s incredible courage — and the kind support of friends, family & medical s… https://t.co/MPyVUX0tjt— Greg Jenner (@Greg Jenner) 1566853555
“I’m sharing this story because infertility is an agony often felt in private,” he said.
So, forgive me if I don’t respond to your tweets. I’m not strong enough; I don’t want to relive it all, and I don’t want to be some IVF spokesperson, or a news story, and I’m not qualified to give infertility advice. I’m sharing this because i feel I should, not because I want to.
So, forgive me if I don’t respond to your tweets. I’m not strong enough; I don’t want to relive it all, and I don’t… https://t.co/ZViQXN5HVf— Greg Jenner (@Greg Jenner) 1566853558
Greg's story touched thousands of people online, all of whom sent their love to the new parents.
Oh my god, I wasn’t prepared for your replies. I’m bawling my eyes out in the lounge. Thank you, Twitter. Thank you… https://t.co/bNetT9MWCL— Greg Jenner (@Greg Jenner) 1566854658
I’ve woken up this morning to an astonishing torrent of kindness and love. I can’t believe our beautiful daughter i… https://t.co/B3IlvJxkdy— Greg Jenner (@Greg Jenner) 1566895267
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