She suffered 18 miscarriages in 16 years in hope for a baby—until a doctor discovered the truth and changed her life at 48

The couple had given up their hopes at one point because each loss was more devastating and hurtful for them.

PUBLISHED 2 HOURS AGO

(L) The woman talking about her experience. (R) The mom holding her newborn baby. Cover Image Source: YouTube | 5 News

Many people dream of becoming parents and having a family. One couple harbored that dream for over 16 years before they finally had their son. However, the journey to that moment was not an easy one, as the woman, Lauren Warneford, went through 18 miscarriages in a period of 16 years because of an undiagnosed condition that caused early miscarriages. But then a surgeon intervened in the case and changed the couple's lives by helping them have their bundle of joy, per Independent UK.

A woman holding a baby. Representative Image Source: Christoffer Askman

The couple from Swindon finally became parents after a specialist found out why Lauren's pregnancies were ending prematurely. The woman was diagnosed with "killer cells," a condition that destroys embryos in weeks. So the couple, Lauren and Mark, decided to stop trying for a baby in 2010, even though it was a really difficult decision for them. Lauren recounted how she would often lose her baby around the 14-week scan mark and it was devastating for her. She would feel hopeful each time, but to no avail. "I couldn't stop crying every time I miscarried. I couldn’t go through the turmoil anymore." However, Lauren decided to try one last time in 2015 and went through an embryo donation in the Czech Republic.

An old woman on a hospital bed. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Dana Neely

Eventually, when Lauren was 48 and Mark was 55, luck was on their side and the couple got to fulfill their dream of becoming parents. The couple conceived and gave birth to their son, William, in June 2016 at 37 weeks. Lauren had a C-section and was overjoyed to become a mom after 18 years of waiting. The couple got mistaken for the kid's grandparents quite often, but were nonetheless quite glad to have their wish fulfilled at last. Apart from the 18 miscarriages, the couple had also spent 80,000 pounds ($1,06,447) on IVF treatments, but felt that all the pain and efforts were worth it at the end. They expressed that they were happy to finally have a family.

A couple playing with a baby. Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Sam Edwards

"I’m not the spring chicken that I used to be and it does take me a while to chase him around the floor, but it's worth it. We're a perfect family now and I finally feel complete," Lauren went on. She described the feeling she had when her son was finally born as "amazing," per 5 News. "When the surgeon handed him to me, I just couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe my luck, I still can't." She added, "He's so beautiful. It was amazing. It felt as if we had won the lottery." The mom shared that she loved being around her son and taking care of him and called it "the best job in the world."

Lauren also shared a message for couples who were struggling to have a baby. "You can do it. You can do it, you know. There's hope out there." She continued, "I was one of the lucky ones. Please don't give up hope." A study found that fertility struggles and the related stress can really impact a couple's quality of life. The research studied 202 spouses and concluded that the quality of life was worse for women, participants with a high level of education, with greater depressive symptoms and with greater state scores. The study highlighted the need for supportive care and counseling for couples facing infertility.