Woman defies odds with 29 rounds of IVF to have three kids after 40

By Hannah Van De Peer via SWNS

A woman who refused to believe she was 'too old' to have a baby at 40 has now got THREE after undergoing an astonishing 29 rounds of IVF.

Beth Hobson, now 55, began IVF fifteen years ago despite being told she only had a 10% chance at conceiving naturally.

She began treatment in mid-2009, and had 13 failed attempts before falling pregnant the 14th time.

In the 11 years since, she gave birth to two more children - but had a number of miscarriages, as well as a stillbirth on Boxing Day, 2014.

Against all odds, Beth says she “wanted to prove everybody wrong” - and show you’re never too old to start a family.

Beth, an educational adviser from Manchester, said: “Never tell a northern girl she can’t - I was told I was too old to be a mum, and I proved everyone wrong.

“You never get over the feelings of fear on IVF - even during pregnancy, never knowing when your next scan will be your last.

“But, I always said it was a non-negotiable that this had to have a happy ending - no matter what.”

Beth met her husband, 53, after being set up on a blind date by colleagues in July 2007.

They got married in July 2008, and began trying for a baby within months.

She was conscious the “clock was ticking” - and went to see a doctor to find out how likely she’d be to fall pregnant naturally.

“My doctor opened me up and looked at my fallopian tubes,” she said.

“I can remember her saying she was ‘very disappointed’ to see I’d only have a 10% chance at becoming a mom naturally.

“I felt like apologizing on behalf of my tubes.

“I remember sitting in the tiny room and thinking, ‘I’m not going to cry.’

“I wanted to walk out, with my head held high, get in the car with my husband and google IVF clinics.

“I’ve always wanted to be a mum - and I was going to make it happen.”

Together, Beth and her husband looked into the Klinikk Hausken, Norway.

They decided the success rate was high enough to begin treatment there - and Beth had her first five rounds of IVF under their supervision.

But the five rounds proved unsuccessful, so she then moved to a clinic in London for another round.

“It was so brutal,” she said.

“I’d be in so much pain during the egg retrieval procedures.

“I’d have to travel from Exeter, where I now live, to London on the coach, in excruciating pain.”

The clinicians in London were only able to retrieve one egg, which wasn’t viable.

After researching a condition called immunofertility - which means the immune system mistakenly attacking reproductive cells or tissues - Beth found the IVFSERUM clinic in Athens, Greece.

She tested positive for the condition, and had seven more rounds of IVF under her new consultant, Penny.

The seventh round proved successful - and in April 2012, Beth found out she was pregnant with her son, William, now 11.

She added: “Penny took me into her arms and told me, ‘we’ll get you there.’

“Every single bit of our salaries went on each round of IVF - but it was worth it.

“I fell pregnant on attempt eight at the Athens clinic.”

Despite finally falling pregnant, Beth didn’t feel she could relax until William had been born.

He was originally a triplet, but Beth miscarried his siblings throughout her pregnancy.

Despite her fears, William was born via C-section on January 15, 2023 at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

A year later, in February 2014, Beth and her husband decided they wanted to give William a sibling.

They continued the IVF treatment in Athens - Beth gave birth to Thomas, now eight, on November 11, 2015.

“IVF is like the trenches,” she added.

“You run, fall down and pick yourself up - three months after holding a funeral for our stillborn baby and miscarriage, I found I was pregnant with Tom.”

Tom was born at 9:15 a.m, on November 11, 2015.

Beth continued trying for her third baby - but in 2019, at the age of 50, was told she was “too old” to keep trying in Athens.

She found a clinic in Cyprus who specialized in older mums - and went through two rounds of IVF until she fell pregnant again.

Baby Grace, now two, was born on April 27, 2022.

Beth had a partial hysterectomy immediately after the birth, leaving her unable to have any more babies.

In 15 years, both Beth and her husband forked out £200,000 to undergo 29 rounds of IVF.

“We saved money from our salaries, as well as donations from friends and family,” she added.

“A lot of it was making sacrifices - not going on holidays, not having any treats.

“Every bit of spare money went in the pot.

“It was worth it - to have our happy ending.”