We lost our 7-month-old daughter in 2022. Here is the full background. Apologies for the long, winding post.
My DS was born in 2010 when I was 26. He is perfectly healthy. Due to my DH job assignment, we moved overseas in 2014. In 2018, we started planning for a second child. I eventually conceived in May 2019 but ended up having a chemical miscarriage. Later that year, I became pregnant again but had a miscarriage at 13 weeks. No clear reasons were found for the miscarriage. In 2020, I conceived again. During the pregnancy at the 20-week scan, everything looked normal, but eventually, my baby started measuring small. The doctors confirmed that I was carrying a baby with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). We also did non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), but the results were negative. My daughter (DD) was born in July 2021 by elective C-section (at 36 weeks). Due to her small head circumference, a lot of tests were carried out at birth, but nothing was conclusive, except the fact she had bilateral congenital cataracts. We decided to return to the UK to have the operation done privately as the timeline was very short, i.e., the operation should be carried out within 3-4 months from birth. We relocated back to the UK, and within 1 week of our arrival to the UK, her condition started deteriorating due to a Streptococcus B (Strep B) infection, as a result of which she stopped passing urine. She was in the intensive care unit for several months undergoing kidney dialysis and finally passed away due to renal failure. During this period, the Genetics Team carried out some tests and there is an indication of a gene mutation. A further detailed test is being carried out at the moment to understand which genes have played a role in her condition. There is no defined timeline for when the results will be available.
We sought private medical advice, and the doctor suggested embryo banking until the gene results are known. I am now 39 and my Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level is low, about 1.1. I am looking for recommendations for clinics in London where I can carry out embryo banking, with the hope of undergoing IVF when the confirmed gene results are known. I would appreciate recommendations based on good experiences with renowned clinics, not only for their results but also for their patient care, communication, and overall experience.. We live in the southeast of England and have very good train connections to London.
My son is now in secondary school in Year 8. I would also like to know the difficulties of having a second pregnancy with a child who is already quite grown up. While we are not desperate, we have always wanted to have a second child, and my son keeps talking about having a sibling. I am trying to understand the challenges of managing a pregnancy while having a 13-year-old son in his teens. Any experiences with this similar situation would be appreciated