After suffering two failed pregnancies, Amanda Loakes had almost given up hope of conceiving and then came along miracle baby Harvey with the advice and help of a special consultant. Reporter KEELEY KNOWLES talks to her about the trials and tribulations and her bundle of joy who is now nine months old.
Amanda,now 38-years-old, found out she was pregnant in 2006 after only three months of trying for a baby and was thrilled.
The feeling didn't last as she started to bleed and knew that something was seriously wrong.
She waited a week before getting a scan which revealed that she had lost the baby.
Extremely upset, Amanda was referred to Rami Atalla, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist who specialises in fertility and particularly, miscarriages.
He asked her to come to his private clinic in Harpenden and she was given a dilation and curettage which is a minor surgical procedure where the lining of the womb is scraped away.
After this, Amanda, who lives in Lower Stondon, kept herself busy and married her partner David, honeymooning in South Africa.
Her periods hadn't returned after the miscarriage and Mr Atalla suggested she took the contraceptive pill to encourage menstruation but before she started taking it, Amanda discovered that she was pregnant again and the seven-week scan showed twins.
The trained paediatric nurse, who now works for Roache pharmaceutical company, was put on a course of Clexane (a blood thinning drug) and Cyclogest (a natural progestrogen).
Sadly at ten weeks, Amanda found that once again there was no embryonic heartbeat.
She said: "I knew something was wrong with the pregnancy.
"When I had my scan Mr Atalla wasn't around and he was the only person I had confidence in so I phoned him in distress.
"He was attending a conference in Mexico and it was 2am there but he didn't mind at all and immediately made me feel better."
Following the second miscarriage Mr Atalla advised Amanda and David to wait three months before trying again and in the meantime he carried out various scans and tests to try to discover why she might be miscarrying.
Amanda discovered once more that she was pregnant and the first person she told was Mr Atalla.
She said: "It was a make or break for me and David as we thought if this time didn't work then we may not try again.
"David hated what it did to me every time." Various drugs and hormones were used to help Amanda hold on to the pregnancy and she was scanned fortnightly, a process that terrified her each time.
She said: "I know it was silly but I was a bit superstitious and didn't want the radiologist who originally scanned me to do it this time round but the clinic was amazing.
"They kindly accommodated my feelings and arranged for a different radiologist to see me."
On reflection Amanda remembers Mr Atalla commenting that she might have a 'little one' and didn't think anything of it until her waters broke at just 31 weeks.
A week later, she gave birth to her son, Harvey, who weighed in at a mere 3lbs 10ozs.
Harvey's first visitor was of course, Mr Atalla.
Amanda said: "He is like a father figure who gives great big bear hugs and takes enormous joy from providing people like us with the children we so desire.
"He is a remarkable guy who is so motivated and positive it rubs off on you.
"Mr Atalla is a leading light in his field; he sees our problems as mysteries that need to be solved and is determined to find the solution. I now have a gorgeous eight month old baby boy - Mr Atalla really is a miracle worker.
"He's unusual in what he's doing and the different methods he tries - I would say to people that if you can go to see him you should as a lot of people give up hope."
When Amanda and David took baby Harvey to see Mr Atalla when he was only a few weeks old, Amanda said he had a tear in his eye because he was so proud.
She said: "I can't possibly repay him for all he did for us.
"Miscarrying is one of the most distressing things to go through.
"I got all excited about being pregnant but when I found out there was no heartbeat I felt at the bottom of my world.
"Mr Atalla was so approachable and whenever I needed him he was there."
The consultant has seen an increase in demand for his services in recent years and he believes this is largely due to the fact that women are delaying starting a family until their late 30s.
Along with his team of doctors and a midwife, Mr Atalla has helped to produce many longedfor babies across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire but remains modest about his results.
He said: "Many people aren't aware of the help that is available.
"In many cases recurrent miscarriages are avoidable and I'm passionate about helping couples have the children they so long for."
To contact Mr Atalla, visit www.spirehealthcare.com/Harpenden/ or telephone 0800 585 112