23 July 2023 , 13:33
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A mum has shared her heartbreaking story after she had to go through 13 miscarriages before she was able to have a baby.
Julie Ashworth recalled her excitement the first time she fell pregnant at age 27, the delighted mum-to-be telling everyone she knew about the happy news.
A few weeks later, as Julie and partner Paul excitedly planned for a future with their new baby, disaster struck.
After her eight-week scan, Julie started experiencing symptoms similar to period pains and noticed she was bleeding, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Tragically a hospital scan showed Julie had miscarried and the devastated couple had to let everyone know they had lost their baby.
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Julie and Paul (Julie Ashworth)But the heartbreak was set to continue.
Julie didn’t know it at the time, but she actually had Crohn’s disease, a condition which can cause thrombophilia.
Thrombophilia means blood can clot easily which increases the risk of miscarriage.
This underlying condition would cause Julie to lose 12 more babies before doctors finally connected the dots.
“My life was on hold while I tried and tried again,” she told the Manchester Evening News.
“I felt fear that I couldn’t carry children, I felt guilt that I had somehow caused this and confusion that I was the youngest of seven children and my mum had no problem carrying babies. Why me?”
Julie and her partner Paul (Julie Ashworth)Julie, now 57, miscarried four more times throughout 1994 to 1996 – losing most of her babies at the eight-week mark.
After her third loss, she had blood tests taken but doctors were unable to figure out why she kept miscarrying.
In December 1996, Julie, from Wirral, suddenly became very ill with sharp stabbing pains down her side.
The severe pain spread to the tips of her shoulders and her chest, leaving her doubled over in agony.
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She was rushed to A&E where she was operated on within hours – later learning she had suffered an ectopic pregnancy.
An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes.
Julie had surgery immediately and while her life was saved, sadly one of her fallopian tubes was damaged, meaning her chances of falling pregnant were now even slimmer.
Julie (Julie Ashworth)“I was told I was very lucky they operated when they did as it could have been fatal,” Julie added. “I lost my right tube as they couldn’t save it. I was heartbroken and scared.”
In the early summer of 1997, Julie fell pregnant again. This time, doctors realised her blood was too thick and placed her on medication.
The treatment worked and Julie kept her baby full term – going over her due date of Christmas Day and giving birth to her daughter Lauren May on January 2, 1998.
Though the birth was difficult, Julie was overjoyed she finally had her baby in her arms. “I had Lauren and she was worth everything and anything I went through,” she added.
In 2000, Julie and Paul tried for another baby and she fell pregnant again quickly.
Despite taking the same treatment, Julie couldn’t carry her baby past the three-month mark, and sadly had five more losses between 2000 and 2005.
Ellen as a baby (Julie Ashworth)In late 2005, she was hit by a similar kind of pain, and as soon as she felt it in her shoulders she knew she was suffering another ectopic pregnancy.
Luckily, her fallopian was saved again but this time it was badly damaged.
“After the operation, a nurse came to speak to me and told me to look forward to grandchildren,” Julie added. “She said to try no more and to give up. I thought then it was over.”
In 2009, Julie began experiencing stomach pain and bloating, believing she was going through the menopause due to her periods stopping over a year before.
But the mum was taken to hospital where a scan revealed she was actually pregnant – giving her the shock of her life.
“I rang Paul and we were in shock,” she added. “Paul’s brother lent us his caravan to get away for a few days to get our heads around it. We told Lauren who was overjoyed.
Lauren and Ellen now (Julie Ashworth)“I kept telling Paul and Lauren not to get their hopes up too much just in case, but I was over five months – we were numb.
“At six, seven and even eight months I still believed I would lose the baby. I was scared and terrified of going through the loss again.”
But Julie gave birth to another healthy girl on March 10, 2010, naming her Ellen Rose.
“We couldn’t believe we had her and miracles do happen,” Julie added. It wasn’t until I had her in my arms that I believed she was real.”
Tragically, Julie suffered 13 miscarriages altogether, her heart breaking more with every loss.
The mum would go on to start making bottles of her own nappy care spray, following Ellen’s birth, as she suffered badly from nappy rash.
Julie later went on to launch the product and set up her own business, Mummy's Magic, with her spray now loved by celebrities including Danielle Lloyd.
“My business would have never happened if I had not had her,” Julie said. “She was our little miracle.”