Hi Everyone,

As a same sex couple we thought that we would never have the opportunity to have a baby of our own. Having suffered from prejudice in the past the decision to have a baby could not be taken lightly and we were sure that we would come up against many obstacles now and in the future. Also Z has suffered with endometriosis for a number of years and has had various surgery. We were afraid that we may never have the opportunity to have a child.

Then we found the Jessop wing! Our baby daughter was conceived through Assisted Conception, Donor insemination. You can imagine our delight when after our first treatment and an awful two week wait for the results we found out that Z was pregnant and we were having our own baby. Although the treatment was quite clinical we saw the egg develop and were given the chance to have scans at 6 weeks and at 8 weeks. On these scans everything appeared to be normal and we were absolutely thrilled.

We started to buy things, tiny bottles, vests you name it we were in our element. We looked forward to our 20 week scan. Over the next few weeks Z suffered the normal pregnancy related symptoms and we were both so excited when we could feel our daughters tiny movements.

Our happiness was shattered when at our routine 20 week scan we found out that there was a problem with our baby’s heart. We had a further appointment that day at Leeds where it was confirmed that our little girl X had tricuspid atresia. We were devastated. We did however know that we were going to continue with the pregnancy,

X never had been a foetus, termination was out of the question. The following morning we went to our local hospital where we were given false information and no hope from a consultant. It is a long and horrific story and we are currently in the process of filing a complaint against this man. Since receiving the news of X’s heart condition we have learnt a lot about it, visited different web sites and spoke to some of the most supportive people we have ever met. We have however spoke to a few who have not replied after finding out about our situation.

People seem too view us as something we are not. we have respectable jobs, are respectable people and just want the best for our precious baby girl. Our baby is so much loved, with two parents but some people don’t seem to be able to see past the "Gay" bit. Our baby is due on the 21st of December. We can not wait. We just want to hold her in our arms and love her, give her the chance of life, she has always been part of our special family!

XYZ.

X was born on the 17th December at 12 minutes past 8pm. Weighing 5lb 11oz. X had her first operation on Sunday the 19th, which went well and she was allowed home on the 22nd December in time for santa. She's feeding well and the doctors are pleased and as for us we are the proudest mummies in the world. Hope everyone had a good Christmas.

The operation that X had was a Septostomy. This involves a small balloon into the heart to improve blood flow.

Happy new year to you all.