A couple who suffered three heartbreaking miscarriages and a failed cycle of IVF are expecting their second child thanks to a controversial treatment involving mayonnaise ingredients.
Lucy, 32, and Craig Rose, 29, were desperate to become parents and had been trying to conceive since their honeymoon in 2014.
But after multiple failed pregnancies, tests revealed Mrs Rose was suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
The condition, which affects one in five women in the UK, causes fluid-filled sacs to form around the eggs and interrupt the fertilisation process.
Mrs Rose’s body was also overproducing so-called natural killer (NK) cells, which act as a natural defense system in fighting infections when a woman becomes pregnant.
In some mothers-to-be, their immune system goes into overdrive and overproduces NK cells to destroy the embryo as if it were an intruding bug or virus.
After three devastating miscarriages and a failed round of IVF, the couple, from Warwick, started to doubt if they’d ever have their dream family.
But after researching alternative options they stumbled across a treatment known as immunomodulation therapy.
Lucy, 32, and Craig Rose, 29, with 18-month-old Sienna after three heartbreaking miscarriages and a failed cycle of IVF
Mrs Rose is expecting baby number two next month thanks to a controversial treatment known as immunomodulation therapy. It involves pumping intralipids – a mixture of egg yolk and soya oil – into her bloodstream through an IV
Mrs Rose was finally able to start her dream family last year when Sienna (pictured together) was born after a devastating four years of trying to conceive
It is claimed it solves the overproduction of NK cells by pumping women’s bodies with intralipids – a mixture of egg yolk and soya oil, the same ingredients as mayo.
It is believed to restrain a mother’s NK cells by flooding the bloodstream with fatty acids which reduce the ability of the body’s NK cells to produce toxic chemicals.
The fats are highly calorific — about 200 calories a dose, the equivalent of a Snickers bar — and have been likened to ‘getting an armful of mayonnaise’.
Administered via a drip usually twice before conception, and then three more times after, the treatment is thought to help the embryo implant and grow normally.
Mrs Rose (pictured with husband Craig and daughter Sienna) suffers from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). The condition causes fluid-filled sacs to form around her eggs and interrupt the fertilisation process
After multiple miscarriages Mrs Rose was signed off work and fell into a ‘black hole of depression’
She said she felt as though the ‘whole world was grey’, but with baby number two on the way she feels like the colour has come back into her life
Alongside this, women are also recommended to take steroids, which further suppress the immune system, and blood thinners to prevent blood clots, which also can impede embryos implanting.
Willing to give any treatment a shot, the desperate couple agreed to treatment and their first miracle baby, Sienna, was born 18 months ago.
And the pair have further reason to celebrate – because after having successful treatment, they then went on to conceive naturally, and are expecting their second baby to complete the family on October 27.
Mrs Rose, a teacher, was determined to share her story to break the silence of miscarriages and give hope to other couples facing infertility.
She said: ‘My husband and I have always wanted children and we hoped it would happen on our honeymoon in July 2014.
‘As the months passed and only one line appeared on the test, I knew in my gut something was wrong.
‘Living through three miscarriages before we embarked upon our IVF journey was exceptionally traumatic.
‘I was signed off work as I fell into a black hole of depression; I felt hopeless. I heard about the ‘mayo doctor’ and we thought we might as well give it a go – and I’m so glad we did.
‘I would never have thought such a simple thing could be the key to our miracle family.
‘Funnily enough, I love mayonnaise it is my go to sauce however Dr George made it very clear that he isn’t pumping a condiment into my body.’
Dr George Ndukwe – dubbed the ‘mayo doctor’ – developed the treatment nearly 10 years ago and claims to have helped dozens of women struggling with infertility to conceive.
At £4000 a cycle plus £235 per drip, the treatment isn’t cheap, but Mrs Rose claims it was worth every penny.
She said: ‘It was the only option left for us to go private as I required specialist help which isn’t available on the NHS.
‘I think the first drip helped my second pregnancy as my body now knows what to do.
‘Dr George continued to treat me with the same medication and intralipid up until I was 12 weeks pregnant as a precaution with baby number two.
‘Before I tried the treatment, our lives had become an endless cycle of 32 days, we’d get to the middle of the month, I’d jump out of bed in the morning to do an ovulation test.
‘I’m embarrassed to admit that I even once read that you were more likely to conceive if you slept in complete darkness every night and so I made sure there wasn’t the slightest chink of light in the bedroom to give us the very best chance.
‘After a year of trying, we went to our local hospital for further tests and I was diagnosed with PCOS which was a complete shock to me as I didn’t have any symptoms and regular periods.’
The couple received one round of IVF on the NHS but unfortunately it was unsuccessful and after thorough research, they went to Zita West Clinic in London for Dr George’s controversial treatment.
Mrs Rose added: ‘I would go to the clinic every month to sit there for an hour with the intralipid drip which I enjoyed as it gave me the opportunity to meet other women with similar stories to me.
‘During our journey, I felt like the whole world was grey. But as soon as Sienna came along all the colour came back and I was happy again.
‘I didn’t think I could get any happier but now we have another miracle baby on the way.’