Baby Isabella - Their IUI Story

Beautiful Isabella and her IUI story on how she came into the word 

So it’s been a while since I last posted a blog, we’ve been so busy with lots of gorgeous newborns we’ve just not had time to catch up after the Christmas period. 

A few weeks back we welcomed baby Isabella into the studio with her mummy and momar. Isabella had been long awaited by Cloey and her partner Nicole after their first round of IUI sadly wasn’t successful. 

Their story started when they got referred via their doctor to the Leicester Fertility clinic. They had as many tests, examinations and procedures done via the NHS as possible, before having to go private to try and convince for Isabella. It took them nearly 2 years to get to the cycle part. We wanted to show everyone a little insight into the whole process as usually this is such a private journey but both Cloey and Nicole are very open and passionate about how they got her here. When we spoke with Cloey she said people don’t realise just quite how much you have to go through and explained it to us so here is a little bit from her. 

‘You have to take medication before the IUI and months before, your whole lifestyle has to be changed before your allowed to start. Most appointments included lot of tests, forms, painful examinations, counselling appointments. Sometimes not knowing if it’s all going to work was emotionally draining, as sometimes the sperm donors’ numbers and motility etc can vary. Which gives you a less success rate. We were told IUI itself only had the highest success rate of 15%. We would have only been offered it free via NHS if we had 5 failed IUIs then the 6th would be IVF funded by NHS which is already thousands and thousands to get there. But obviously we would have carried on paying and paying for our miracle. It’s a long hard emotional roller coaster of a journey. A right mix of different emotions. 
But when your there it’s like you never even went through what you did just to get pregnant and once you’re holding your baby in your arms every last painful examination, blood tests, medication, money and emotional stress seems like it was a life time ago. 
 
For anyone who has had IVF treatment you will know the long and hard process this is and to get those two lines pop up on that stick is such a long awaited overwhelming feeling.’

It was lovely to follow Cloey and Nicole’s pregnancy journey on Instagram, and I remember seeing their gender reveal video; both of their reactions had me close to tears and knowing that they both had longed for their little made it so much more special to watch. 

We also saw a part of their journey through window to the womb at Leicester when they had a private scan with them and shared a part of their story with their followers too. 

Not only were they becoming mummy’s but Isabella also has a fur brother, skip. We also welcomed him into the studio, so we could capture some images of them both together and some family images too. If you’re a follower of my work you will know I’ve captured a few families with fur siblings, so it was lovely to be able to do this again for Cloey and her family. For their family images we captured them first all in matching outfits which was tartan print. It stood out lovely on the photos and was such a nice touch to add to the images. Here are a few images from skip and Isabella together and their favourite family of mine. 

For this session we were asked to do some skin on skin images which I love doing; there is nothing more precious than holing your baby tightly and just taking that moment in! This moment is raw, pure, emotion and shows the bond between child and parent(s). After all they do say skin to skin contact has so many benefits. Studies show that skin to skin contact after birth and in the coming weeks help calm and soothe babies, stimulates digestion and an interest in feeding and simulates the release of hormones which helps with the bonding process. ​

I’m super excited that Cloey and Nicole have allowed me to share these beautiful images. With this being such a private and intimate process for them both I am truly honoured they chose me to capture such an important part of their lives. Here are some of my most favourite images from this part of their session. 
Usually at this point we’d stop and give little ones a feed but Isabella absolutely rocked it for us and was still being amazing so we carried on straight through the session. 

Keeping in mind with the colours schemes around the family home we stuck to greys and white beanbag fabrics.

We also did various props which included one of my favourite images of baby in parent’s hands. We ether do this with one of each parent’s hands or just with the hands of one parent. In this case we used both Cloey and Nicole’s hands for this. From this pose we also capture our new digital image of baby appearing inside what looks like the sac of when they are in the womb. 

I could spend hours going on and on about this session and showing you all the images as it was truly an honour to capture and be a part of their journey. Plus, Isabella was such a star and made doing her session such a joy. 

For more information on IUI/IVF treatment visit http://www.leicesterfertilitycentre.org.uk

For more information on the sessions I have to offer please visit the  our website.