Woman who suffered nine miscarriages gives birth to baby boy

The 41-year-old nurse first started trying for a family in her 20s, but after 17 years she’d still had no success. “The need and desire to be a parent enables you to cope over the years, but we both felt we were getting to the stage where we couldn’t deal with it any more emotionally.”

However, doctors carrying out research into the cases of multiple miscarriages at Liverpool Women’s Hospital discovered ‘killer’ cells in her uterus were destroying Catherine’s chances of being a mum.

The cells, known as NK cells, protect against infection. But if there are too many then too much oxygen is produced, which can be toxic to an early pregnancy.

The hospital is the only place in the county to treat the rare condition with steroids.

Late last year Catherine, who has lost ten babies including twins, discovered she was pregnant again. She was immediately put on medication and after seven months she "breathed a sigh of relief".

Baby Daniel was delivered by caesarean section last month and weighed 5lbs.

The decision to have a caesarean may have saved the couple from suffering another loss. “During the caesarean we discovered half the placenta had died” revealed Catherine. “It was folded in a way it could not be detected on the scans, so we feel doubly lucky Daniel is here. All that disappointment and heartache fades into insignificance when you hold your baby in your arms.”