A MOTHER who had previously lost twins, suffered two miscarriages and had eight rounds of IVF today thanked Leighton hospital for helping deliver her ‘miracle’ baby.

Susan Griffiths, of Greendale Drive, was closely monitored by Leighton consultants throughout her pregnancy and helped her give birth to baby Joshua who weighed 5.5lbs on July 6.

Susan, 34, was given surgery at 14 weeks which involved fitting a bionic over the neck of the cervix to keep it closed through pregnancy, a similar process which proved unsuccessful with her twins.

'I was petrified'

“I was petrified,” Susan said. “Rosie and George fell through the stitches when I was given an emergency cerclage and were too small to survive so I was fearful with Joshua thinking that it could happen again.

“Looking back it was Rosie and George who gave us the strength to carry on trying. We owed it to them to pick ourselves up, we wanted our memories of them to be positive and to learn from the pregnancy.

“Thankfully the stitches managed to keep him in. I carried him for the full 35 weeks and he came out fine even though he was five weeks premature.”

Staff at Leighton hospital thought they would keep Susan and Joshua in longer to keep an eye on him but mother and baby were back home in just three days.

Susan added: “The staff thought Joshua might need to go into special care but after checking him over he was perfect and fine to leave straight away. He’s our miracle baby.

“I really can’t thank Leighton enough, from the consultants to the midwives, they were fantastic and were there for the most difficult and happiest times in our lives.“

At 13 weeks baby Joshua now weighs a healthy 11.5lbs and Susan and her husband Ed, 31, are enjoying every aspect of parenthood.

“We feel so lucky to have Joshua and are enjoying every second. The simple things are special, the cuddles, pushing his pram, and watching him sleep. If we got there in the end after all our problems, it might give other people hope that it can happen for them too.”