My little miracle

Helen, 54, finally celebrates baby joy after 25 years of anguish

- SALLY HIND

A DETERMINED Scots mum has given birth to her miracle baby after 25 years of failed IVF procedures.

Helen Dalglish, from Glasgow's Dennistoun, endured a staggering 21 attempts to get pregnant costing almost £100,000 before welcoming daughter Daisy Grace.

The 54-year-old told the Record of her joy after years of heartache and how she never gave up on her dream of becoming a mother.

She said: "When you get that little miracle at the end, you forget about the 25 years.

"I was looking down and the bump was getting bigger and I thought, Am I dreaming?'

"Even now looking at her, I can't believe I'm a mum. It's surreal."

Helen moved to Cyprus in her 20s and starting trying for a baby with her then husband when she was 28.

Tests in Cyprus revealed a potential issue with the positioning of Helen's uterus.

They moved back to Scotland soon but when tests showed no complications, they were diagnosed with "unexplained infertility".

The couple underwent four intrauterine insemination procedures, where sperm is placed directly into the womb, without success, before moving on to IVE

They were only eligible for one free round of treatment on the NHS and over the next 20 years they endured a succession of failed privately funded attempts - despite producing top-quality embryos.

But defiant Helen could still picture her baby.

She said: "Sometimes it got too much emotionally, physically and financially.