A COUPLE is celebrating after pioneering technology at a Knutsford IVF centre gave them the baby girl they thought they’d never have.

Richard and Laura Lawrence, from Macclesfield, welcomed Matilda Grace into the world recently after finding out online that using EmbryoScope™ technology would improve their chances of a successful pregnancy.

The Hewitt Fertility Centre, on Mobberley Road, is the only fertility unit in Europe to offer this type of treatment to patients at no extra cost.

Laura, 39, said: “Richard and I have been together for three and a half years and we married last May. Richard already had two sons, however we really wanted to start a family together. We tried to conceive naturally for nearly two years but, unfortunately, were unsuccessful.

“I had a severe case of endometriosis and polycystic ovaries which I had surgery for. We started researching fertility clinics in our local area and saw that The Hewitt Fertility Centre were offering EmbryoScope™ to all of their patients free of charge. Further research told us that this technology would substantially improve our chances of a successful pregnancy, so we decided to go for it.”

EmbryoScope™ is a piece of technology which provides time-lapse embryo monitoring; taking an image of an embryo every 10 minutes and so eliminating the need for an embryo to be removed from its culture.

Dr Rafet Gazvani, lead clinician at The Hewitt Fertility Centre, said: “At The Hewitt Fertility Centre, we believe that all patients NHS or self-funded should have access to fantastic healthcare and so that’s why we believe in offering innovative technology at no extra cost.

“We are proud to be the only fertility unit in Europe to offer this type of treatment, compared with other facilities that charge up to £800. I feel that it is unfair to ask couples to pay to have time-lapse technology to look after their embryos.

“I think it would be bordering on unethical for one couple not to have access to the best technology simply because they cannot afford it and I am incredibly proud that we offer the use of time-lapse technology free for all.”

Richard and Laura visited The Hewitt Fertility Centre for initial discussions and decided to continue their care their based on the experience they were given.

Laura said: “Dr Gazvani was very reassuring and honest with us every step of the way – he really gave us reason to believe that our treatment was going to work – it was the hope we needed. Richard and I hope that by sharing our story, we can show other couples going through a similar journey that there is hope.”

To find out more about The Hewitt Fertility Centre, visit thehewittfertilitycentre.org.uk or call http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/news/11764812.Pioneering_technology_offered_by_Knutsford_IVF_clinic_helps_couple_achieve_their_dream_of_having_a_baby/