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Reunion of ‘miracle babies’

When British national Clare Barker learnt she was expecting triplets after an intense fertility treatment, she broke down in tears.

After four years of trying for a child, the couple was blessed with not one but three children. Now nine months’ old, the triplets — two identical boys and one girl — are “giving all the joy in the world to us”, said Clare, 35, during a celebration held at the Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre (DGFC) on Tuesday to mark the reunion of 
miracle babies.

Clare Barker left her stressful job to take full-time care of her triplets who are now nine months’ old

A former TV producer, Clare has left her stressful job to take full-time care of her children.

Stress, says Dr Awatif Al Bahar, medical Director of the DGFC is among the several causes that lead to infertility in women. Other factors are obesity, delayed ovulation, lack of exercise and a poor diet, she said.

“We helped deliver over 180 babies in 2009 and 2010, thanks to the efforts of our magnificent team,” said Dr Awatif, who is also consultant in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Endocrine Infertility at the Dubai Health Authority.

The DGFC is the first fertility centre in the UAE and has a success rate of over 55 per cent for 2011. Over the last 20 years, over 800 babies, including 22 sets of twins, have been delivered with help from the centre.

However, Dr Awatif says that not all couples automatically qualify for treatment. “If they are too young, they are not treated. They have to come back,” she explained. In 2010, the centre achieved 45 per cent success in pregnancy rates from freshly implanted eggs and a 40 per cent success from frozen eggs. The centre also offers gender selection of the child which is among the main attractions for couples from the world over.

“Sex selection is costly and is not allowed in some countries such as Belgium, other Gulf states and India from where we also get a large number of patients for treatment,” said Dr Awatif.

The centre also gives hope to women in their late 40s who want a child. “With lifestyle modifications and increasing cases of breast cancers, more women want to store their eggs for future use,” she said.

The centre stores male sperms and female eggs but a federal law passed last year bans fertility centres from freezing embryos for fear of mixture of lineage. Three to four cycles of treatment at the centre cost around $5,000 (Dh22,000). If unsuccessful, the treatment can be repeated though stored eggs make treatment easier,” said the doctor.

Among the several happy families that attended the function was an Emirati mother who had a very strong reason to celebrate — a baby girl who was born to the couple after 30 years. “Despite having undergone treatment all over the world, she delivered a child after receiving treatment here,” said Dr Awatif.

The baby is seven months old now while the mother is ready to get pregnant again.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com