Awais Haider was born to proud parents Ayshia and Haider Zaman
A Birmingham couple, who for almost two decades feared they would never hold a baby of their own, have finally become proud parents.
Ayshia Zaman and Haider Zaman of Small Heath had endured the heartbreak of 18 years of failed pregnancies before their miracle baby, Awais Haider, was born through the successful pioneering work of medical experts at Heartlands Hospital.
Ayshia suffered the distress of 13 miscarriages, each of which occurred between six and 12 weeks into her pregnancy.
“After conceiving naturally, I was devastated to miscarry and each time was emotionally and psychologically hard. My family and friends had lost hope.
“As my husband was his mother’s only son, I felt an additional pressure to carry on the family name.”
Specialists believed that Ayshia’s issues stemmed from “sticky” blood cells, which caused clots to occur and resulted in Ayshia losing blood thus causing the mother to suffer a miscarriage.
The mother was referred to the recurrent miscarriage clinic in Heartlands Hospital five years ago and was placed on an intensive treatment plan.
Professor Siobhan Quenby led a medical team at Heartlands who introduced an intensive regime of drugs and steroids to increase blood flow around the womb, thus allowing the baby to develop inside the mother.
“I took a two–year rest gap and then plucked up courage for the 14th time. I felt it was my last chance and my last hope.
“It was one of the hardest nine months of my life, as always at the back of my mind was the thought, what if it went wrong again? And if I did that I would feel like a failure.
“I went through the pregnancy spending every day just hoping my dream wouldn’t be shattered.
“Every scan appointment was daunting.”
On July 10, Ayshia gave birth to the child she had yearned for to hold for so long – a healthy bundle weighing six-pounds.
Awais born by caesarean section at Heartlands Hospital.
“There are no words to express the feelings going through my mind. It was a dream come true.
“After years of waiting, my dream has finally come true, and in the month of Ramadan, which makes it an extra special birth date. I feel like all my Eids have come at once.
“When I gave birth, it was a joyful, yet upsetting time as my husband’s parents passed away before getting to see their first grandchild.
“However, words can’t explain how I felt when I had the baby. It’s still not sunk in that I have a baby. I would say to anyone in similar circumstances to never give up hope and that dreams can come true.”
Rachel Small, midwife at the recurrent miscarriage clinic, said: “I am delighted for Mr and Mrs Zaman and her family on the birth of their son.
“It was a privilege to take care of her through her journey.”
