A woman has given birth to a healthy daughter - after suffering 18 miscarriages.
Angie Baker, 33, and her partner Lee Gibson tried to have a baby for 13 years before finally their daughter Raiya was born in December last year.
Miss Baker. from Peacehaven, near Brighton, told the Telegraph: "She's my little miracle. I can't explain how I feel. I'm overwhelmed. It seems like a dream and I still have to pinch myself. She's perfect in every way.
"I absolutely love it. I enjoy every moment. It's so precious. I can't believe she's here and she's mine and Lee dotes on her. She's his little princess."
She had been suffering miscarriages since the age of 20, always between five and eight weeks after conception.
They considered the idea of adopting but never gave up and eventually heard about the work of Dr Hassan Shehata, an expert in treating multiple miscarriages.
Miss Baker contacted him for help and was referred for treatment.
It was discovered that she had high levels of a subtype of white blood cell, known as "Natural Killer" cells, which attack the foetus in the womb.
Dr Shehata, who is based at Epson and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, told the Telegraph: "Eighteen miscarriages is a huge number. This is the most unusual case I've come across.
"You're more likely to win the lottery than have 18 miscarriages through bad luck. Therefore there must be an underlying cause."
Miss Baker was treated with steroids to combat the problem although she still had one more miscarriage before her successful pregnancy.
Around 1,000 patients have been treated by Dr Shehata and his team since they started the treatment in 2004, and they have an 80 per cent success rate for women suffering from high "Natural Killer" cell levels.
I can't imagine having the strength to persevere through 18 miscarriages - this couple must be very determined. Hopefully other couples out there who think they may have the same problem can find help sooner.
Source: Telegraph