Max in a million
| Published date | 30 December 2020 |
| Date | 30 December 2020 |
| Publication title | Wishaw Press |
IVF, Max was Natalie and Christopher's one last hope of making their baby wish come true.
Their son came into the world with breathing difficulties and was diagnosed with a collapsed lung the day after his birth.
Here, Lanarkshire mum
Natalie explains how a determined Max battled for survival, and is now lighting up her life as their Christmas star.
Max Mercer is a baby who simply wanted to be here.
One of only two surviving embryos created with the help of IVF for parents Natalie and Christopher, Max's mum developed a life-threatening condition in late pregnancy and he was delivered by Caesarean section three weeks early, with under-developed lungs that wouldn't breathe for him.
When the chest drain that was fitted into his tiny body during emergency surgery caused his condition to deteriorate, seven-day old Max seemingly took control of his own destiny by doing something consultants had never witnessed before.
Inexplicably, he yanked the device from his chest and began breathing on his own.
Even though, from the moment of conception, the odds were stacked against Natalie and Christopher's longed-for baby, Max has demonstrated that he's a survivor - a little boy with a determination to stake his claim to life and a place on the planet.
Natalie and Christopher began trying for a baby, without success, a year before their marriage in 2018.
The couple embarked on an IVF journey that involved Natalie receiving four daily injections for two weeks, the side-effects of which included cold sweats, nausea and mood swings.
Her embryologist was unwilling to gamble with the couple's only remaining hope of having a baby. So, rather than transfer the only surviving embryo from the lab into Natalie's womb after the standard five days, the transfer took place after three days to increase the embryo's chances of flourishing.
Both families, including Christopher's three daughters, Ellie, 13, Sophie, eight, and seven-year-old Isla, shared Natalie's pregnancy joy and gathered to witness the couple popping a balloon that would reveal their baby's gender.
"We wanted to know, because I wanted to prepare - and we knew he was going to be my only child," explained Natalie.
Although elated to be carrying their baby, 37-yearold Natalie's pregnancy was no walk in the park.
She developed hyperemesis gravidarum - severe morning sickness - and had to get around on crutches after her pelvis split.
Then, in the last month of pregnancy, Natalie was diagnosed with...
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