“She brings real joy to everyone who prayed for us”

Siobhan and Jamie Winch's six-year story of hope.

Nine-month-old Fleur loves to chat on the phone. That’s why, when her mum Siobhan sits down to talk to Direction, her dad Jamie wisely diverts her with a bubble.

With Fleur happily occupied, Siobhan tells how their miracle baby was born after several miscarriages left the couple fearing they would never have a baby.

Their fertility journey began in the summer of 2016. Having married the previous spring, Jamie and Siobhan – then assistant pastor at Salisbury Elim – decided to start trying for a baby.

By summer 2017 they were delighted to discover Siobhan was pregnant, but a few weeks later were shattered when she miscarried.

“This was our first experience of miscarriage and we didn’t know of anyone who had suffered one too at that stage,” she says.

A year later Siobhan was pregnant for a second time, but miscarried once again.

At this point, they sought help from their GP and were referred to Birmingham Women’s Hospital for tests, where they received some devastating news.

“They diagnosed us with unexplained infertility and told us our chances of conceiving naturally were minimal.

“If I did get pregnant the chances of me carrying a baby to term were extremely small too.”

The news left Siobhan and Jamie considering their options – should they keep trying, adopt or try IVF?

After speaking with trusted friends and a lot of prayer, they chose IVF and began the gruelling treatment in February 2020.

“I had 14 days of injections up to three times a day, then scans, blood tests and egg collection under general anaesthetic,” Siobhan says.

The couple decided to have only two eggs fertilised.

Sadly, one embryo died before the transfer day, but the other was implanted and Jamie and Siobhan were ecstatic.

“We thought this would result in us bringing a baby home but I had a bleed a couple of weeks later and we lost second embryo too.

“We were completely broken,” she says.

Again, the couple considered their options and asked for prayer.

A turning point came in September 2020 when Siobhan prayed with her grandad, Dave.

“He was a really strong man of God and asked what we were really praying for. I told him, ‘We’re praying we’ll be able to have our own baby. We believe it will happen, but we just can’t see it happening right now.’

“He promised to pray every day – morning and night – until it did.”

Three months later, Siobhan was feeling sick, but with the chances of being pregnant absolutely minimal she dismissed it as a bug.

When her symptoms persisted, however, a test and a scan on Christmas Eve revealed the news everyone had been praying for.

“The sonographer told us she could definitely see a strong heartbeat. We rang friends and family, including my grandad, who shouted ‘Hallelujah! This is what I’ve been waiting to hear.’”

Sadly, Dave passed away in January 2021, but regularly reiterated how their baby was his biggest prayer in those final few months.

Fleur was born on 5 August 2021 and Siobhan was stunned to finally be holding her baby in her arms.

“The pregnancy was far from straightforward. Suffering severe hyperemesis, each day we were reliant on God to look after us and keep us both safe.

“So when she was born it took a good few minutes to realise this was our baby, who we’d be taking home.”

Nine months on, she and Jamie are revelling in parenthood.

“Fleur is the loveliest, most smiley little character. She’s such a beautiful soul and brings us and everyone who prayed for her so much joy.

“Obviously parenting has its moments – she’s teething, not sleeping – but at those times we smile and remind ourselves this is what we waited for.

“It doesn’t take away from the loss of our other babies, but it makes you rejoice even more in the happy moments.”

When the IVF debate gets personal...

As a student at Regents Theological College, Siobhan Winch recently wrote a Masters thesis on the ethics of IVF for Christian couples.

But in her own struggle to become pregnant she ended up debating the issue on a personal level.

“IVF isn’t discussed in the Bible, but the conclusion I drew in my paper was that Christian couples can go through it with limitations in place that create an ethical boundary which honours God and his plans for creation,” she says.

“I believe it is possible to do so without negating biblical principles and while still upholding the sanctity of life, as defined by Scripture.”

“Christians shouldn’t automatically reject modern advances in medicine and especially fertility treatment as worldly, based solely upon preconceived assumptions and lack of informed research. Instead, we must engage fully in discussions concerning the sanctity of life.”

First published in the July 2022 issue of Direction, Elim’s monthly magazine. Subscribe now to get Direction delivered to your home.

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