Couple with a 26-YEAR age gap celebrate the birth of their ‘miracle’ baby
Sarah Leigh-Bergin and her husband Mike travelled to Norway for IVF
A COUPLE with a 26-year age gap are celebrating after finally welcoming their miracle baby - even though people think he's his wife's dad.
Sarah Leigh-Bergin, 31, from Nantwich, Cheshire, first met her husband Mike, 57, in 2004, when she was 19 and he was 45.
They got married seven year later and wanted a family, but as Mike had undergone a vasectomy they were told they wouldn't be able to have one naturally.
They decided to have IVF, travelling to a clinic in Norway for help.
After three rounds Sarah finally discovered she was expecting, and on June 5 they welcomed their little boy Joshua into the world weighing 6lbs 10oz.
"Joshua is mine and Mike's first baby together and we couldn't be happier that we've now got our perfect family," Sarah said.
"Me and Mike have faced critics during our relationship, some people find our age gap uncomfortable.
"But in reality, we are just a normal couple who love each other unconditionally.
"I've had a few people refer to Mike as my dad when we're out and about and now Joshua is here, people will assume he's his granddad because of the age gap.
"We both just brush it off though, there's no reason why we would be offended, it is what it is."
The couple shared their story with as they hope to show others who are desperate for a baby that their are options, like travelling abroad.
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They are also understanding about why people sometimes criticise their relationship.
"Mike has said himself that if his daughter brought home a man 26 years older than her, he would question things too," Sarah said.
"My parents did ask questions, with some people assuming we had hidden motives for being with each other, but once they saw us as a couple, they could see how much we loved each other, they are now over the moon the have a grandson.
"Me and Mike had always wanted to start a family together and we often talked about it at the beginning of our relationship as I didn't know if it would be possible but I knew we would need help either way."
Sarah began researching IVF in 2014, after the NHS said they couldn't help due to Mike's vasectomy.
On top of these she had hormone issues and polycystic ovaries, meaning there was no way they would conceive naturally.
Each round of IVF in Norway cost the pair £2,000, and Sarah says discovering she was pregnant is still one of the best moments of her life.
"Now Joshua is here and he's three weeks old our whole experience feels worthwhile, it was an emotional rollercoaster having two failed attempts but we always tried to stay positive," she added.
"Apart from being sleep deprived, we are doing perfectly fine with Joshua back at home.
"He gave us a scare in hospital as he picked up an infection and needed to be placed in high dependency unit for a few days, all we could do it change his nappy and stroke his skin through the incubator.
"But after 12 days he was allowed home and we could finally take over and look after him full time.
"I also wanted other people to know that despite mine and Mike's age gap that couples can still conceive and have their own children even if they're facing problems like we did.
"I couldn't be happier now I'm a mum, and although I'm sure myself and Mike will get some remarks about his age as we push baby Joshua around together, we are determined to be great parents."
The couple still have two embryos left, so they haven't ruled out going back to Norway to try for another child.
Fertility expert at Fertility Road, Tone Jarvis-Mack, said: "From the outset Mike and Sarah knew the odds were stacked against them with a variety of medical problems.
"Despite all the initial setbacks they are the proud parents of baby Joshua thanks to the team at Klinikk Hausken."