Alfie is miracle baby

A “miracle child from nowhere” born to a Stafford mother who has only half an ovary was revealed today at Stafford’s maternity unit.

Tiny Alfie Siviter is the baby nobody ever thought could be born.

His mother Trudi Siviter, aged 39, was told by doctors 20 years ago she could never have children and, after two ectopic pregnancies, several attempts at IVF fertility treatment and the removal of all but half of one ovary, she had resigned herself to having a hysterectomy.

But last July – three months before she was due to have the hysterectomy – she was “shocked, but happy”, to find she was pregnant.

Despite having only half an ovary left, which was itself not functioning properly, Alfie was born naturally at Staffordshire General Hospital’s maternity unit eight months into the pregnancy on December 7.

Alfie weighed a small but healthy 3lb 8oz.

“He’s the miracle child from nowhere,” said Trudi, of Walden Avenue, a customer service manager for her local Tesco.

“I can’t thank enough the staff at Staffordshire General Hospital. I’ve been there quite a lot over the years, as well as during my pregnancy and the birth – and I’ve had fantastic treatment there throughout.

“Last July I wasn’t feeling well and, when I went for a check-up, they found I was three months pregnant.

“And now – to our amazement – we have our little Alfie, who has white-blonde hair, big blue eyes and is the double of his dad, Christopher.”

Trudi was first told she would never have children after cancerous cells were found in her cervix 20 years ago.

She later had two ectopic pregnancies, which left her with only a small piece of fallopian tube and her right ovary was removed, as well as half of her left one.

Her womb was not thought to be strong enough to support a pregnancy and three attempts at IVF fertility treatment failed.

She and her husband had resigned themselves to never having children and threw themselves into organising holidays in Mexico and Fuerteventura, both of which they ended up cancelling when she finally found she was pregnant.

Consultant obstetrician Miss Karen Powell, who has been treating Trudi at Staffordshire General Hospital in Weston Roadf or the last three years, said: “She was getting a lot of pain and discomfort in her abdomen and was on the waiting list for a hysterectomy when we found she was pregnant.

“It’s one of God’s little miracles that she has given birth to baby Alfie – he has found his way around so many obstacles. It just goes to show we can never say ‘never’.

“The whole team at Staffordshire General Hospital are absolutely delighted for Trudi, her husband and Alfie.”

Trudi added: “A week after finding I was pregnant, I almost lost Alfie when I haemorrhaged and I came into hospital quite often during the pregnancy.

“The staff at Stafford kept a very close eye on me and I had regular scans – and then Alfie was born. He’s an absolute joy to have and, apart from having a cold recently, he’s very well.

“He feeds every two and a half hours, already his weight has gone up to 5lb 3oz – and he’s a very contented baby.

“I’m still in shock – but it’s absolutely wonderful.”