Sharon and Aidan Christie, who run the Red Lion in Blue Town, have recently celebrated the birth of their baby boy Aidan Shay.

A baby is a huge celebration for any family, but when the new arrival has been a decade in the making, it seems even more special.

The couple had been trying for a baby for eight years when they decided to seek medical help.

And, after finding out they couldn’t conceive due to unexplained fertility they decided to try IVF treatment.

IVF stands for in vitro fertilisation and is a process by which eggs are fertilised in a laboratory and transferred into the uterus.

They started the treatment two years ago and, after three unsuccessful attempts, they found out Sharon, 33, was expecting in May last year.

The treatment is sometimes funded by the NHS, but the Christies didn’t meet the criteria and had to pay for the treatment themselves, which costs £5,000 a time.

Similar position

The couple, who live in Stanley Avenue, Queenborough, decided to speak to the Times Guardian about their joy to encourage other people who are trying IVF to keep going, even if it keeps being unsuccessful.

Sharon and Aidan had given up after their second go, and had thought about trying adoption, but after seeing a television programme about IVF featuring a couple in a similar position, they decided to try again.

Aidan, 35, said: “Sometimes it happens first time, sometimes third and we met some people who were on go number 20.

“We found out Sharon was pregnant in May after buying a digital home pregnancy test.

“It was very, very, emotional and, even after that, we had to wait seven weeks for a scan and then there’s all the goals – 12, 16 and 18 weeks – so it is an emotional roller coaster all the way through.”

AJ was born on Sunday, January 11 after a 46-hour labour. He weighed in at 5lb 12oz.

Aidan has another son of 15 who lives in London.

Sharon said: “It doesn’t feel real.

“It’s hard to believe he’s actually ours.

“Some people go through 20 goes, but our attitude was to keep positive.

“When we were at the hospital people would come in with their babies and it would give us encouragement to keep going.”

Aidan added: “IVF is a big strain, financially, emotionally and physically for all the family as well because they are all hoping and wishing.

“It’s a very, very, big thing but if this serves for people who are trying or thinking of trying, then little AJ is a reason to keep going. He’s a dream come true.”

Sharon and Aidan would like to thank everyone for all the cards and presents they have received.

For more on IVF, see this week's Times Guardian.