FOR new mum Laura Hind, her bundle of joy was the best 40th birthday present she could have ever received.

After three years of trying to conceive naturally with husband Lee, without success, the couple turned to IVF and their “miracle” baby boy, Samuel, was born in August.

He was welcomed into the world at Royal Bolton Hospital four days before Mrs Hind’s milestone birthday and now the new parents are overjoyed after their emotional journey.

Mrs Hind, of Coop Street, Astley Bridge, said: “It was the best present ever. The best thing is waking up every day and seeing him smiling and laughing at me.

“I’m never going to get bored of that, even if it’s 4am. I don’t care. I love it. To me, he’s a miracle. I’m just in awe of him every day. I can’t stop looking at him.”

The pair had been friends for many years but romance blossomed and they got together when they were aged 36.

After a whirlwind romance, which saw Mr Hind propose after just four weeks, they started trying for a baby almost immediately and were married within a year.

Mrs Hind, a money advice officer for a housing association in Salford, said: “We were trying for about three years.

“We left it about 12 months before we went to the doctors, because of our age.”

After invasive examin-ations and tests, they discovered Mr Hind had a low sperm count but an exact reason for being unable to conceive was not given.

They were referred to CARE Fertility and had intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of eggs and embryo transfer in Manchester.

It was funded on the NHS, but would cost between £3,000 and £5,000, and the treatment was successful after one attempt.

Mrs Hind said: “They said it was unexplained. Bolton Hospital decided to refer us for fertility treatment.

“We got referred to Leigh (fertility clinic). I had literally just turned 39.

“At the first consult-ation, they said that we would not be eligible for any other fertility treatment other than IVF and we would only be given one go.

“They told us it would not be straightforward IVF, it would be ICSI.

“To me, IVF is just like jumping hurdles. Every scan and every test, you are worrying all the time.”

Mrs Hind responded well to treatment and they were told the happy news by doctors.

She said: “I was really surprised that I did conceive actually, beca-use of my age. It felt absolutely amazing for me.”

Just over 10 weeks ago little Samuel was born, much to the delight of Mr Hind and her husband, aged 39, who runs a chemical products busin-ess in Trafford Park.

They still have three embryos with CARE Fertility and are planning to conceive naturally before trying again.

Mr Glenn Atkinson, medical director, CARE Fertility, Manchester, sa-id: “It’s great to know that Lee and Laura were successful on their first attempt at ICSI.”