Sunbury father’s dramatic weight the key to IVF success
Told he was too overweight to conceive a child, Declan McGovern entered a weight-loss competition. 12 weeks later, 27kg lighter and $100k richer, Mr McGovern’s biggest reward will be born in a few months.
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Declan and Christina McGovern had all but given up hope on their dream of having a second child.
The young Sunbury couple, aged 36 and 38 respectively, and their son River, 4, had been through five heartbreaking miscarriages and a number of specialists, doctors and IVF appointments.
After two years of trying, it seemed impossible.
“We had given up, it had me on my knees,” Ms McGovern said.
“I never thought it was going to happen.”
To boost his health and the couple’s chance of conceiving, one doctor suggested Mr McGovern lose weight.
“The specialist looked at me and said look to be honest your weight could be a causing issue as to why you guys are having fertility issues,” Mr McGovern said.
“That was a bit of a knock to reality.”
So when the determined dad ran into his old personal trainer last year, just days later, he said it was like fate.
At 105kg, he got training.
But it was what came next that really changed the young family’s life.
“I was scrolling through Instagram and a photo popped up – a before and after photo of this guy who had won a body building challenge the previous year,” Mr McGovern said.
“And I thought geez that’s pretty impressive.”
The competition, run by American supplement company Bodybuilding.com, offered $100,000 to two lucky winners with the biggest weight loss transformation.
“I went home and sat Christina down and said I want to do this challenge and I need you to be 100 per cent on board because for the next three months I’m going to be selfish,” he said.
“I’m a bit of an optimist and I said I’m going to win this.”
Weeks of training followed – from the early hours of the morning to late at night, all the while motivated by the idea of having enough money – and health – to try IVF for a final time.
Twelve weeks and 27kg later, Mr McGovern walked into his local gym to a standing ovation and a giant check.
“It was that moment of holy crap we can do this – that glimmer of hope,” he said.
At the same time, the pair had met a new IVF specialist, Dr Lynn Burmeister, the medical director at No. 1 Fertility, who took a new approach to treatment.
“Because Christina had gone through the miscarriages I said to them they needed to test their embryos before they put them in,” Dr Burmeister said.
“I offer that to all my patients after they turn 35.
“She had 18 eggs collected, 15 fertilised, 4 frozen, 3 tested and only one was normal.
“We eliminated her risk of having a miscarriage.”
That one egg was transferred and now the couple’s dreams have finally come true.
Ms McGovern is 18-weeks pregnant, and healthy.
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“Declan has gone through so much, I put my body and wellbeing on the line,” Ms McGovern said.
“We gave it one last shot.
“It just seemed like it was meant to be.”