A Melbourne couple has welcomed the birth of their son, Brodie Matthew Beale, after a gruelling 11-year journey battling infertility that included multiple miscarriages and 14 rounds of IVF.
Amanda Bale, 37, and Heath, 43, began trying for a family shortly after their wedding in 2013. After a year of unsuccessful attempts, they turned to in vitro fertilization (IVF), hoping for a breakthrough. Their initial cycles yielded five embryos, but two transfers resulted in early pregnancy losses, marking the start of a decade of heartbreak.
“They just swindled off and I lost those,” Amanda Bale recalled, describing the devastation of those early setbacks. Over the ensuing years, the couple endured several pregnancies, each ending in miscarriage. One particularly painful loss occurred in 2023, when a pregnancy with a detected heartbeat at six weeks and three days ended a week later with no heartbeat detected.
The emotional and financial strain of repeated IVF cycles took a significant toll. Amanda estimated the cost of treatment to be equivalent to a house deposit. “It’s that trauma of each month would I have a positive reading or would it be, you know, back to square one,” she said.
Despite the repeated disappointments, Amanda and Heath remained resolute. “Until a specialist or a doctor says to you and I that People can’t have children, then we’re not going to just deliver up. I’m going to keep persevering,” Amanda stated.
A turning point came when Amanda suggested a change of clinics. The couple transitioned to Primary IVF, now known as Adora Fertility, where they encountered Dr. Stephanie Sii. “Dr Stephanie Sii is just incredible. She’s just so lovely and genuine,” Amanda said. Dr. Sii proposed a different approach, determined to explore every possible avenue for success.
One key adjustment involved a change in sperm retrieval for Heath. Rather than providing a sample in a clinical setting, he underwent a procedure to collect sperm under anaesthetic on the same day as Amanda’s egg collection. Dr. Sii explained that surgical sperm retrieval, or testicular sperm aspiration (TESA), is considered when ejaculated sperm quality is poor. “Sperm extracted this way can enable better sperm selection to improve embryo quality,” she said.
Heath initially hesitated about the procedure, but Amanda’s support and the potential benefits convinced him. “If anyone was hesitating to go and have their sperm collected via a procedure and going under anaesthetic, it was worth it — just knowing the quality was better and that you didn’t have to deal with the stress of putting it in a cup,” he said.
Following the change in approach, Dr. Sii recommended transferring two embryos, a strategy previous specialists had declined. One of the transferred embryos successfully implanted, marking a significant breakthrough after 13 previous failed transfers.
On June 25th, 2025, Amanda received the positive pregnancy test she had long awaited. The pregnancy progressed without complication, and their son, Brodie Matthew Beale, was born on February 18th, 2026, at 34 weeks and three days.
“You know, a miracle that it’s taken so many years,” Amanda said. Now home with baby Brodie, Amanda and Heath hope their story will offer strength and encouragement to other couples facing similar challenges. “We wouldn’t be here today if we did give up.”
If you or someone you know has suffered pregnancy or infant loss, you can contact Pink Elephants Support Network or Red Nose Australia.
