With a smile they thought they might never see, and a gurgle they thought they might never hear, little Matilda Grace Lawrence sits between her doting parents playing happily.

The nine-month old truly is a ‘miracle’, as parents Richard and Laura call her, after pioneering technology gave them the baby they thought they would never have.

After illness forced Laura to have some of her ovaries removed, it was almost impossible that she would ever have kids naturally.

But after ground-breaking EmbryoScope technology was given free to the couple, of Church Lane, Gawsworth, as part of their £6,000 IVF treatment at the Hewitt Fertility Centre, doctors told them they had a 21 per cent chance of conceiving.

The technology works by taking a picture every ten minutes so doctors can monitor how quickly the embryo develops within the first few days of life.

And after Laura got pregnant, Matilda was welcomed into the world by caesarean section weighing 8lb 12oz.

BA cabin crew member Laura, 39, said: “Richard and I have been together for three and a half years and we married in May 2013.

“Richard already had two sons, however we really wanted to start a family together. We tried to conceive naturally for nearly two years but, unfortunately, were unsuccessful.

“Now to have Matilda is unbelievable - she really is a miracle. When I think that she went from five little cells to an embryo and then became my little girl is incredible.

“My pregnancy was not easy because I had to inject myself with twelve vials of drugs a day and I was still flying with work at the time. But I had Richard there for me, he is my rock and just the kindest man. With Matilda too I feel very lucky. “

Laura says that she is still coming to terms with having Matilda in her life.

She added: “It is weird, knowing he is there, smiling and playing. But she is ace, a perfect baby, she sleeps through and is always happy.

“It is amazing to think that we could have given up hope and she would never be with us.

“But both Richard and I hope that by sharing our story, we can show other couples going through a similar journey that there is hope for them too.”

To find out more about The Hewitt Fertility Centre in Knutsford and its treatments, visit the website at www.thehewittfertilitycentre.org.uk or call 01565 635000.