A WOMAN who suffered five miscarriages in a year and was then diagnosed with cervical cancer while pregnant has given birth to a "miracle" baby.
Amy Newton, 28, was originally told she would need radical surgery which would end her chances of becoming a mum forever.
But her consultant at the City Hospital decided to try a pioneering form of surgery, only ever used on a handful of pregnant women in the UK.
She is now free of the disease and has a healthy baby daughter, Ruby, who is two months old.
Mrs Newton said: "She is our little miracle, an absolute miracle and we think our consultant is an absolute God. The pregnancy was the most stressful time of both our lives but I feel so very lucky to have my daughter now. She's perfect. We're so lucky.
"Initially, I was told I had to terminate the pregnancy and treat my cancer.
"We had got so far this time and now we were losing our chance again. It was devastating."
Jafaru Abu, consultant gynaecological oncologist at the City Hospital, carried out the operation.
Mr Abu said: "I told Amy there would be a 50/50 chance that the baby would live. She decided to take the risk.
"I removed the neck of the womb and used keyhole surgery to remove the lymph gland in the pelvis. It was very challenging and nerve-wracking, but went smoothly."
He added: "When I tell my colleagues about the operation they are all amazed.
"But now I've done it once, I think I would do it again."
Mrs Newton found out about the cancer after going for a smear test. Now she is urging all women to make sure they go for tests when they are called.
"I want as many young woman as possible to go for smear tests, because I believe having the test saved my daughter's life.
"It is very important that young women get smear tests – very very important.
"For a two-minute smear, it is all worth it, because often cervical cancer has no symptoms."
