We had our daughter because we wanted a child. The CF part before I had her wasn't too bad , I had no need for hospitalisation as I had no IV's at all. It all started (IV's and regular infections) when I was 35 weeks pregnant, I was losing weight and so had to go in hospital to check the baby was still growing and to rest. Unknown to me I had a chest infection (my first ever) and was started on IV's and the rest of the pregnancy went fine.

They found out Kirsty had CF at 10 days old and so was started on her medication. She has only needed one course of IV's when she was 2 months old. She has needed various oral antibiotics over the years but otherwise is pretty well.

I on the other hand have been in and out of hospital for chest infections ever since, but I don't regret any part of it. I now have a port-a-cath fitted for IV use and also have a button (feeding tube) inserted in my stomach as my weight gain is slow.

-- By Heidi Dowden in March, 2000