And have been through a lot to become Britain’s first transgender mum and dad
Hannah Jake
overnight thing,’ says Hannah. ‘One day I went home as a male officer and the next day I came in as a female officer.’
Hannah was just 22 when she joined top military academy Sandhurst in 2009: ‘ While I was this outwardly confident bloke in the army, in the privacy of my own space I might wear my wig, women’s clothes and over time they became my coping mechanism.
‘ When I went to Afghanistan that privacy was taken away from me for a large period of time, and that is when I really began to struggle.’
Coming out to her army officer, she was treated with kindness and support.
But she says: ‘Probably the toughest thing I’ve ever done in my life was to stand in the kitchen and tell my mum and dad I’m trans.’
Jake had his own struggles which escalated when he hit puberty. ‘I was crippled with self-loathing and selfdisgust. I internalised and became a ball of rage. Then I discovered alcohol… to numb that. I eventually hospitalised myself at the age of 25 with acute pancreatitis and nearly died. I made the decision to transition when I was 27.’
Jake was impressed by Hannah from the moment he first set eyes on her on TV. ‘She was plucky, shy and modest,’ he says.
They connected via Facebook – with Jake admitting he was after marriage and kids within the first five minutes of them chatting. Online finally turned into a first date.
For Hannah, who hadn’t dated before, things all fell into place.
Jake says: ‘The date started at 3 o’clock and went on for about 11 hours – we had our first kiss at about 9 o’clock.’
Hannah agrees: ‘I told him I loved him at the end of that first night… we fell in love quite quickly.’
That meeting turned into a fairy-tale wedding in 2018.
The only blot on the couple’s horizons was the desire to have a family. The Channel 4 documentary follows their long path to parenthood.
While Hannah had never imagined herself as a parent, Jake had five embryos fertilised with donor sperm frozen.
‘There is a real human desire to see little versions of yourself out there… and to nurture and grow old, watching your children… living their lives.’
But the couple needed a surrogate to fulfil their dream.
After a false start with one who they just ‘didn’t click with’, they found Laura, 32, from Belfast, who already had two children aged eight and 10.
Jake, Hannah and Laura spoke on the phone and Skyped each other – then they met face to face for the first time in a restaurant, to decide if this was something they could do together.
In UK law, surrogates are only able to be paid expenses but Laura was excited about helping the couple (in total the entire process, including medical bills, costs them £45,000).
‘I love being pregnant,’ Laura explains. ‘And to give someone that gift…’
Luckily, after Jake’s embryos were implanted, Laura became pregnant. She shares the news virtually – having taken a test but not looked at the result and turning the test to the camera so Jake and Hannah find out first.
Two little blue lines confirm the happy news. Everyone is thrilled, although Hannah admits: ‘I feel a bit left out, I’m the woman who can’t give birth.’
With the baby growing safely in Laura’s tummy, Hannah and Jake prepare for their new arrival. But one thing they aren’t prepared for is the Coronavirus outbreak…
It’s just a few weeks to Laura’s due date, and with a lockdown imminent, the couple dash to Belfast. Hiring an Airbnb, they self-isolate for three weeks while they wait for their daughter’s arrival.
Sadly, they are not able to be with Laura when she gives birth by C-section.
With baby Millie Winter born at 5.30am in the morning, weighing 8lbs 4oz, it’s after 9am when the couple are able to meet her. There are tears of joy – from everyone, Laura, Jake and Hannah.
Reflecting on becoming a mum, Hannah says: ‘It’s easy to have expectations for what your child will be, what they will grow up to be… but Millie can be whoever she wants to be.
‘Jake and I will support her wholeheartedly, and never leave her side.’
‘Millie can be whoever she wants to be - we’ll support her’
Our Baby: A Modern Miracle is on Channel 4 on 28 July at 10pm.