Mum-of-nine: “I’m having my 10th boy – then I’ll get sterilised”
Alexis and David Brett are the UK’S first couple to have conceived 10 sons in a row – but they tell us they wouldn’t have it any other way
Most mums are surrounded by M chaos in the mornings, but for Alexis Brett it’s a whirl of laying out piles of school uniforms and serving up almost two large boxes of cereal and a whole loaf of bread before most of her boys rush out the door to school.
Mum-of-nine Alexis and her husband David are the first couple in the UK to have conceived so many boys in a row. And despite the relentless washing and “off the scale” noise levels, Alexis, 37 – whose sons are aged between 14 months and 15 years – insists she loves having so many boys, and has only decided to stop now she’s due to give birth to her 10th son.
EASY PREGNANCIES
Size 8 Alexis, who gave birth naturally each time and lives in a five-bed council house with David, 42, in Inverness, says: “People assume I’d like to have a girl but I honestly love having so many sons. Boys are loving and uncomplicated – I wouldn’t know what to do with a girl. There’s the bonus of having all the hand-medown clothes as well!
“I’m an only child and I always wanted a big family, but I never dreamed I’d have one of this size. I seem to get pregnant easily and, every time, we’re really happy, so we just kept going.
“But I’ve decided to get sterilised after boy number 10. I’ll be 40 soon and I’ve got a bit of an achy hip, so I think enough is enough.”
Alexis met David aged 19 in 1998, when he was working as a train conductor and she was a refreshments server on a trolley.
She fell pregnant three years later with their son Campbell, now 15, and they married soon afterwards.
They then went on to have Harrison, now 13, followed by Corey, 11, Lachlan, nine, and Brodie, seven.
Alexis says: “With every pregnancy, we found out the gender beforehand – but when I fell pregnant for the fifth time, we just assumed it would be a boy. I can honestly say I was happy. I love boys – they’re just so straightforward.”
They continued adding to their brood and Brahn, now six, arrived a year later, followed by Hunter, four, Mack, three, and 14-month-old Blake.
SLEEP DEPRIVATION
Alexis says: “We already had the boys’ clothes ready and were living in a four-bed house at the time, so space wasn’t too much of a problem.
“It might sound strange, but going from four to nine made no difference. The chaos levels are the same. We use an eight-seater people carrier to get around and Campbell sleeps in his own room, while the others share rooms and have bunk beds.
“The cot is a permanent fixture in our bedroom and we’ve just had to get used to sleep deprivation!”
Sadly, David was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease four years ago, but is controlling it with medication and continues
❛ I wouldn’t know what to do with a girl❜
to work as a train driver, while Alexis runs the household.
She explains: “The children have showers the night before and shovel in their breakfast before we rush to school.
“I often vacuum six times a day and do four loads of washing. I don’t have a dishwasher either, so I’m constantly doing the washing up.
“At the weekends, David takes the older ones to martial arts classes in our people carrier, while I’ll stay behind with the little ones.
“Campbell and Harrison are into clothes and fashion, so I’ll go shopping with them, which gives me my girlie fix.
“I don’t ask the older boys to help with the younger ones – I want them to enjoy their childhood. They all get on pretty well.”
When it comes to holidays, the family go away once a year.
Alexis says: “We went on a sleeper train to Devon last year and all squeezed into a caravan. It was great fun.
“I make sure they all get nice presents for Christmas and birthdays. David’s wage means they don’t go without anything and I’m fairly careful with money. We bulk buy at the supermarket and look out for cheap deals.”
STAYING IN SHAPE
Incredibly, fitness fanatic Alexis finds time to work out three times a week and even completed a 10-mile charity run just eight weeks after giving birth to Brodie.
She adds: “I’ve always been into my fitness and Mum looks after the kids while I work out. I like to keep in shape.
“David and I are a real team and have date nights twice a month while Mum babysits. He mucks in, too, and does a £150 food shop each week, then I top it up.
“We don’t have enough cupboard space to buy the whole lot in one go.”
As for the future, the couple are looking forward to their new arrival.
Alexis says: “We’re used to having a newborn in the house and I can’t wait to meet our final addition.
“When the boys grow up, we’ll encourage them to go to university and do well for themselves. I’m looking forward to meeting all their girlfriends too! Although some people would long to have a girl, I’m happier than ever surrounded by my boys.”