TV’S ANDREA TELLS OF TOUGH ROAD TO BECOMING AMUM
ITV presenter Andrea Byrne has revealed global experts warned her she would not be able to carry a child in her seven-year quest to have a baby.
The star, who has launched a new podcast to talk about fertility issues, lifted the lid on her struggle with the question “when are you going to have children?”.
Stark figures show one in six couples struggle to become parents.
Andrea, who is now a proud mum to two-year-old Jemima with her husband – former Wales rugby international Lee Byrne – had kept her battle to become a mum private until the start of this year.
In the Making Babies podcast, entitled Do You Have Children?, she said: “Somehow, against all the odds, after seven long years we did end up with our precious daughter Jemima who is now nearly two. “How she is here remains a mystery. “We were told by several doctors around the world, in fact, that I probably wouldn’t carry a pregnancy.
“So I really do know just how tough the road to parenthood can be and how difficult it is to keep going not knowing what the result is for you.”
She added: “It’s been a very personal journey for me and my husband. We spent many years trying to start a family.”
During the podcast, the Bridgendbased star admitted she had struggled to go to christenings and baby showers as she was repeatedly asked when she would enjoy the journey into motherhood.
In her first episode of the podcast, Andrea is joined by fertility counsellor Wendy Martin and Alice Matthews, from Fertility Network UK.
The experts talk about the emotional and financial toll of trying to start to have a family. They also discuss stress.
Andrea said she had turned to exercise to help relax. “I’m a big advocate of yoga – it’s helped me a lot,” she said.
The presenter has released the podcast to coincide with Fertility Awareness Week.
■ Making Babies A Podcast with Andrea Byrne can be heard on Spotify.