‘I knew I was ready’ ‘Falling pregnant felt like a miracle’
Tania Taylor, 37, is a hypnotherapist and lives in Rochdale with her husband, Adam, 43, and their two children, Chloe, 19, and Callum, 17.
I knew from a young age I’d have children early. I worried about health problems I could develop later in life, as my mum was often ill when I was a child, so at 17 and already married, I knew I was ready for kids.
TOTAL CERTAINTY
As the eldest of around 40 cousins, I was well-versed in dirty nappies and bottlefeeds and looking after the little ones meant I was always mature for my age. So it came as no surprise to my family and friends when I announced I was pregnant in spring 2002. By now, I had left school, and was working in a bakery.
But just weeks in, I suffered a miscarriage. It was traumatic but made me even more determined to become a mum. And, four months later, I fell pregnant again.
As my bump grew, I often received disapproving looks from strangers – but I shrugged it off, knowing what a devoted mum I would be.
In May 2003, when I was 18, I welcomed my baby girl Chloe. I was in awe of her and I loved being a mum so much I welcomed Callum just 16 months later.
Having a toddler and newborn was harder to juggle and I did suffer with postnatal depression for a while, but the kids pulled me through.
By the time Chloe was four, I was working towards my degree in psychology. Had I gone down the traditional route of university straight after college, I wouldn’t have taken it half as seriously. And I truly believe if it hadn’t been for the kids, I wouldn’t now have my first-class degree and a successful career as a hypnotherapist.
‘I LOVED BEING A MUM’
DIFFERENT LIFE STAGES
Many friends are hitting the baby stage now and while I love taking care of their kids, I love handing them back even more. I just don’t have the energy I had at 18!
Now my children are 19 and 17 and we’re all very close. It’s amazing to be able to chat with them like friends, as equals, rather than still be changing dirty nappies like many women my age. tania-taylor.co.uk
Christine Boama, 51, lives in Chorley with her husband, David, 51, and their daughter, Precious, one.
Holding my newborn daughter in my arms, I was filled with overwhelming joy. At the age of 50, I had been waiting a long time for that feeling.
JUST NOT HAPPENING
After I married my husband, David, in 2013, I presumed I’d be pregnant within a year, but when our first anniversary came with still no baby, we decided to try IVF. After five rounds, I still didn’t fall pregnant and the only thing that kept me from losing hope was my faith in Christ and the prayers of my family, my husband and my pastor. My grandma had my mum when she was 52, so I knew it wasn’t an impossibility.
Then, in September 2020, I noticed my period was late. At first, I worried it was the menopause. But it turned out to be my very first positive pregnancy test.
Shocked, I saw my GP and he confirmed I was six weeks along. After so many failed IVF treatments, it was a miracle to fall pregnant.
I thought I’d face some negativity about my age, but I didn’t; my family and friends knew how desperate I was to be a mum and even the doctors were encouraging. They reassured me that older pregnancies were uncommon, but not unheard of. And thankfully my pregnancy and birth went smoothly and life with a newborn left me no more tired than any other new mum!
FOR THE BEST
Now, at one, Precious is a happy, healthy baby. If I’d had her in my 30s I wouldn’t have been able to stay home, as I was still working towards my master’s degree, climbing the career ladder and worrying about money. But now, I have a stable career that allowed me to take a full year off. For a while, I thought it was never going to happen for me. I’m very grateful to God and I want to inspire other women to never stop chasing their dream of motherhood.
‘I WANT TO INSPIRE PEOPLE’