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Pregnant Bake Off star Laura Adlington reveals the gender of her ‘miracle’ baby as she details the ‘tears and heartache’ of nine-year fertility battle

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Great British Bake Off star Laura Adlington has revealed the gender of her unborn ‘miracle’ baby. 

The well-known television figure, aged 36, revealed the gender of her long-awaited first child with her spouse Matt, following a challenging nine-year struggle with infertility, which was marked by countless tears and profound pain.

On Sunday evening, the body positivity advocate, known for size 26, shared on her Instagram account that she and her partner are expecting a son. She also narrated a heartwarming tale suggesting their longed-for baby was destined to join them all along.

In April, Laura made it official that she was pregnant, having decided quietly about a year earlier to undergo IVF treatment.

Previously, the TV chef was informed by medical professionals that her dream of having a child could be realized through In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), but only after she had shed a significant amount of weight as a prerequisite.

With a charming teddy bear attire, Laura shared that she and Police Community Support Officer Matt had quickly purchased the overalls soon after Laura stopped taking birth control pills, hoping that this step would lead to their parenthood process happening quickly.

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Initially, Laura was thrilled about eventually becoming a mother, but she hadn’t realized just how challenging and prolonged the road ahead would be.

Accompanying the delightful photo, she penned down this tale: Approximately nine years past, shortly after I stopped taking birth control pills, we spontaneously visited Tesco to pick up some items for a family outing picnic.

Thrilled about soon being a mother, I hastened towards the infant department and chose this tiny garment. I showed it to Matt, asking, “Should we buy this?” He chuckled and hesitantly consented. Into the shopping cart it was placed.

In those days, I was clueless about the length and intensity of the road that lay before me. Time moved on, months turned into years. One failed test followed another, only to be replaced by more disappointments. There were countless tears shed, endless moments of despair.

In the past, I didn’t know what challenges awaited or how far the road stretched. The passage of time saw me through months and then years. Test after test came back negative, bringing only sadness and pain. Tears flowed freely, and my heart ached constantly.

Laura confessed that it was tough for her when her friends and relatives became pregnant, as she and Matt weren’t experiencing the same, often feeling the urge to give away the baby clothes on multiple occasions.

Instead, she added: ‘It was incredibly challenging for us to see so many loved ones welcoming new life, as we stood by, hopeful yet longing, asking ourselves, “When will our turn arrive?”‘

Over time, there have been instances when we found ourselves unprepared for a baby gift, and I considered giving away this small outfit (I didn’t know what else to do with it). However, a friend tactfully questioned how I would feel about someone else’s baby wearing it, and advised me to keep it instead.

Afterward, that’s exactly what happened. Over three relocations and almost a decade, this small enterprise has persisted with us, hidden away in a drawer’s depth or an unused room’s corner.

Except for the occasional time when I stumble upon it during spring cleaning, keeping it close to my heart and hoping one day our child may wear it someday. However, this year, as most of you are aware, our long-held wish has finally become a reality.

I’m thrilled to share some exciting news with all of you! We just discovered that our baby will be a little boy. To tell you the truth, I had secretly wished for a girl too. But now, as I look forward to meeting him, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions and anticipation.

Reflecting on it now, we didn’t purchase any girl’s clothing except for this particular item. Perhaps it’s a sign from the universe that this choice was always destined to be.

Currently, this small clothing piece doesn’t merely represent a beacon of hope. Instead, it stands ready, much like us, for the little boy destined to wear it one day.

2020 Great British Baking Show contestant revealed that she is having her first baby, following advice to shed 14 stone before conception. She shared this happy news on Instagram after making the quiet decision to pursue In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) about a year ago.

Previously, she had abandoned the idea of having a child when medical professionals informed her that her sole opportunity to conceive involved undergoing IVF, and she needed to shed excess pounds to even be considered for the treatment.

Overjoyed with her wonderful announcement, she shared: “After nine long years dealing with infertility, we are thrilled (and somewhat stunned) to learn that we’ll welcome our miraculous IVF baby in October.

I understand that such announcements might be difficult, especially when you’re already in the midst of anticipation or sorrow. Therefore, don’t hesitate to mute or unfollow if it helps, and remember I’m sending you lots of love.

It’s been quite a lengthy and, let me tell you, often solitary journey that has led us here – a path that many of you may recognize if you’ve been following me for some time or have tuned in to my podcast.

We had come to terms with the possibility that becoming parents might not be in our future. However, around a year and a half back, we quietly resolved to explore In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

We chose to keep our news private, opting not to broadcast it online or even tell our loved ones, as a means of reducing the stress and additional expectations we might face.

After experiencing an unlucky game round and another one that got called off, I learned a few months back that I was, fortunately, expecting a child.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll delve deeper into our path that led us here, but for the moment, we’re simply thrilled to announce our news to everyone. Honestly, it feels surreal – we can hardly believe our good fortune!

In 2022, Laura detailed how it was always a dream of hers to become a mother.

In an interview with Fabulous magazine, she expressed: ‘If you haven’t experienced infertility and the emotional pain of desperately desiring a family that doesn’t come to pass… it’s the most challenging ordeal I’ve endured.’

The television figure expressed that she had long desired to become a mother, and found herself questioning the purpose of it all when she was unable to conceive.

She expressed that she has never pondered over the idea of wanting to end her life, but there have been times when she felt she didn’t wish to continue living. On several instances, she reached out to the Samaritans, and found their assistance very helpful.

Laura shared that, following discussions with her physicians, she attempted to shed some pounds. She also pondered the possibility of undergoing bariatric surgery, but ultimately decided against it.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always been open about my personal journey, and I must share that I’ve grappled with weight issues since I was just eight years old. Losing weight for a successful IVF treatment turned out to be an extraordinary challenge for me.

She expressed: ‘It was quite a significant loss – approximately 19 kg, and it was incredibly challenging for me to achieve this. I often ponder whether this will continue to linger in my thoughts, especially as I grow older.’

Last month, I found myself utterly disheartened, speaking out against the NHS, as I shared my harrowing experience of being body-shamed by healthcare professionals during my IVF journey.

In simple terms, The Great British Bake Off expressed her disappointment towards several fertility specialists within the National Health Service (NHS) who advised her that she should reduce her weight in order to have a baby.

During a question-and-answer session on Instagram, Laura, who was a size 26 prior to pregnancy, was inquired about if she received IVF assistance from the National Health Service (NHS).

As a deeply devoted admirer, allow me to share my heart-wrenching account, particularly focusing on the challenges we faced within the realm of infertility care provided by the NHS: My journey has been nothing short of harrowing.

For eight months, we anxiously anticipated meeting with a specialist. Unfortunately, on the day of our appointment, instead of a warm welcome, we were weighed and criticized for our weight in the hallway itself, before being granted entry to her office. To add insult to injury, we were then informed that no tests could be performed due to my Body Mass Index (BMI).

‘BMI, though often outdated and imprecise for assessing health, remains a tool frequently employed by the NHS to justify their decisions. Our attempts for better care have consistently been denied, which is unfair.’

The Body Mass Index (BMI) became well-known in the 1970s, serving as a tool to assess if someone’s weight is appropriate for their height, essentially helping to estimate body fat levels.

Generally, a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) lies within the range of 18.5 to 24.9. If it’s less than 18.5, that individual is classified as underweight. BMI values between 25 and 29.9 indicate overweight status, while a BMI above 30 marks obesity.

In recent times, Body Mass Index (BMI) has been a commonly used metric for assessing body weight. However, it does have its limitations. For instance, BMI fails to differentiate between muscle and fat, resulting in somewhat peculiar outcomes. To illustrate, the renowned wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, who boasts significant muscle mass, is technically classified as obese according to this measurement method.

Laura shared with her followers that her Body Mass Index (BMI) is 45, and due to this, they were refused In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) on the National Health Service (NHS). Subsequently, Laura and her husband Matt sought fertility treatment at The Lister Fertility Clinic in London.

In my personal experience, I’ve come across a unique clinic that doesn’t impose an upper limit on Body Mass Index (BMI). My BMI was 45 at the time, and despite this, they welcomed me warmly. The overall experience was extremely positive. From the get-go, my weight was acknowledged, and I had to pay for an obstetrician consultation and a conversation with one of their anesthesiologists.

‘Our case was then put to a panel before we were approved. My weight was never brought up again.’ 

The star disclosed that each cycle for the couple set them back £10,198.54, and she showed a copy of their bill statement to illustrate this expense.

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2025-06-09 11:09

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