A single 51-year-old woman has made her dreams come true after welcoming a baby girl through IVF.
Kelly Clarke, 51, gave birth to her daughter Lyla Rae Clarke via caesarean on March 3, 2021, at Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, weighing 7lbs 8oz.
Despite the challenges of being a single parent, she says she is “constantly overwhelmed with the joy of finally being a mum”.
Miss Clarke, from Crawley, West Sussex, was known among friends for being ‘great with kids’ and always wanted to be a mother but had been unlucky in love.As she approached her 50th birthday, Kelly knew ‘time was not on her side’ and made the decision to fly to Athens, Greece, in March 2020 for an IVF consultation on recommendation from a friend.
In July 2020, Kelly flew back to Athens for the fertilised embryo to be implanted, before taking a pregnancy test 12 days later to find out the IVF had been successful – and she was pregnant.
Now having just celebrated her 51st birthday – and her first as a mother – Kelly said it was the ‘best birthday ever’ with the addition of her pride and joy, Lyla.
“Anyone who knows me will tell you how much I’ve always wanted to be a mum.
“I still can’t quite believe it and am constantly overwhelmed with the joy of finally being a mum at 51.
“She’s the perfect baby – I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
