Kate Lawler reveals she ‘finally’ decided to have a baby aged 40 after feeling something was missing

Kate Lawler ‘finally’ decided to have a baby aged 40 after feeling something was missing in her life – and says becoming a mum for the first time has been ‘perfect.’

The Big Brother 2002 winner revealed her family thought she was ‘joking’ when she announced her pregnancy, after she spent years insisting: ‘I will never have a child.’

In an exclusive interview, Kate, who welcomed daughter Noa in February with fiancé Martin, admitted her feelings towards falling pregnant changed when she hit the milestone age and her fears grew about time not being on her side. 

She explained: ‘A combination of things changed… being with somebody that was really keen on having a baby and pushing the idea of how wonderful it would be and how much it would create a new dynamic between us, and definitely my age as well.

‘I don’t know why but when I hit 40 I started thinking about what was next and I felt like I needed to do something but I didn’t know what.

‘Then we went to the fertility clinic and I was told my egg count was very low so I knew time wasn’t on my side and I wouldn’t be able to debate it forever and I would have to make a decision eventually.

‘Honestly, it finally felt like I was ready for it and I do genuinely feel like I have done everything I want to in life and I am so ready to be a mum now to a little human. It is just perfect timing.

‘Everyone thought we were joking because I have spent so many years saying I will never have a child. It was funny everyone thought we were winding them up at first.’

Kate’s had a tough time since Noa’s arrival by abdominal birth, with the newborn being rushed in and out of hospital due to initial issues with her breathing and later, an infection on her finger.

The radio presenter told her Instagram followers she was ‘in awe’ of Noa’s ‘strength and bravery’ after she was kept in hospital overnight last week while doctors treated the latest problem. 

Kate reflected on the first week of having Noa as being ‘the most overwhelming experience of her life’ due to her daughter’s health complications and doubting herself as a first-time parent. 

Speaking on Instagram, she said: ‘I’ve cried because I’m tired, I’m not feeling confident in what I’m doing or if either of us are doing it right, over horrendous, dark thoughts about losing my daughter, when our meditation playlist came on as it reminded me of when Noa was in NICU…’  

Kate’s experiences as a new mum will be retold on MTV show Celebrity Bumps: Famous and Pregnant, which marks her return to reality TV after she last appeared on the second series of Love Island in 2006. 

She said: ‘I always like doing shows that don’t make it feel like you’re on TV. I have never done a show where there’s a live audience.

‘With Big Brother, the cameras were there and we were being filmed getting on with our daily lives and it’s pretty much been the same with MTV.

‘They have come in and filmed us doing everyday stuff and interviewed us about the experience.

‘I have shown everyone the reality of me being pregnant and working during the pandemic and I have always been open in sharing my life.’

Prior to giving birth, Kate admitted she and Martin felt ‘nervous’ about bringing their new arrival home for the first time.

She said: ‘There is apprehension about bringing the baby home because it is the first time we have ever done it.

‘We’ve done lots of research and reading and our Podcast but still, we keep talking about those first few days where we bring our home and change nappies and feed and how that’s going to be.

‘You can’t prepare really, you can read but until you physically actually do something like that you don’t really know what you’re doing. We’re nervous but that’s to be expected.’ 

• Celebrity Bumps: Famous and Pregnant premieres on March 3 at 8pm on MTV