Hayley Tamaddon has given birth to her first baby, a healthy little boy.
And becoming a mum was a difficult journey for the former Emmerdale actress, 42, who was told she'd never be a mum before she conceived.
She first thought she might have problems with her fertility while she was in a relationship with comedian Marcus Brigstocke.
Hayley assumed she'd naturally fall pregnant but began having tests towards the end of their relationship.
After they broke up she gave up hope as she was 40 and single, saying: "I thought 'well, it's never going to happen now'."
"I threw myself into my career and turned my focus to work and was happy."
She'd had trouble with her ovaries since she was a teenager, and had been plagued by ovarian cysts throughout her adult lfie.
Her mum had similar problems conceiving, revealing it had taken her parents seven years before she arrived.
When she started dating her fiancé Adrian she told him she might not be able to have children.
They had discussed adoption as Adrian really wanted to be a dad.
They were devastated when they suffered a miscarriage in January.
But it wouldn't be long until she conceived again, she admits she took 18 tests to be sure.
Hayley told Closer magazine: "I must have taken 18 tests - 10 after my first one and then one each day throughout the week.
"I spent a fortune, we couldn't believe it."
She announced the pregnancy in April, posting: "EXCITING NEWS TWEET!! I'm so pleased to tell you all... I'm expecting my first child with my wonderful boyfriend Adrian!!
"I've always wanted to be a mum and didn't think I could have children.
"And now, at the ripe old age of 42 - I'M PREGNANT!"
She accidentally gave away the sex of her unborn baby during an appearance on ITV's Lorraine.
In the same interview she said she'd been trying to make her peace with not becoming a mum
"I found myself single and I'm 40 years old thinking, ‘Well that’s my time gone. Be ok with it," she said.
"I've read there's only a five percent chance after 40, per month, that a woman can get pregnant and the risk of miscarriage increases massively.
"Sadly we did go through that, but what that taught me was I could get pregnant, I can do it."
Hayley announced she'd welcomed her son on Monday,
Alongside an adorable picture holding her baby's tiny hands, she tweeted: "He’s here. He’s incredible. And we are besotted."
