A woman who was given a one per cent chance of naturally conceiving a baby has fallen pregnant after losing eight stone.
Ella Marsh, 26, was trying to get pregnant for six years with her husband Dylan, 25.
Her doctor recommended losing weight to increase her chances of conceiving, but still felt there was almost no chance of it happening.
The customer service advisor, who lives in Havant, Hampshire, finally fell pregnant in June after dropping from a size 28 to a 14.
She said: "I've always wanted to be a mum, ever since I was a little girl.
"It was so hard trying for so many years, every negative test was more upsetting.
"I used to comfort eat to try and cheer myself up.
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"Eventually, in August 2020, I decided enough was enough and had a gastric sleeve as I couldn't lose the weight on my own.
"Just under a year later and two weeks after an IVF consultation, I fell pregnant naturally.
"I did about 50 tests because I just couldn't believe it."
Ella used her savings and had help from family to fund the £9950 surgery.
Now, halfway through her pregnancy, Ella is feeling better than ever.
She said: "We are so over the moon, she is a little miracle.
"Before my weight loss I was very shy and insecure.
"Now, I'm so confident, I go out with my friends more and I love shopping."
Ella explained her initial weight gain stemmed from her childhood.
She said: "I would turn to food for comfort, which progressed as I got older.
"When we first started trying, I was getting more depressed as the days went on, and worrying that I would never get pregnant.
"Those feelings led me to eat more, and I was stuck in this cycle."
Ella used to eat three or more takeaways per week which would often include additional sides.
She said: "I had tried diets for years, but nothing was working.
"I tried to be strict with myself, and only have a shake for a meal, but I still wasn't losing weight.
"The only option was surgery.
"I used it as a tool to stop my bad eating habits and to finally lose weight once and for all."
After the surgery, Ella was given the shocking news that she wasn't ovulating.
She said: "I was devastated, I thought I would never be a mum.
"We were referred to an IVF clinic and had a consultation there.
"Two weeks after that I found out I was pregnant!
"Battling infertility is so hard, but it's important you don't lose hope.
"The best thing I've ever done in my life is going and speaking to my doctor about it.
"That's how we got here, because they first recommended losing weight to help us conceive.
"I never in a million years thought it would ever happen naturally considering the odds were completely against us.
"Now, I'm pregnant with my dream baby."
