News presenter Andrea Byrne has said that during the couple’s seven-year infertility experience she feared her husband would be “better off” without her.

Byrne, 45, is married to former Wales rugby international lee byrne44, has presented Welsh and network news for ITV since 2008.

“You feel very guilty,” recalled Byrne, who was told by doctors that she would likely never be able to bear her pregnancy.

“I remember those feelings all the time when I thought (Lee) would have been better off without me.”

The couple gave birth to their daughter, Jemima, in 2019, who “defied science” by conceiving naturally.

“I feel very conscious, when I’m telling my story, that maybe it’s easier to tell because we got the same ending that we had,” Byrne said.

“But I still think it’s important to talk about it, because I know how alone we were on that trip.”

After getting married on New Year’s Day in 2012, Byrne said she and her husband immediately started trying to get pregnant.

“We were both in our early 30s,” he said. “I had no reason to think there would be any problems.”

After a while, they went to a fertility clinic for testing.

An ultrasound revealed a problem with the thickness of Byrne’s uterine lining, which she describes as an “incurable rare genetic defect” in her new book Desperate Rants and Magic Pants.

“It’s the kind of news you don’t expect to hear,” Byrne told the BBC.

Years of intensive tests and procedures followed, including several rounds of IVF.

“Honestly, the number of cycles, I can’t even tell you,” she said.

“We tried a lot of different things besides IVF, things we were advised might work by different specialists.

“We also had some pregnancy tests come back positive and we thought we were pregnant, but unfortunately we also suffered a loss.

“So it was a real rollercoaster of emotions.”

Byrne said years of trying to conceive also took a toll on her relationship with her husband.

“I like to think that we’re really strong because of it, but boy, it’s really hard at those times,” she said.

“There were times when we wondered how we were going to stay together,” Byrne said, “because it’s so hard emotionally.”

“I remember saying that to Lee, and he got quite angry with me, because I’d say ‘Oh, just go and find someone else, someone else can do it more easily, just go and find a And find a woman.

“And he’d say to me ‘Oh my God, we’re in this together’.”

Doctors eventually told the couple that their only hope was surrogacy and, in 2018, they began exploring the possibility of finding a surrogate in the United States.

In his book, Byrne describes finding out just minutes before presenting the evening news that none of the embryos used for surrogacy were viable.

She wrote: “I look at my tear-filled reflection in the mirror, fix the damaged foundation, take a deep breath, walk out of the dressing room, smile and walk through the busy newsroom and onto the set. “

Byrne said that moment felt like the end of the road.

“After that news, we talked and decided that we will move on and build another life together,” she said.

“I get really emotional about it, because I feel very guilty about not being able to do what every other woman can do.”

But just a few months later, against all odds, Byrne became pregnant naturally.

Byrne said, “Surprisingly, we got pregnant again and this time it was Jemima. It was really incredible.”

“We were hopeless and they said the chances were you would never conceive.

“So she (Jemima) really disregarded everyone, all the medical advice we were given, and came along and said ‘No, I’m going to get it done’.”

Byrne, who also hosts the Making Babies fertility podcast, said writing her book was “emotional” and “kind of cathartic.”

“I know it’s a little cliché, but I think it also provides a little bit of closure,” he said.

The book includes chapters depicting the fertility experiences of several other celebrities who have appeared on Byrne’s podcast, including the presenter. gabby logan and comedian Geoff Norcott,

“I look at Jemima every day and I’m so grateful,” Byrne said.

“I’m glad I’m able to use my platform to have a positive impact and maybe help other people feel less isolated.”

When asked if she had any advice for others facing infertility, Byrne said she wished she had been kinder to herself.

“I think it’s very easy when you get some bad news about a cycle, or you’re having a bad time dealing with it, to become catastrophizing and think 10 steps ahead,” she said. “

“And before you know it, you’ve exhausted the possibility of anything else, which is very easy to do because it feels so hopeless.

“Nobody knows what’s going to happen 10 steps down the road, so just try to deal with what’s happening in that moment. I wish I had done that more.

“And also be a little kinder to yourself and yourself in the process. Take that time to find bits of joy where you can and take time out of it if you need to.”

“Because it can be all-consuming, friendship-wise, family-wise, it affects everything. So you really need to be kind to yourself.”

If you are affected by the problems listed in this article, there is information and support available about infertility. bbc action line,

Andrea Byrne’s Desperate Rants and Magic Pants – Our Fertility Story, published by Y Lolfa, was released on 9 October.