A woman who spent a decade trying to lose weight so she could have a baby is now a happy mum - after shedding 7st 5lbs. Jo Calver-Henshaw, 45, went through three miscarriages and was told by doctors her size was a contributing factor.
So she made it her mission to lose weight - and fell pregnant in September 2020 after losing more than 7st. Jo weighed 18st 3.5lbs at her heaviest. Now, at 10st 8lbs, she's the happy mum to little Alexandra, who was born in May 2021.
Jo, an administrator, said: "I definitely think losing the weight was a factor in having a successful pregnancy. I think keeping the weight off also helped me to maintain a successful pregnancy.
"It is incredible and amazing to be a mum at last. We had decided this was the last time we were going to try for a baby.
"I couldn’t believe it was happening at first and I was getting worried. It’s wonderful to have her now, especially after everything we had to go through.”
Jo first joined Slimming World in 2006 and lost seven stone - but then left the group and piled the weight back on. She rejoined in 2012 and lost another five stone.
In 2018, Jo fell pregnant for the first time but sadly miscarried at 11 weeks. After two more miscarriages, Jo went to hospital for tests to uncover why it was happening.
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She said: "It wasn't getting pregnant that was the issue - it was maintaining the pregnancy. The investigations showed that my BMI was too high which wasn't helping, and my age was a factor too. I got given progesterone and low-dose aspirin which is supposed to stop recurring miscarriages."
Jo fell pregnant in September 2020 and rejoined Slimming World in the hope that she would not gain any more weight.
She said: "I lost another two stone for baby Alexandra. I was worried I might have another miscarriage.
"My partner, Paul said we would try one more time and if we get a baby that will be amazing but if not we won't have children. The early days were very worrying, but I had a normal pregnancy, and everything was fine."
Baby Alexandra was born on May 11, 2021, weighing 7lbs 11oz.
Jo, from Southend, said: "She was born in 2021, so due to the Covid pandemic I couldn’t do antenatal, or baby classes and I was worried. It was pretty nerve-wracking. It’s wonderful to have her now, especially after everything we had to go through.
"It is amazing, I can't describe the happiness of it. It is total happiness now I have a little girl. She is developing well, she is walking, running and even dancing around the house."
Jo's diet before
Breakfast - full English
Lunch - meal deals, packaged sandwiches
Dinner - takeaways
Snacks - biscuits, crisps, chocolate
Drinks - beer and fizzy drinks
Jo's diet now
Breakfast - cereal
Lunch - pasta dishes, jacket potato
Dinner - chicken kyivs, homemade fish and chips
Snacks - cereal bars, fruit, nuts
Drinks - water, tea, coffee
