A woman who thought she was experiencing the menopause but was in fact pregnant instead has welcomed an unexpected baby at 45.
Vikki Jenkins, now 46, and her husband, Matt, 50, from, America, welcomed their daughter, Rory, in May last year after she fell pregnant by surprise.
The couple had spent four years as empty nesters when Vikki's eldest son, Drew, 22, left home to join the military aged 18.
Vikki, an office manager, was experiencing hot flashes, mood swings, and an irregular menstrual cycle which led her to believe that she was perimenopausal, but these were in fact pregnancy symptoms.
She says that when her periods stopped, she was so happy to not be having them any more and never imagined that this was because she was expecting a baby.
Despite the shock, Vikki was delighted to become a mum for the second time, and Matt was excited to experience fatherhood for the first time at the age of 50.
Vikki said: "I had a 22-year-old son, Drew, who left home at 18 when he joined the military.
"Since Matt and I first met nine years ago, we both said from the beginning that we didn't want to have children together, and we enjoyed travelling and vacations.
"Having a baby was never part of our plan together, so Rory was a total surprise. I thought I was starting perimenopause because I was having hot flushes, and mood swings and my periods stopped.
"After going through some really crazy emotions, one day when I was on my way to work I stopped at a shop and I decided I should take a test but I never in a million years thought that it would be positive.
"When I saw the positive sign show up, I immediately ran to the store to buy four more tests and took those in the bathroom at work. They all came back positive too.
"I was in total shock and left work to go home and tell Matt.
"As I was home early from work and needed to tell him something, he asked if I was leaving him. I told him the news and he told me he'd had a gut feeling I was pregnant for the past two weeks.
"I just couldn't believe that we were having a baby, after both being certain we didn't want to have kids, but Rory is the best thing that has happened to us."
Vikki was around 11 weeks pregnant when she discovered she was expecting.
She described her first trimester as hell due to suffering from panic attacks, paranoia, insomnia and anxiety.
Vikki added: "It was smooth sailing after the first trimester and on 27 May 2022 we welcomed our baby girl after a fast and furious natural birth.
"She was born with down syndrome, but luckily she doesn't have any of the health problems that commonly come alongside this. She is very healthy and is progressing amazingly.
"Welcoming a newborn has been an adjustment for sure because previously we were always travelling and on vacations, but it has been a dream.
"It was almost like we were starting over, but she is just the best baby ever.
"She is the best thing that has ever happened to us and we couldn't imagine our life any other way.
"When we are away from her. if she is staying at her grandparents' house, we miss her so much."
Matt became a first-time father at 50 and says that he never expected to feel this level of love.
He added: "I've heard people speaking about the level of love they have for their children my whole life, and now I finally get it.
"Rory has changed everything.
"When Vikki told me she was pregnant, I was excited right away even though it wasn't planned and I had never expected to have kids of my own because I have nieces and nephews that I have watched grow up.
"Having Rory has totally changed my perspective on life."
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