Since leaving Steps, singer Claire Richards has made headlines for her fluctuating waistline.
Claire, 37, has repeatedly shed the pounds and re-gained them. Now the mum-of-two says her unhealthy diet habits have left her unable to conceive.
Speaking to The Mirror, Claire says that she blames herself for her fertility struggles.
She explains: “I feel I only have myself to blame, so it would be unfair to go down that road when there are so many couples who have not been blessed with any kids and it is their only option – and when they haven’t done it to themselves like I have.”
Claire has gone as far to say she ‘doesn’t deserve’ to conceive, even through IVF.
“I guess maybe I feel I don’t deserve to be third time lucky. IVF just doesn’t feel like the right thing to do to my body.”
She continued, adding that she and husband Reece Hill refuse to give up hope that they’ll become parents again. “We are not going to stop hoping, but we are not trying as intensely as we were. I am a strong believer that if it’s meant to be, fate can always find a way.”
Claire is already mum to son Charlie, 8, and daughter Daisy, 5, but worries that trying for a third child through IVF might bring them too much heartache.
“We’ve talked about IVF – which I’m beginning to fear might be our only hope – but I’m not sure yet if I want to put us through what could be a lot of heartache for nothing.”