Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney has bravely opened up about her deeply personal experience with miscarriage and IVF, hoping to offer comfort to others navigating similar heartbreak.
The 52-year-old star, who plays Cassie Plummer in the iconic ITV soap, revealed she suffered a devastating miscarriage during her first round of IVF treatment. "It was absolutely heartbreaking," Sweeney shared. "When you see that positive test after everything you've been through with IVF, the excitement is overwhelming - only for it to be taken away."
The Emotional Rollercoaster of IVF
Sweeney described the intense emotional toll of fertility treatments: "IVF is such a difficult journey physically and emotionally. The injections, the appointments, the hope followed by disappointment - it takes its toll on you."
The actress went through three rounds of IVF in total, experiencing the crushing disappointment of failed attempts alongside her miscarriage. "Each negative test feels like a personal failure, even though you know logically it isn't," she explained.
Breaking the Silence on Pregnancy Loss
By sharing her story, Sweeney hopes to help break the taboo around miscarriage and fertility struggles. "So many women go through this in silence," she said. "We need to talk about it more because it affects so many people."
The TV star emphasized how common pregnancy loss is, with statistics showing about 1 in 4 pregnancies ending in miscarriage. "When it happened to me, I was shocked to discover how many of my friends had been through the same thing but never spoke about it," she revealed.
Finding Strength in Motherhood
Sweeney is now mother to 18-year-old son Jaxon, whom she describes as "my absolute world." While she hasn't ruled out trying for another child, she's focusing on being present for her teenage son.
"Motherhood has been the greatest joy of my life," Sweeney shared. "After everything I went through to have Jaxon, I don't take a single day with him for granted."
The actress continues to raise awareness about fertility issues, encouraging women to support each other through these challenging experiences.
