Lauren Smith, 32, said having her first child "didn't feel real" after being told she would need to lose around 10st to qualify for IVF. She went on to lose 9.5st for her first round of treatment and more than 10st again for her second, welcoming two children.
Fertility diagnosis and weight loss journey
Lauren and her partner Kenneth, 35, had been trying for children for almost two years when they discovered they both had fertility issues. Lauren was diagnosed with MOS (polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome), while Kenneth was told he had a low sperm count.
The pair looked into IVF, but Lauren, who weighed around 20 stone, was told she would need to lose weight to access the treatment. Over two years, she dropped 9.5st, largely by swapping fast food for homemade meals.
Reflecting on her weight loss, Lauren said: "Being overweight myself, to qualify for IVF on NHS you needed a certain BMI. I started going to Slimming World and I lost nine stone in two years. For me, a lot of it was diet - chocolate was my downfall."
She added: "Once I lost a few stone, I started being more active. I was going on walks every day - even if it was just for 10 minutes. I lost a lot of weight by cooking from scratch."
Private treatment and first child
Due to excess skin, Lauren still did not qualify for NHS IVF. The couple spent around £14,500 with Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine (BCRM) for treatment.
She explained: "It got to the end and I didn't have a lot of fat left to use. It was all just loose skin. My BMI needed to be around 30, and I was down to about 33."
The couple had their first round of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in May 2019, with 16 eggs collected. Three embryos were created, and two were frozen for future use.
In March 2020, they welcomed their first child, Ella Grace. Lauren said: "Having Ella Grace was amazing, but it also didn't feel real as it has taken us so long. I think we were worried the whole time until she got here."
Second weight loss and welcoming Reuben
After her pregnancy, Lauren regained weight, but when the couple decided to have another child, she lost 10.5st again to become eligible for another IVF round.
She said: "I spent a lot of time chasing after Ella Grace. It was a whole lifestyle change though. I tried it on my own but I couldn't stick with it so I went back to Slimming World. I needed that accountability."
In March 2025, the couple underwent another IVF round, which ended in miscarriage. A month later, a third transfer was successful.
The family welcomed Reuben, now nearly eight months, in March 2026. Lauren said: "He's amazing - such a happy little boy. It amazes me to think if we hadn't had the miscarriage, we could have had another child. If we couldn't have afforded another child, would he even be here?"
