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Blue star Simon Webbe and wife Ayshen have discussed the fertility troubles and heartbreaking miscarriages they endured ahead of welcoming ‘miracle’ daughter Riya Diamond last month.
Simon, 46, explained that they underwent numerous unsuccessful rounds of IVF which Ayshen, 44, said left her ‘physically and mentally broken’.
The couple are already parents to daughter Cyan, three, and revealed one doctor ‘brutally’ suggested they ‘give up’ hopes of welcoming a second child.
Ayshen told OK!: ‘The last doctor I spoke to – and I’m only going by the last one – he actually brutally told me to my face ‘Give up. You’re too old. The eggs won’t take. Go home and enjoy your one child. You’re wasting your time. No one is going to help you over the age of 40. Cut your losses’ I was shaking’.
The couple then gave up trying only to discover three weeks later that they had fallen pregnant naturally.
Blue star Simon Webbe, 46, and wife Ayshen, 44, have discussed the fertility troubles and heartbreaking miscarriages they endured ahead of welcoming ‘miracle’ daughter last month
Simon explained that they underwent numerous unsuccessful rounds of IVF which Ayshen said left her ‘physically and mentally broken’ (pictured with daughter Cyan)
The couple are already parents to daughter Cyan, three, and revealed one doctor ‘brutally’ suggested they ‘give up’ hopes of welcoming a second
The tot was born on June 27, with Simon telling the publication: ‘The name Riya actually means “dream” in Turkish and that’s exactly what she is’.
Before going on to say: ‘I had a neighbour tell me the other day that Ayshen and I were an inspiration to her. She’s had several miscarriages, and hearing our story made her believe it could still happen for her. And that is a really beautiful thing.’
Announcing the news in March on Instagram in a post sponsored by Clearblue pregnancy tests, the couple shared a video showing old footage of Ayshen in hospital during her tragic miscarriages as well as a new clip celebrating their baby news with Cyan.
They captioned the post: ‘Miracles do happen, and we’re living proof. With the help of Clearblue, we’re happy to announce that our family is expanding!’.
The post continued: ‘After enduring heartbreaking losses and navigating the challenges of IVF, we’re overjoyed to share that we’re expecting our second child together!
‘This journey hasn’t been easy, but every struggle has led us to this moment of pure happiness – by some miracle, we were actually able to conceive naturally!
‘Our little miracle, due in July 2024, is already filling our hearts with love and hope.
‘Cyan is absolutely over the moon with this news, and we couldn’t be more grateful for this blessing. Here’s to new beginnings and the incredible journey ahead as a family.’
Ayshen said: ‘The last doctor I spoke to – and I’m only going by the last one – he actually brutally told me to my face ‘Give up. You’re too old’
The couple welcomed the tot on June 27, with Simon telling the publication: ‘The name Riya actually means “dream” in Turkish and that’s exactly what she is’
The joyous news follows a lengthy journey to expand their family.
In an Instagram post to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week last year, the couple candidly revealed they had experienced a third miscarriage.
The pair welcomed their daughter Cyan in April 2021 following two devastating miscarriages and a failed round of IVF.
Writing for Tommys in October, the couple gave an update on their hopes to add to their family, explaining: ‘It’s not been easy but we are still on this journey and trying to stay positive.’
Speaking about their daughter, Simon said: ‘She’s everything I dreamt of and more. We felt truly blessed and so lucky to have this beautiful healthy baby.’
He explained though that since Cyan’s birth they’ve also had another miscarriage and an unsuccessful frozen embryo transfer.
Simon reveals that both he and Ayshen struggled with their mental health after the losses: ‘All I wanted was to get my wife through it, I didn’t really have the time to grieve myself,’ Simon wrote.
The pop star said he wanted to speak out to help others, in particular other dads and partners going through a loss, telling them: ‘Please don’t go through it alone and in silence.’
‘Sometimes it’s about admitting what you cannot do. You can’t fix it but you can be there and listen. Find a way to cope with your own emotions, whether that’s a beer with a mate or a walk.’
They announced the news in March on Instagram in a post sponsored by Clearblue pregnancy tests
The couple shared video showing old footage of Ayshen in hospital during her tragic miscarriages
They captioned the post: ‘Miracles do happen, and we’re living proof. With the help of Clearblue, we’re happy to announce that our family is expanding!’
Ayshen has previously praised Simon for his support after a difficult pregnancy and birth with Cyan.
The couple’s daughter was delivered early by caesarean section, after doctors discovered she had developed fetal growth restriction.
At 37 weeks, doctors discovered the child’s legs had stopped growing and concluded they needed to deliver her early by caesarean section.
‘I was so worried and emotional,’ Ayshen told Hello! as she recounted her experience.
‘But when I thought, ‘I can’t do this’, Simon, who’d nursed me for months when I was suffering from extreme morning sickness, was a calming influence and support.
‘With his reassurance and patience, he showed me that together we could get through anything.’
Simon is also a father to 26-year-old daughter Alanah from a previous relationship with shop assistant Nicola Jones.
If you have been affected by this story, you can seek advice at www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk or www.tommys.org or by calling 01924 200 799
