Delighted Rachael Leyman was yesterday celebrating having her fifth child — and she is still only 21.
Daughter Maddison arrived just in time for Christmas to join sisters Felicity, five, Ffion, four, brother Cody, three, and Cerys, one. Rachael was just 16 when she first became pregnant with partner Lee Beckinsale — and has loved every minute of motherhood since. Felicity was a surprise. Rachael was on the Pill but had been taking antibiotics which she believes stopped the contraceptive working. After Felicity, Rachael started using the contraceptive injection but did not realise her body might take a while to adjust. Just three months later she was pregnant again with daughter Ffion — who was born on Christmas Eve. Flop Rachael then fell pregnant a third time six months later with son Cody. She had forgotten to take the Pill. After Cody, Rachael was fitted with a contraceptive implant but that did not work — and baby Cerys followed. Next she was given a contraceptive patch. But that was a flop too, and she became pregnant again earlier this year. Maddison arrived two weeks ago weighing a healthy 6lb 9oz.
Christmas bundle … Rachel Leyman, 21, and boyfriend Lee Beckinsale, 23, with their five kids (l-r) Cerys, 1, Felicity, 5, Maddison, 2-weeks, Ffion, 4 and Cody, 3
Yet for most of the time Rachael has still managed to work as a teaching assistant. And her partner Lee, 23, also grafts away as a gas engineer. They live in a privately-rented house in Port Talbot, Wales, and have never lived off benefits. Rachael, who has been pregnant for 47 of the past 67 months, said: “People joke that I must be the most fertile person in the country but it seems that no forms of contraception have worked well for me.
“But our brood absolutely love their new baby sister. She is absolutely gorgeous.” Rachael admitted it has not always been easy. She said: “We’ve had so much support from my mum and dad, Sheila and Jeff, who live ten minutes down the road from us. And Lee’s mum and dad have been brilliant too. The strain could have been too much, but our relationship has lasted eight years — longer than some marriages. “We will get married when we can afford it, but we have other priorities at the moment. “The children bring us so much pleasure. I could never regret having them. When people see me out with the baby they assume Maddison is my first because I look so young. They are amazed when I tell them I have four more.” She and Lee are still considering whether they should add to their family. Lee said: “We’re thinking about it. But I think we’ll be waiting a few more years. Bringing up children is just so rewarding. We’ve even talked about becoming foster parents.” But he admits it has been a struggle financially. Lee went on: “I am a proud man and have always wanted to work and support my family. It hasn’t been easy and there have been days when I’ve gone to bed at one and got up for work at five. My friends think we’re nuts — but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Loading ...
