A widow has given birth to her late husband’s baby nearly two years after his death.
Lauren McGregor sadly lost her partner Chris back in July 2020 after he was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour.
However, the pair had always wanted to have a child together and so they took the decision to freeze some of his sperm.
The 33-year-old from Liverpool waited nine months after he died before starting the IVF process so she could grieve the loss.
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Following the mourning period, she went ahead with the plans and fell pregnant, giving birth to baby Seb on 17 May by planned C section.
And to make sure it would feel as though he were there, doctors ensured there was a picture of Chris in the operating theatre.
“I didn't feel as though I needed to introduce Seb to the photo of his dad - it just felt like they already knew each other,” explained Lauren. “He's just given me a little piece of himself from wherever he is now.
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“Seb looks more like his dad every day. When he was born he had a thick head of hair, with a perfect 'M' shaped hairline, just like Chris' that we all teased him about.
“As his features start to emerge, I can see Chris in him more and more. His lips have filled out, just like Chris' - whereas my lips are quite thin.”
Although the new mum is delighted to have a ‘little piece’ of her late husband, she said there are ‘so many moments’ she wishes Chris were there to share.
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Lauren is determined to keep his spirit alive, and for this year’s Father’s Day she spent time reminiscing about Chris with Wade, his 18-year-old son from a previous relationship.
“Sometimes, when I'm up in the middle of the night breastfeeding I think about what Chris would be doing if he were here,” said Lauren.
“The house is so quiet and I think about all the stories I want to tell Seb one day about his dad; all the funny stories, and the places I can take him to.”
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Wade is standing in as a father figure to his baby brother, even carrying Seb out of the hospital as Lauren captured the heartwarming moment on camera.
“I think he must have seen some posts on social media about how dads usually carry the baby out of the hospital,” said Lauren. “It was something he mentioned really early on in my pregnancy that he wanted to do.
“I don't think there's many teenage boys who would even think of that, but it was something he really wanted to do for his dad. It's a really lovely picture and a lovely memory.
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“Wade said to me that he feels as though he has a piece of his dad with him now, but I had to remind him that he already has a piece of his dad in himself.”
Lauren and Chris first got together in 2013, having known each other since they were kids as their mums were good friends.
Just nine months later he started suffering from symptoms before being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Although he went into remission several times, Chris sadly passed away in 2020, something Lauren described as the ‘worst day of my life’.
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But she’s determined to make sure their love grows even when he’s not there, and plans to have more of his kids down the line, adding: “I do think once Seb gets to three or four that this is something I'd consider doing again.”
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677
Daisy Phillipson