Chanelle Hayes thought she was dying of cancer before she found out she was pregnant.
The 29-year-old television personality – who has six-year-old son Blakely with her former partner Matthew Bates – was convinced she was going to be told she had just weeks to live when she received a call from her doctor asking her to make an appointment.
But she and her partner Ryan Oates were over the moon when they found out that they were actually expecting a baby together, despite the fact Chanelle was suffering with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hadn’t had a period since last year.
Speaking to The Sun Online, she said: "I was having blood tests to find out why I wasn’t having a period and after the last one my doctors called and said I needed to go into the surgery urgently. I panicked and thought I was dying of cancer, because for me there was nothing else it could be.
"I called Ryan and he thought I was dying too – you expect the worse when you receive a call like that telling you that you need to see your GP immediately. We were both terrified. I went into the surgery and they told me my pregnancy hormones had tripled.
"They thought I might have suffered a miscarriage and never knew I was pregnant, but after they did some more tests they confirmed I was pregnant. I was stunned – I just didn’t understand how it could have happened when I hadn’t been having periods."
The brunette beauty now feels like the "Virgin Mary" and can’t wait to meet her baby.
She said: "My doctor told me that although it’s rare it is possible, it’s incredible – I feel like the Virgin Mary! I cried non-stop when I was first told I might never have children so now I couldn’t be more excited. Ryan is over the moon at having his first child – he’s brilliant. He’s bought the Expectant Dad’s handbook and wants to be involved in every step of the way. When we had the first scan it was so emotional, we were both crying.
"Seeing our tiny baby on the screen was amazing. He was dancing around and looked like he was waving at us. In the scan photo it looks like he’s giving us the thumbs up!
"Ryan is feeling nervous and he’s scared of course but he’s so good with Blakely I know he’s going to be an amazing dad. Blakely started screaming and running around when I told him. For the last three years he’s asked me for a baby brother or sister for Christmas and I had to tell him Santa couldn’t bring babies. But now his dream has come true! He’s going to be a great big brother – and a free babysitter for me in a few years’ time!"