Single mum who had her first baby at 50 says it was the right time to have a child

A single mum who had a baby at 50 through IVF says it was ‘the right time’ to have a child as her partying ways were finally behind her.

Kelly Clarke, now 52, flew to Athens, Greece, for the IVF treatment, but was met with a ‘huge amount of resistance’ from her nearest and dearest.

According to the mum-of-one, her family initially had concerns about her being an older mum and falling pregnant via a sperm donor.

However, in March last year, Kelly welcomed her daughter Lyla Rae, and she couldn’t be happier with her decision.

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The former North Terminal manager for Gatwick Airport said: “I’d been met with a huge amount of resistance from family for deciding to become a single mum at 50.

''They were worried about me and the implications of using a donor – but in that moment I knew I’d made the right decision.''

She added: "Now that Lyla's here they are incredibly supportive and couldn't be a better family to her. I don't know what I'd do without them."

Kelly worked as a flight attendant for over two decades, where she even served the biggest A-listers, including Tom Jones, Kate Moss and Princess Diana.

But while keeping up with the demands of travelling, the new mum knew that she wanted to have a child in her later years and that now was ‘the right time’.

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I mean, globe-trotting and celebrities? Definitely a hard lifestyle to give up.

She said: "Now I don't feel the need to be travelling and partying, I just feel the need to watch every minute of Lyla Rae growing up."

Despite many of her friend's having children younger, Kelly feels that she’s had Lyla Rae at the perfect age as she has more life experience to pass down.

She said: "I am pleased they can start new chapters.

"But for me, I feel super blessed that with the life experience I have I can better guide Lyla Rae now than I would have in my younger years.”

Kelly also says she has no regrets about going at it alone as she can raise her daughter her own way.

She said: "I'm happy not to co-parent as I can bring her up as I see fit and not have to disagree with anyone or have a partner do the opposite of what I do when I’m not there.”

Kelly signed an agreement with the fertility clinic that guaranteed she would tell her daughter the truth about her conception.

She said: "When she's old enough to understand the situation, I’ll explain it to her.”