Ex-Strictly stars James and Ola Jordan open up about their IVF journey

The couple announced they are expecting their first baby earlier this month
ITV
Isobel Frodsham19 September 2019
The Weekender

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Former Strictly Come Dancing stars James and Ola Jordan have opened up about the difficulties they have faced while trying to have a baby.

The couple, who have been together for 20 years, announced earlier this year that they were having IVF treatment after not being able to conceive naturally.

Appearing on Loose Women, James, 41, explained what the process was like.

He said: “For 14 weeks, she was throwing up every single day. Men could not go through that.

“Seeing what she’s been through does make me realise how strong women are.”

Excited: The couple said they were delighted when they found out Ola is pregnant
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

Ola, who is now 16-weeks pregnant, said: “It is really hard. You inject yourself every evening. You’re swollen even before you get pregnant.

“We had journalists saying, ‘She hasn’t been drinking and she’s really swollen on the belly, she’s pregnant’. Actually, I’m going through fertility treatment, I was already quite swollen on the belly, so that’s quite hard.”

James added: “It doesn’t come from a bad place – parents, friends, every interview we did, it was quite upsetting when you know you’re actively trying to get pregnant and you’re not.

“That’s why in the end we did the IVF story saying we can’t get pregnant. No one asked, our family, our friends, everyone gave us that respect that they didn’t ask. A lot of people don’t speak out – but it helped us by speaking out.”

Strictly Come Dancing Champions - In pictures

1/17

Earlier this month, the couplel announced Ola’s pregnancy in an interview with Hello! magazine.

Describing the moment she found out, Ola, 36, said: “I did a test, he was on the golf course. I cried, I was over the moon.

“The thing is with IVF, because we couldn’t get pregnant for a long time, you don’t believe it. You’re like, 'Is it OK? Is it normal?'.

Winners: Ola won Strictly with Chris Hollins in 2009
BBC

“I waited for him to get home and I gave him the test because I couldn’t actually tell him. I couldn’t say it, I was so upset, so happy. I did loads [of tests].”

James added: “I felt amazing. It’s a very special thing. But at the beginning I didn’t want to get too excited because I know lots of things can still happen.

"I was trying to be realistic. I didn’t want to get too disappointed. I’m like that in life in general.”

The couple have been married for 16 years. Ola starred on Strictly from 2006 to 2015 while James starred from 2006 to 2013.

Watch Loose Women weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV.

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