S18 Ep11: LIZ MCCLARNON-CHO: First-time mum at 44: IVF, loss and becoming a mum against the odds

S18 Ep11: LIZ MCCLARNON-CHO: First-time mum at 44: IVF, loss and becoming a mum against the odds

From The Netmums Podcast by Netmums

May 14, 2026 · 26 min · Season 18 · Episode 11

About this episode

Liz McClarnon-Cho shares her emotional journey to motherhood at 44 after multiple IVF attempts and miscarriages.

In this powerful live episode of The Netmums Podcast recorded at The Baby Show, Atomic Kitten star Liz McClarnon-Cho opens up about her emotional road to motherhood after eight rounds of IVF, two miscarriages and years of uncertainty. Now a first-time mum at 44 to baby Alexander, Liz speaks candidly about the emotional toll of fertility treatment, why she stepped away from social media during IVF and the moment she finally saw a positive pregnancy test after believing parenthood might never happen. Joined by hosts JB Gill and Louise Burke, Liz shares what it was really like becoming a mum later in life – from difficult pregnancies and pelvic girdle pain to the overwhelming reality of those first newborn weeks. In this episode, Liz discusses: • Her eight-round IVF journey and coping with repeated failed cycles • Miscarriage, grief and the emotional impact of fertility struggles • Why IVF can feel isolating and misunderstood • The moment she discovered she was pregnant • Becoming a first-time mum at 44 • Stepping away from social media during difficult times • Newborn life, anxiety and leaving the house for the first time • Parenting after infertility and learning to trust herself…

People in this episode

Hosts: JB Gill, Louise Burke

Guest: Liz McClarnon-Cho

Topics covered

  • IVF journey
  • motherhood
  • fertility struggles
  • emotional impact
  • parenting
  • newborn life
  • later motherhood

Keywords

  • IVF
  • miscarriage
  • first-time mum
  • emotional toll
  • parenthood
  • newborn
  • fertility treatment
  • anxiety
  • social media
  • heritage

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Atomic Kitten

Places: Liverpool, Korea

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