Alex Reid and his fiancee Nikki Manashe are expecting twins, MailOnline can exclusively reveal.
The former MMA fighter, 47, and influencer Nikki, 36, who welcomed daughter Anastasia in 2021 after a seven-year IVF battle, say they can’t believe they’re expecting non-identical twins.
Nikki, who is now 13 weeks pregnant, spoke candidly about her pregnancy journey: from being told ‘she won’t be able to have children’ by doctors to now, about to become a mother of three.
Congratulations: Alex Reid and fiancee Nikki Manashe are expecting twins, MailOnline can exclusively reveal (pictured with daughter Anastasia)
Nikki, who calls herself ‘The IVF Mama’, had two embryos implanted, one seven years old and the remainder of her IVF cycle since she became pregnant with her daughter.
Not knowing the quality of the seven-year-old embryo, the doctors decided to insert both, and to Nikki and Alex’s delight, they were told they were expecting twins.
Of the moment they found out, Nikki says, “It’s crazy that a woman who was told ‘you probably can’t have children’ and who has had fertility issues is now going to be a mother of three.”
“We were absolutely shocked to be honest. I know people will say “well, how can you be surprised that they put embryos in you?” but Anastasia was also a twin and we lost her twin very early in the pregnancy.
Good news: Former MMA fighter, 47, and influencer Nikki, 36, who welcomed daughter Anastasia in 2021 after a seven-year IVF battle, say they can’t believe they’re expecting a non-twin identical
Overjoyed: Nikki, who calls herself ‘The IVF Mama’, has had two embryos implanted, one aged seven and the remainder of her IVF cycle since she became pregnant with her daughter.
‘It’s still early, everything is going so perfectly. Both healthy, they are growing as they should be. We are super, super excited and we are going to have a crazy busy house.
Nikki, who sought the services of The Harley Street Fertility Clinic, calls her pregnancy a “beautiful struggle.”
Prior to IVF, Nikki nearly died when she suffered an ectopic pregnancy. Doctors had to perform emergency surgery and remove her fallopian tube.
Family: Not knowing the quality of the seven-year-old embryo, the doctors decided to place both, and to Nikki and Alex’s delight, they were told they were expecting twins.
Nikki said: “It’s crazy that a woman, who’s been told ‘you probably can’t have children’, and has had fertility problems, is now going to be a mother of three.”
The couple then began their IVF journey. Nikki was able to get pregnant but tragically suffered six miscarriages.
She reflects: ‘I had the most horrible PTSD. I did not leave the house at some points. It’s in my bones to be a mom.
I’m so motherly. Having so much loss of my Muman and all these miscarriages. It was such a dark and sad place.
Family: “To be honest, we were absolutely shocked,” Nikki said upon learning they were having twins.
Over the moon: Nikki and Alex photographed shortly after the birth of their daughter, Dr. Venkat
Exciting: Dr. Venkat implanted an embryo from the IVF cycle in which his daughter Anastasia (pictured) was conceived and a seven-year-old embryo; now the couple is expecting twins
“I lost hope, but there was something in me that said ‘don’t give up, keep going, you got it’.”
Nikki then went to Dr. Venkat at the Harley Street Fertility Clinic, where she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and, with the right medication, was able to become a mother.
Nikki says her first trimester has been ‘horrible’ due to taking strong steroids and autoimmune suppressant drugs to carry her babies in turn.
“Your body is exhausted because you carry multiples in the womb, it’s exhausting,” she says.
‘It’s in my bones to be a mom’: Nikki was able to get pregnant but tragically suffered six miscarriages before falling pregnant with Anastasia
‘I was sleeping two to four, a daughter teething and morning sickness and heartburn. She hasn’t been great.
Looking ahead, Nikki says she plans to get gender reveal cakes.
Alex, who was previously married to Katie Price, is the father of a daughter, eight-year-old Dolly, from his past relationship with Chantelle Houghton.
When asked if they hope to have a boy, Nikki says: ‘I’m happy with what God gives me. As long as they are healthy, everything matters.
- Nikki writes a blog called www.theivfmama.com detailing her journey in an attempt to help others.
Can’t wait: After the birth of his daughter, Alex shared a snap while driving her home from the hospital, writing ‘baby is coming home’