Martine McCutcheon reveals she was told she could never have kids before 'miracle' son

EastEnders star, Martine McCutcheon, shares son, Rafferty, nine, with her ex, Jack McManus, who split up with the Love Actually star earlier this year after 18 years together

Martine McCutcheon was told she could never had kids before becoming a mum to her son, Rafferty.

The EastEnders star, 49, shares the nine-year-old with her ex, Jack McManus, 40, who split up with the Love Actually actress earlier this year.

Opening up about her family life, Martine spoke of her pride for Rafferty, who she said 'completes her'. Praising her 'miracle baby', she told The Showercast podcast: "The thing that topped everything was holding my son for the first time. I was told I would never be able to have children and I always felt like being a mother would be the making of me.

"I knew I would be able to teach him all the things I wish I'd known. When I held him there was no love like it, so unconditional. It made me realise that by just being who I was, I was always enough and lovable. I didn't have to be all those things that I thought I had to be."

The popular actress has always spoken candidly about her struggles to conceive amid her health battle with ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis, also called chronic fatigue syndrome.) Martine previously told OK!: “The top doctors were absolutely amazing but said: ‘You can’t have children. Your immune system and disease thinks it’s got to fight everything off and that includes, sadly, babies."

Revealing the medics never knew she'd become a mother, she added: "To this day they don’t know how I had him. I only speak about this publicly as so many women struggle with fertility in this day and age and I want them to know they are not alone."

Martine, Rafferty and Jack were a happy family unit until the actress broke the shock news that her husband had left her after 18 years together after she wrote a heartfelt birthday tribute to him in August.

Taking to Instagram, announcing their sudden split, she said: “After much thought and consideration, Jack has decided it’s best for us to separate after 18 years together and I accept his decision.

“We are both so very blessed and grateful for our beautiful, nine-year-old son Rafferty, who’s happiness and welfare has always been, and will continue to be, our number one priority.”

Following their break-up, Martine has revealed she believes the "wrong things will just fall away" as she spoke about her life post Jack.

She said on the podcast: "Do it at your pace, don't be worried to say no and the right things will stay and the wrong things will fall away.

"Sometimes we're so busy distracting ourselves, that we miss the key opportunities. Don't let the most important moments of your life go because you are running so fast you don't see them. Take the time to stop and breathe and check in with yourself. It can completely change your life and it has been a game changer for me."

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