Olivia and Alex Bowen have revealed they want to try for a baby next year, after she previously expressed concerns about being able to conceive.
Last week, the reality star, 26, feared she might not be able to get pregnant after she stopped taking medication for several years for her underactive thyroid.
And in a teaser clip for Tuesday’s Love Island: What Happened Next, Olivia and husband Alex, 28, expressed their desire to start a family in the near future.
Family: Olivia and Alex Bowen have revealed they want to try for a baby next year, after she previously expressed concerns about being able to conceive
Olivia said: ‘We got Reggie first and then we got Winnie. Now I want another dog and it’s been two years between every dog.
‘I spoke to my mum a few days ago and she was like: “Liv do not get another dog, just have a baby. Just have a kid now, no more dogs.”
‘I think now we want to start a family. I think next year we want to start a family actually. I’ve not said that on film before.’
Last week, the reality star, 26, feared she might not be able to get pregnant after she stopped taking medication for several years for her underactive thyroid
Hopes: And in a teaser clip for Tuesday’s Love Island: What Happened Next, Olivia and husband Alex, 28, expressed their desire to start a family in the near future
Alex and Olivia met on season 2 of Love Island back in 2016. For New Years Eve in 2017, the couple jetted to New York, where the scaffolder popped the question.
They married in September 2018.
Last week on Steph’s Packed Lunch, Olivia revealed her fears over if she will be able to conceive as she has not taking her medication for an underactive thyroid.
She said she has been negligent in taking her medication over the past couple of years after being diagnosed with an underactive thyroid when she was 10.
‘I think now we want to start a family. I think next year we want to start a family actually. I’ve not said that on film before’
An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) is where the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. Common symptoms are tiredness, weight gain and feeling depressed.
Speaking to Doctor Javid Abdelmoneim, Olivia said: ‘I got diagnosed when I was 10. Back then I was good with it, I always took my medication. Whereas now, where I’ve got really busy in the last four years, it has taken a bit of a backseat.
‘I’m one of those people that should take it seriously but don’t… I suffer a lot with tiredness, I think that’s my main thing.
Worries: Last week on Steph’s Packed Lunch, Olivia revealed her fears over if she will be able to conceive as she has not taking her medication for an underactive thyroid
Smitten: Alex and Olivia met on season 2 of Love Island back in 2016. For New Years Eve in 2017, the couple jetted to New York, where the scaffolder popped the question
‘I’m always fatigued, I’ll sleep about 10 hours a night and still feel tired, I’ll want to nap in the day. I can have really awful moods, really low, low moods.’
An underactive thyroid can prevent ovulation, making it difficult to become pregnant.
Olivia said: ‘I have a lot of people asking me, “when are you going to have kids, when do you want to get pregnant?”
‘In the back of my head, I’m like “can I?”, because I’ve been so irresponsible.
‘I know how much Alex wants to have kids, so that’s another reason why I need to be a bit more on it and careful, and make sure I’m giving us both the chances.’
Doctor Javid arranged a blood test for Olivia and a consultation with women’s health GP Doctor Yash, who confirmed the test shows Olivia’s thyroid levels are low and she must resume taking medication daily.
Tying the knot: They married in September 2018 and Olivia described it as the ‘best day ever’
Speaking candidly to Doctor Yash, Olivia said: ‘My husband and I have been speaking about having a kid next year, possibly. In that case, how does it change?’
On learning she would need to increase her medication dosages during pregnancy and receive close monitoring from medics, Olivia was shocked.
‘I had no idea it was that involved… I’m quite a defiant person. I always told myself, “oh I’m fine, I don’t need”, whereas obviously now I know,’ she said.
‘Now I know how important it is, I can put that message out to other people and make sure they’re staying on top of it as well, because I know how hard it is and how we sometimes think we don’t need help – but we do.’
Love Island: What Happened Next airs on ITV2 on Tuesday at 9pm.
Health: On learning she would need to increase her medication dosages during pregnancy and receive close monitoring from medics, Olivia was shocked