Caterina Mete has opened up about having a devastating miscarriage during her IVF treatment and looked ahead to welcoming her ‘miracle’ twin daughters.
The Red Wiggle, 43, announced in February that she is expecting identical twin girls after undergoing IVF with an anonymous sperm donor.
But Caterina’s IVF journey wasn’t straightforward as she has detailed how ‘expensive’ the process was and revealed she also suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage.
Caterina froze her eggs in her 30s and later created two embryos with her chosen sperm donor but devastatingly suffered a miscarriage from the first embryo transfer.
‘It was certainly a shock to find out I had miscarried,’ she told maternity brand The Inarra.
‘I spoke to lots of women about it and was surprised to find out how common it is, I think talking about it has helped me through the healing process.’
Caterina went on to have a second embryo transfer and was given the happy news that she was pregnant with twins, and later found out she was expecting baby girls.
She described her pregnancy as a ‘miracle’ and looked ahead to welcoming her two daughters in July, admitting she is very excited to embrace single motherhood.
She gushed: ‘I’m so excited about motherhood and the journey it takes you on, I feel so lucky that I will have double the love, double the smiles and two little girls to share life with.’
The TV star said she knows she will have her ‘hands full’ but has been very well supported by her family, friends and colleagues throughout her pregnancy.
Her comments come just weeks after she went on maternity leave from children’s group The Wiggles as she counts down the days until welcoming her twins.
Last month, Caterina took to Instagram to share photographs from a surprise baby shower her colleagues threw for her before she headed off on maternity leave.
In the snaps, Caterina cradled her blossoming baby bump in her Red Wiggle outfit as she flashed a huge smile for the cameras.
She posed alongside a pink block sign reading ‘baby’ and an array of pink snacks, including cupcakes, marshmallows and sweets.
The delicious food spread was decorated with baby-themed paper signs such as dummies, bottles, baby grows and nappies.
Caterina also shared a picture with her fellow Wiggles Tsehay Hawkins, John Pearce and longtime member Anthony Field, as well as members of the production crew.
In an accompanying caption, Caterina gushed over the special send off as she heaped praise on all of her colleagues.
She penned: ‘Thank you so much to my Wiggly family for such a beautiful send off today.
‘So grateful to be a part of such a brilliant team of people! Next time I see you all I will have two little girls by my side, can’t wait!’
Caterina was first a regular dancer for The Wiggles, performing in recordings and recording with them, before officially becoming Red Wiggle in 2022.
In February, Caterina confirmed she is pregnant with identical twin girls after undergoing IVF at a fertility clinic with the help of an anonymous donor.
Caterina, who is single, shared her jovial baby news to Instagram at the time, sharing a sweet snap of her holding up two child-sized Red Wiggle costumes.
‘Hey, everyone. I’ve got some exciting news to share with you all. I’m pregnant with twin girls!’ she gushed.
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‘I’m due later in the year, but I wanted to share this news with you now now, as I’ll be seeing many of you at the upcoming Wiggles shows… and as you can see, my girls are already starting to make an appearance.’
Reflecting on her exciting news in a press release, Caterina added: ‘Becoming a mother has always been a dream of mine. I feel overwhelmingly blessed to share that I am expecting two beautiful little miracles.
‘This journey has been challenging, but filled with so much love and support. I am immensely grateful for the incredible team at my fertility clinic and the technology that has made this possible.’