December 19, 200718 yr Young mother celebrates birth of FIFTH child aged just 21...but they don't claim benefits Last updated at 15:30pm on 19th December 2007 Comments (92) A young mother of just 21 has had her fifth baby in time for Christmas. Rachael Leyman was just 16 when she first fell pregnant - and says she has loved every minute of motherhood since then. She lives with her super-brood of children and long-term boyfriend, gas engineer Lee Beckinsale, 23. Scroll down for more... Rachael and Lee with Felicity, five, Ffion, four, Cody, three, Cerys, one, and two-week-old latest edition Maddison Rachael said: "I know some people of my age might think I'm mad but it is fantastic especially at this time of year." She is lining up five Christmas stockings for little Felicity, five, Ffion, four, Cody, three, Cerys, one, and two-week-old latest edition Maddison. The pair insist they are no scroungers living on benefits - both are working and are living in a three-bed privately rented home in Port Talbot, South Wales. She said: "It's been hard making ends meet at times but we both work hard for our family. "Lee asked me what I wanted for Christmas but I told him: 'I've got everything I want with the kids.'" Teaching assistant Rachael first became pregnant at 16 - when she was studying for an NVQ in child care. She said: "It wasn't planned that way. I was on the Pill but had been taking antibiotics and they must have stopped it working. "But I was delighted when Felicity was born although we didn't plan to have any more straight away." She started using the contraceptive injection but did not realise her body might take a while to adjust. She was stunned when three months after Felicity was born she was pregnant with daughter Ffion - who was born on Christmas Eve. Rachael then fell pregnant with Cody just six months after having Ffion and she admitted: "That was my mistake - I forgot to take my pill." After Cody, Rachael was fitted with a contraceptive implant but that didn't work - and baby Cerys followed. Next she was given a contraceptive patch but that was a flop and she realised she was pregnant again earlier this year. She said: "People joke that I must be the most fertile person in the country but it seems that no forms of contraception have worked well for me." But she said it was "all worth it" when Maddison has arrived weighing a healthy 6lb 9oz. Ecstatic Rachael said: "It was all very quick- about 45 minutes in total. Christmas has come early for us. "Our brood absolutely adore their new baby sister. She is absolutely gorgeous and they love her to bits." "We've had so much support from my parents, Sheila and Jeff, who live ten minutes down the road from us. And Lee's mum and dad have been brilliant too. "When people see me out with the baby they assume Maddison is my first because I look so young. They are amazed when I tell them I have four more at home." Rachael continues: "Lee and I work as a team and make sure we plan ahead. The strain could have been too much but our relationship has lasted eight years - longer than most marriages these days. "We will get married when we can afford it, but we have other priorities at the moment. "The children bring us so much pleasure. I could never regret having them." When she became pregnant for the fifth time, Rachael planned to be sterilised - because so many types of contraception have failed. But now she and Lee may add to their family - but wait until they are older. Lee said: "But now we're thinking twice about it. But I think we'll be waiting for a few more years before we have any more babies. "Bringing up children is just so rewarding. We've even talked about becoming foster parents because we love looking after children so much." "Every day the children are saying: 'How much longer until Christmas?' There is no better time of year to be a parent."
December 19, 200718 yr Bet she did it for the benefits making up a cover story saying "we love children".
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