Tina (40) has three children of her own and has been a surrogate mother three times in the past six years.

And she is now going through the steps of carrying a child for another couple an amazing fourth time.

Many women dislike pregnancy because it causes them to put on weight and experience the pain of giving birth.

But Tina, who lives on the Oak Tree Lane estate, says she loves being pregnant and nothing beats the feeling of giving the gift of life as a surrogate mum.

"A few years ago I saw a programme on television about surrogate mothers and it moved me so much I decided I wanted to do it," Tina told Chad.

"I had my own family and loved the idea of being able to help couples who could not get pregnant.

"It took me and my husband Michael a year to get pregnant with our last child and I can remember the frustration of not being pregnant. And I thought how awful it must be not to be able to have children at all."

After deciding to become a surrogate, Tina had to explain to her own children Sharon (22), Emily (19) and Connor (14) what she would be doing.

"Michael was really supportive about the whole thing and there is no way I could have done it without him," said Tina.

"The children were quite young at the time so I told them I was going to let another couple use my tummy to have their baby because their tummy was broken.

"I explained it would not be a brother or sister and that it would not be coming to live with them.

"As they have grown up it is something they have become used to and now they fully understand and they are incredibly proud of me."

Tina first signed up to become a surrogate in 2002 through an official website and then began the process of looking for a suitable couple she could help.

"It is important to pick a couple you feel you can get on with as you are with them throughout the entire journey and must build a bond with them," said Tina.

"The first couple I helped lived in London. At first I tried IVF for them, but it was unsuccessful so we then tried artificial insemination, using my eggs, which worked.

"It does make it more difficult knowing that the baby is genetically mine as well as the couple's.

"You have to have it in your head from the start that you are just looking after this baby and it will be going home with someone else when it is born.

"But the feeling you get when you have the baby in the delivery room and hand it over to its parents is amazing."

Tina was a surrogate mum for a second time to another London couple in 2003 and earlier this year gave birth to a baby boy – who will be celebrating his first Christmas with his family in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, tomorrow.

And Tina's desire to help people has not stopped there, as the trainee nurse is now in the initial stages of helping another couple to start a family.

And she should find out in time for Christmas if she is pregnant for a seventh time – and the fourth time as a surrogate.

"For me there is no bigger gift than the gift of life," said Tina. "After this baby I may become a surrogate once more, but then I will give my body a rest.

"I will, however, continue to support surrogates and parents through the A Little Wish website."

A Little Wish is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to provide information on protecting and sharing fertility.

It supports those given a post pregnancy hysterectomy primary, elective hysterectomy or who have impaired fertility, as well as supporting those looking into and undertaking a surrogacy journey and those following other routes to create their families such as adoption.

For more information on A Little Wish visit www.a-little-wish.co.uk.