KERRY-LEE'S BABY SURPRISE: 'IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL GIFT!'

After a medical mystery, the former Shortland Street star never imagined she'd fall pregnant so easily!

When Kerry-Lee Dewing moved to Sydney, she knew it would be the start of an exciting adventure. But three years on, it's even better than she'd dared to hope she's now six months pregnant and happier than ever!

Leaving Shortland Street and shifting to Australia was a leap of faith, but it's paid off for the actress, 34, who says, "I'm at an age when most people are in a stage of their careers where things are relatively familiar and stable, but I'm very much in a growth phase. I'm still discovering and figuring things out, and I don't expect that to stop for some time." 

And as she catches up with Woman's Day on a whirlwind visit home to New Zealand, the stunning South African-born star is glowing. Pregnancy has been "beautiful" for Kerry-Lee and she simply can't wait for October, when she and her partner, investment manager Jono, 36, will meet their baby.

"This is the most wonderful surprise gift we could ever have dreamed of," she says, settling onto the sofa to chat, a hand resting lovingly on her baby bump. "I've felt euphoric since the moment I found out I was pregnant."

While Kerry-Lee had always wanted to be a mum, she admits this baby came along a lot faster than she could've imagined. In fact, after years of unexplained symptoms and painful episodes, she feared her path to motherhood would be challenging.

Having returned to Sydney after their Christmas holiday in Aotearoa and then a snowboarding trip to Japan, she and Jono had an appointment at a fertility clinic. Kerry-Lee explains, "I've had a history of issues around hormones and my cycle, done all the tests and scans, and seen several specialists over the years, but they've never really landed on any conclusive answers."

One doctor told her she had polycystic ovarian syndrome, but a month later, another specialist told her that was unlikely and it was probably superficial endometriosis.