A cancer survivor who is set to become a mother after her long-lost cousin offered to become her surrogate fears she could miss the birth due to social distancing. 

Olivia, 31, and

A cancer survivor who is set to become a mother after her long-lost cousin offered to become her surrogate fears she could miss the birth due to social distancing. 

Olivia, 31, and Sam Rowlands, 30, from St Andrews, Scotland, are expecting a baby girl in July, yet lockdown has meant the couple have missed precious pregnancy moments - including hearing their daughter's heartbeat for the very time. 

Primary school teacher Olivia was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in 2017, aged just 29, leaving her unable to carry her own child after 29 radiotherapy sessions onset early menopause. 

Undeterred, prior to undergoing her lifesaving treatment, Olivia underwent surgery to harvest her eggs in the hope she and her husband Sam would find a surrogate to fulfill their dream of starting a family. 

The couple then had four embryos frozen at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee in January 2018, before Olivia's womb was damaged by the cancer treatment.    

And after launching an online appeal to find the perfect match, with more than 100 applicants, the couple received a message from Ellie Hutchinson, 34, from Stirling, who turned out be Olivia's distant cousin. 

Olivia, 31, and Sam Rowlands, 30, from St Andrews, Scotland, are expecting a baby girl in July, but fear they may miss the birth due to the social distancing rules. Pictured, Olivia (left) with her cousin Ellie Hutchinson (right), who is the couple's surrogate 

The cousins have now become incredibly close, despite Olivia, who was raised in Dubai, not seeing Ellie since she was one year old.  

Despite a miscarriage scare in November, Olivia and Sam are now 28 weeks pregnant, but are having to keep in touch with their unborn child through a screen and are unable to attend the next scan. 

'We have FaceTime and photos but it has meant we have missed appointments - like the one where we would hear the heartbeat for the first time,' Olivia said, speaking to BBC Radio Scotland. 

'But Ellie was amazing and recorded it and sent it to us straight to us after the appointment finished.' 

Olivia and her husband Sam (pictured together) fear they may miss the birth of their baby daughter 

Olivia (pictured) waking up from surgery to remove the tumour in February. Although the tumour was large, Olivia's consultant said doctors were prepared to try to remove some of it through surgery 

And the couple have revealed that they may miss the caesarean section with Olivia describing her 'frustration' at their baby not being able to hear their voices. 

Olivia, who was given the all-clear from bowel cancer in August 2018, revealed how the couple have not seen Ellie for two months now after she went into self-isolation early to protect the baby's health. 

The mother-to-be said: 'I'm a positive person but there have been times I have been frustrated, not being able to see her and seeing our bump and also knowing she is not able to hear our voices and music we listen to.' 

However, Olivia added the couple have created a playlist for their unborn daughter, which Ellie plays through headphones on her bump. 

Speaking to The Courier, she continued: 'We are in constant contact with Ellie but I do have my days where I wish I was carrying her or that we could see her and let our little girl hear our voices.

'Mostly I'm pretty positive, I know it's the right thing to do. The rules are there for a reason and we are keeping them safe.'     

The couple have created a playlist for their unborn daughter, which Ellie plays through headphones on her bump. Pictured in December 2016

Olivia (pictured) in hospital with husband Sam on the day she was diagnosed with bowel cancer

Olivia and gym owner Sam will also miss the meeting with their consultant to discuss plans for the C-section where the couple would find out the date of the birth and who can be in the theatre. 

She explained the surrogacy journey is 'complicated' without the added pressure of coronavirus, and the couple hope that lockdown restrictions will be eased by July. 

Olivia expressed how with less than three months to go, the couple can cope with video calls to bond with their baby and look forward to creating memories as a family in the future.  

Surrogacy laws in the UK stipulate that the birth mother will legally be the parent before legal parenthood can be transferred by a parental order or adoption after the child is born. 

Olivia explained how they have 'everything in place' to take their daughter home following the birth so long as coronavirus restrictions do not stop them.