Meet supermum Heather Esplin. Astonishingly not only is she mum to ten children – but every baby was premature.

And in a bid to have her perfect family – five boys and five girls – she almost died.

Yet today Heather – who is thought to have had the most premature babies in the UK – tells how all the heartache was worthwhile.

Esplin family photo: Pictured, top row (l-r), Connor, 18, Imogen, 12, father Alan with two-year-old son Alan on his lap, mother Heather with youngest son Isaac, seven months, Tamara, 15, with brother Owen, five. Seated on the floor (l-r), James, nine, Dana, 11, Robyn, seven. Not pictured, eldest daughter Jolise, 23

Proud parents: Heather and Alan Esplin, pictured at their wedding in 2005. Heather was pregnant with Dana

Risky birth: Heather almost died when she delivered youngest child Isaac, pictured, born ten weeks early

Heather, 41, who is married to husband Alan, 47, a roofer, said: 'I feel the luckiest mum in the world. Every single child was much wanted and planned.

'As they were premature there were some very worrying times. But they are all growing up healthy. When we look at our beautiful family we just feel incredibly proud.'

The amazing family, from Dundee, comprises Jolise, 23, born at 37 weeks, Conner, 18, born at 35 weeks, Tamara, 15, born at 34 weeks, Imogen, 12, born at 31 weeks, Dana, 11, born at 33 weeks, James, nine, born at 34 weeks, Robyn, seven, born at 31 weeks, Owen, five, born at 28 weeks, Alan, 2 born at 35 weeks and Isaac, seven months, born at 30 weeks.

The smallest – Owen – weighed only 2Ib 4oz and was born three months early.

Heather says: 'At one point Owen lost almost half his body weight. Doctors gave him only a 50/50 chance of survival and he was in special care for eight weeks. So it was a huge relief when he was finally well enough to come home.'

Meanwhile after giving birth to her ninth baby – Alan who weighed 5Ib 12oz five weeks early – doctors warned Heather another pregnancy was so dangerous it could kill her.

Eldest children: Jolise, 23, who was born at 37 weeks and 18-year-old Conner, who was born at 35 weeks

She recalls: 'Alan was the only baby I've had who didn't need to go into special care and the only child I was given to hold straight after the birth. Heartbreakingly all of the others were too fragile for me to hold immediately and were whisked into special care. But sadly with Alan I was too ill to enjoy the special moment of holding my baby straight after the birth. I bled so much – my uterus was literally disintegrating - I had to be rushed myself into the High Dependency unit for 48 hours.'

Despite her brush with death Heather, who has had five c-sections, was desperate for one more baby.

She admits: 'I didn't think of the risk. As with my other babies, around six months after my ninth was born I began getting incredibly broody for another baby.

'Alan was very worried about me getting pregnant a tenth time – but I was so keen to be a mum again I didn't listen.'

Dream come true: Tamara, 15, was Heather and Alan's first child together. She was born at 34 weeks

However when she delivered her tenth, baby Isaac – born ten weeks early and weighing 3Ib 14oz –she almost died. After developing placenta percreta – a life-threatening condition where the placenta attaches to other pelvic organs through the uterine walls - only emergency surgery to give her a hysterectomy saved her life.

'I lost so much blood that doctors told Alan to expect the worse,' she recalls, 'For a few hours as doctors fought to save me, he faced the reality he could be left to bring up ten children as a single dad. I spent three weeks in hospital and it left me unable to have more babies but I will always be grateful to the surgeons for saving my life.'

And the worry didn't stop there. 'A week after coming home, little Isaac was rushed back to hospital with an infection,' says Heather, 'luckily he was fine but it was a very worrying time.'

Heather's journey to have a large family began in March 2000 when she began dating Alan, an old friend.

Already a mum to Jolise and Conner from a previous relationship, the couple decided to have two more children together.

'We are both one of three and wanted two children so one didn't feel the odd one out.'

In December 2000 Tamara, weighing 4Ib 4oz was born, followed by Imogen 3Ib 14oz.

By the time she and Alan wed in March 2005, Heather was pregnant with Dana, who weighed 3Ib 7oz.

She says: 'Each time the last baby got to around six months both Alan and I decided we wanted another. Once we got past three children adding a new baby got easier as they always had the older ones to amuse them.'

Sisters: Imogen, 12, left. Right, Dana, 11, was born shortly after her parents married in March 2005

Tiny: Dana, now 11, weighed just 3Ib 7oz when she was born at 33 weeks - six weeks premature

Eldest daughter Jolise, who now has a daughter, aged two, with her partner no longer lives at home. But the rest of the family share their eight-bedroom semi.

Says Heather: 'First we had two more bedrooms built into the loft. Then Alan built an extension to give us a further three bedrooms.

'Although they could have their own bedrooms, the three youngest boys wanted to share so Alan built them a triple bunk.'

Downstairs there is a huge kitchen and conservatory, which has a table to seat 12. In the lounge there are two large corner sofas so everyone has a seat.

The couple take their brood out in a mini bus and even manage to go on holiday.

Close: Nine-year-old James and seven-year-old Robyn live with seven of their siblings in the family home

'Last year we took eight children to a hotel in Paphos, Cyprus, for a fortnight,' says Heather, 'and while it is hard work packing to leave, we also go camping in the UK.'

Budgeting with such a big family is key.

'We limit the amount spent on birthdays at £50 per child,' says Heather, 'and we save money all year to give everyone a good Christmas.'

The family's grocery bill comes in at £220 a week.

This includes 28 pints of milk, 14 loaves of bread, 24 loo rolls and 20Ibs of potatoes.

She admits: 'Feeding so many does take a lot of organisation – and sometimes we have even more as we also have the children's friends over for tea too or for a sleepover.

'So during the week I begin peeling potatoes as soon as the children are home from school, feeding the younger ones first. Then Conner, Alan and I will sit down together for our evening meal. However at weekends everyone eats at the family table together.

Determined: Owen, five, left, and Alan, two. Doctors warned falling pregnant with Alan could put her at risk

Intensive care: Owen was the smallest child. He weighed only 2Ib 4oz and was born three months early

'We do one big supermarket shop and I buy fresh meat in bulk from a local butcher every day. I cook mostly from scratch as it's cheaper – meals such as lasagne, bolognaise, chicken casseroles, and we also eat a lot of salad.

'I cook in batches and we have a big chest freezer as well as an American fridge freezer so I never run out of food.'

Heather's day begins at 6am.

She says: 'Last thing at night or first thing in the morning I make packed lunches for Alan, Conner and the older children who are at school.

'After walking the younger children to school, I come home to tackle the washing. I do three full loads of washing a day.

'The wear and tear on the washing machine is enormous – my most recent one isn't yet a year old but it's already broken down twice under the strain. Although I hang some stuff out on a washing line, most is tumble dried.

Littlest Esplin: Seven-month-old baby Isaac

'Despite folding as many clothes as possible I still end up doing seven hours of ironing a week.'

Bedtimes are staggered. 'This means Alan and I can spend quality time with each child,' she explains.

Her day ends around 10pm when she falls into bed exhausted. 'However I will be up at 11.30pm again when Isaac wakes,' she says, 'I never have time to watch TV. But Alan recently bought a massive garden hot tub - I love relaxing with the children in that.'

People are often shocked when they discover she is a mum of ten.

'Many find it hard to understand why we have so many children. Recently I was out with the two youngest and a passerby asked me if I just had the two boys. She was speechless when I replied that I have five sons and five daughters.'

However she still finds time to do voluntary work for premature baby charity Bliss visiting her local special care baby unit in Dundee's Ninewell's hospital twice a week.

'I know how lonely it can be to have a premature baby in special care,' she says, 'I find talking to the parents about my experiences really helps others. For example, I managed to breast feed all ten children by expressing milk while they were in hospital.'

Her only sadness is she is unable to have more babies herself.

'Many people seem to think it doesn't matter as I have ten children,' she says, 'but I get a stab in my heart that I will never have another baby kicking away inside my tummy.

'That said I feel lucky to be alive – and so lucky to have such a perfect family.'

Growing brood: Proud father Alan, pictured with seven of his children in the Christmas of 2008

Husband Alan said: 'I am so proud of Heather. She is a wonderful mum and like her I adore having a big family.'

Caroline Davey, Chief Executive of Bliss, the charity for babies born premature and sick, said: 'As far as we are aware, this is the largest number of surviving premature babies born to the same mother in the UK.'

She added: 'All babies born premature are different and develop differently. Some will grow up with ongoing health and developmental problems and will benefit from additional support from their early years onward. It is also very important, when they are old enough to go to school, that their teachers are made aware that they were born premature, so that further support can be given.'