The UK's first pregnant man has revealed that carrying a child for nine months as a transgender man was 'a big battle' and he wouldn't advise anyone to go through it.

Hayden Cross, 21, from Gloucester, stopped transitioning to start a family of his own in 2016 and gave birth to a daughter Trinity-Leigh, one, in June 2017.

Appearing on ITV's Lorraine this morning, Cross, who was born Paige, opened up about the realities of being pregnant as a transgender man, saying giving birth brought up 'a lot of emotions and a lot of feelings' and he didn't feel well supported.

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Daddy's girl: Transgender man Hayden Cross, 21, from Gloucester, decided to stop transitioning in 2016 and gave birth to his daughter Trinity-Leigh, one, in June 2017. The pair appeared on ITV's Lorraine this morning

Lack of support: Hayden, a former Asda worker, said being pregnant as a transgender man had been 'strange' with 'a lot of emotions and a lot of feelings' - he advised others in a similar situation to seek support before considering doing it

'I wanted to know that I could still have a family without having to rely on somebody else': Two years after finding a sperm donor online, Cross explained why he decided to stop his transition from female to male to have a baby that was biologically his

The former Asda worker decided to pause his gender reassignment process in 2016. Desperate to have a baby at some point in his life, Cross asked the NHS to freeze his eggs before he completed his transition.

However, he was left devastated when doctors refused to give him the £4,000 treatment and decided to look for a sperm donor online and became pregnant with Trinity-Leigh in 2016 after inseminating himself with a syringe.

He explained to presenter Lorraine Kelly: 'I wanted a biological child that was mine so I could start my own family.

'I don't know if I want a long term relationship in the future. I didn't want to wait just in case I don't. I wanted to know that I could still have a family without having to rely on somebody else.'

Former Asda worker Cross, 21, said he's now treated like any other parent when out with his daughter; two years ago, he told Lorraine that he'd been threatened with violence after going public with his desire to have a child

Cross admitted that pregnancy as a trans man wasn't easy and there was limited support available, saying: 'Eventually I got the support. At first it was a bit of a new thing so nobody really understood but now there is a lot of support out there.'

When asked by Lorraine whether he was ready for family life at just 20, he told the host: 'I don't think I was ready at the time - not 100 per cent. But now everything has gone to plan, we're getting on great.

He added: 'I'm not going to lie, it was really strange. There was a lot of emotions and a lot of feelings. I wouldn't advise anyone to do it - it was really hard.'

The actual birth, however, was 'pretty straightforward', Cross had a C-section.

Now Trinty-Leigh is a thriving toddler, Cross has continued with his full transition.

Brief appearance: Little Trinity-Leigh arrives on the set of Lorraine with a family friend...but grew upset at the bright lights and was quickly removed

Happy days: Cross says his one-year-old is a real 'daddy's girl' and is 'constantly on the go all the time'

Cross also revealed that his mother had been a great support, sharing that she herself had given birth to a son just two days after Trinity-Leigh was born

Eleven months after giving birth, he underwent surgery to remove his breasts and will have further surgery 'when I'm ready'.

He told Lorraine that his dream is to own a business that he can pass down to his daughter.

He said: 'I want to go back to work, set up my own business. Everything I've got goes to her - so I need to make sure I'm living the right life. I'm happy and my daughter's happy.'

In an earlier 2016 interview with the show, Cross explained he realised he was transgender as a teenager, saying: 'I knew I was transgender when I turned 17 - I was a tomboy for most of my life.

'I try to stay positive but it's not easy when you wake up every day hating yourself.'

He said he was not going to hide his gender reassignment from his child and added: 'I will sit [the child] down and explain - I'm not going to hide it and I'm hoping the kid will be open-minded.'

Pictured at four months' pregnant on the Lorraine show in 2016, Cross, now 21, revealed that he first realised he was transgender at 17