British actress/singer Martine McCutcheon is set to become a first-time mum after years of health problems.

The Love Actually star and her husband, musician Jay MCManus, are preparing to welcome a little boy next Valentine's Day (14Feb15).

While thrilled with the news, MCCutcheon, 38, admits to Hello! magazine that after all her recent health scares, combined with her age, she and her beau had accepted they may never be able to start a family.

She says, "We'd always said that if we were fortunate to be blessed with a child, that would be wonderful, but we were very aware that it's not a given.

"As a woman in her late 30s who's experienced health problems, I thought I might have to accept that it wasn't a path my life was going to take, but it would have been a great sadness in our lives if that had been the case."

MCCutcheon has been open about her seven-year fight against chronic fatigue syndrome and depression, which ultimately cost her her career, and a declaration of bankruptcy last year (13), but is hopeful the next phase in their lives will be more promising.

She continues, "It was a terrible time in our lives but you discover who your friends are and we found amazing support from people who really came through for us. It's like finally the tides have turned. Great things are starting to happen on the work front, but more than anything, expecting our baby boy has given us clarity about what matters."