With sleepless nights, endless feeds, and changes to contend with, along with dealing with your own postpartum recovery, there’s no denying that while the fourth trimester is a wonderful time in many ways, it can also be really challenging, and something parents aren’t always prepared for.
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That includes some well-known mums who have spoken candidly about their own experiences of early motherhood- both good and bad – opening up about everything from postnatal depression to breastfeeding struggles and hopefully helping others in the same position to realise they’re absolutely not alone. Here are some of the most relatable quotes from Millie Mackintosh, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and more…
Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley:
Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley admitted she struggled with a loss of identity following the birth of her son Jack, telling Net-a-Porter: “For a period after I had my first son, there was a real shift in identity, and a sort of mourning of the loss of your old life, and who you were… I just remember feeling like the rug was pulled out from underneath me.”
Fearne Cotton:
Mum-of-two Fearne Cotton shared her post-birth experiences at an event to celebrate the launch of Frida in the UK, saying: “It’s an amazing, game-changing, life-changing moment but we don’t celebrate it enough and we should. When I was giving birth I was roaring like a lion, I loved every minute of the roar! But afterwards, I was so terrified of going for a poo, I just kept asking for more dates and figs!
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Izzy Judd:
Izzy Judd has candidly shared her experiences on Instagram following the birth of her third child Lockie in October 2021, discussing everything from mastitis to anxiety.
In one post, she wrote: “More than ever I’m understanding why this is called the fourth trimester. With other little people to look after, I’m really needing to remind myself even more this time, to have buckets of compassion and to let things go for a little while, and to keep that little voice that crops up with all the guilt and all the should’s to sit back down quietly!
“It is simply impossible to be all things to everyone. It’s coming back to me how much rest is needed in these early weeks, how foggy you feel, and just how hungry and thirsty you are… Let alone healing from pregnancy and birth and constantly nursing sore nipples! I don’t feel ready for the world but at the same time I miss my world as the repetitive days roll into one.”
Izzy continued: “But all that is needed from me right now is to feed, sleep, rest, (get pee’d on) cuddle Lockie, repeat. And for now, that is absolutely enough. I’m cherishing these beautiful early days of getting to know you Lockie. To anyone else in the fog, I can see you, this is called the fourth trimester for a reason!”
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Paloma Faith:
Paloma Faith revealed she couldn’t walk properly for two weeks after her emergency C-section and opened up about her postpartum body image at the Frida launch event.
“But women’s postpartum bodies are not celebrated enough. I always hid my body but now I’m 40 I’m like, this body has done some shit! My advice to an expectant mother is don’t be alone. You are not. So many women have done it. Everyone wants to talk about it. You can feel shame about it not being perfect. But so many feel this.”
Stacey Solomon
Stacey Solomon revealed she had postnatal depression following the birth of her eldest son Zachary, and she feels guilty that she didn’t instantly bond with him like she has with her other children.
Speaking on Bryony Gordon’s Mad World podcast in 2021, the mum-of-four said: “I definitely have moments now with Zachy where I think ‘Oh, I wish I loved you from the very minute.’ Not that I didn’t, I’m sure I did, I just didn’t feel it, and I didn’t get it.”
Stacey added that the experience helped her to “feel prepared” for the births of her other children and that she also felt “just gut-wrenching, deeply unhappy for no reason” following the birth of her son Rex in 2019.
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Millie Mackintosh
Millie Mackintosh has been incredibly open about the challenges of raising two under two, and her struggles with breastfeeding following the birth of her second daughter Aurelia.
“I feel very lucky that Aurelia has taken to breastfeeding and I really cherish the one-on-one time, but it hasn’t been plain sailing so far!” she wrote alongside one photo on Instagram. “We’re currently navigating reflux, projectile vomiting, and tongue tie. Pair that with engorgement, over (and uneven) supply, cluster feeding, sleepless nights, and well it’s a lot. To other mums in the newborn bubble right now, I see you! We got this.”