IF the blissful family life she documents to her 2.4m followers on Instagram is anything to go by, motherhood looks like it comes very easily to Stacey Solomon.
But the Loose Women star, 30, has insisted to Fabulous Digital that she often turns to women around her for reassurance and advice – whether that’s discussing “sore” post-pregnancy boob stretch marks with sister Jemma, or getting parenting tips from fount-of-all-knowledge Mrs Hinch.
6
The mum-of-three – who also has sons Zachary, 11, and Leighton, seven, from previous relationships – explained how her body reacted in a different way during her pregnancy with five-month-old Rex, who was born in May.
“I felt so much older – even though I’m not old,” Stacey explained.
“Just because I had my first when I was 18, and my second when I was 21 – and there’s a massive difference between 21 and 30.
“I felt exhausted the whole time and my back really hurt.”
6
Joe Swash’s girlfriend – who yesterday admitted in a candid Instagram post that she was struggling to regulate Rex’s sleep – said that talking to other mums has been helpful in reassuring her that she’s not alone, including in physical changes to her body.
“Everything feels better when you say ‘me too’,” explained the star – who previously said she had “struggled” with breastfeeding Rex, and recently hit back at those mum-shaming her for weaning him “too early”.
“Me and my sister are really different body shapes. I was showing her that underneath my boobs I’ve got these really deep, heavy stretch marks.
“Really dark red. They’re almost sore a little bit.”
6
6
Stacey continued: “I didn’t think my sister had any stretch marks whatsoever.
“But she said she had exactly the same, and showed me hers and she had really deep dark red ones too.”
However, the star – who has spoken out about body confidence – insisted that she is perfectly fine with them.
“It doesn’t bother me – it’s nothing that I’d want to get rid of,” she said.
“It’s just something new that you don’t know everyone else gets. There’s something in just sharing and releasing lots of people are in the same boat and that it’s not a big deal.”
6
The singer – who shot to fame on The X Factor in 2009 – also revealed how she had been turning to fellow new mum Sophie Hinchcliffe, better known as clean queen Mrs Hinch, for baby advice.
“Rex and Ronnie have play dates together,” revealed Stacey, who added that they had plans for a mother-and-baby swimming session soon.
6
“I just love her as a person. She’s so down-to-earth and normal, and a great mum – and because our babies are the same age we’re going through all the same stages together which is really helpful.
“You feel like you’ve got someone to ask things. What did you do for this, what did you do for that?”
As well as Mrs Hinch, Joe has been a pillar of support to Stacy as she navigates her way through motherhood.
The pair seem closer than ever but were recently forced to deny they tied the knot in secret after fans had become convinced the pair got hitched in the Maldives after Joe was spotted wearing a ring on his ring finger.
However, that’s not stopped them from getting loved up in their first ever family Christmas card.
Sharing their adorable Christmas jumper snaps, Stacey and Joe show off Rex, Zachary and Leighton in matching outfits as they pose under the mistletoe.
The boys looked less than impressed at the loved up pair sharing a kiss as they pulled faces in front of the Christmas tree.
To create your own personalised family photo Christmas card, visit participating Card Factory stores or go online at CardFactory.co.uk
In other celebrity news, Andrea McClean talks exclusively to us about her experience of the menopause and how she is hitting back at critics.
We also told you how Kelly Brook is embracing her curves and has found The One.
And a mum has stripped to her undies to mock Kourtney Kardashian’s moustache bleaching snap.
