From being a bridesmaid, to doing a beauty pageant these mums had a baby and did something incredible just two weeks afterwards, like Abby Clancy
AFTER giving birth, most women look forward to a well-deserved rest.
But taking your foot off the gas – in your career or social life – is not for everyone.
Just two weeks after having her fourth child, Jack, model Abbey Clancy, 33, looked incredible when she went to Royal Ascot with husband Peter Crouch.
Here, four other inspirational women tell how they went back to doing something amazing – days after bringing new life into the world.
‘So glad I was able to make big day’
VICTORIA Mahon, 31, could not put her feet up after giving birth in 2017. Just two weeks after welcoming daughter Lily-Rose, she was a bridesmaid at her best friend’s wedding. The beautician, from Teddington, South West London, says:
“When my best friend asked me to be a bridesmaid in 2017, I was thrilled.
“I was going through my third round of IVF but I had no idea whether it would be successful or not, then I happily became pregnant.
“If my baby had arrived on time, she would have only been a few days old on the big day but thankfully Lily-Rose arrived a little early.
“It was my pal who rushed me to hospital, and she was the first person to meet her.
“It was touch and go whether I’d make it to the wedding, as I was in hospital for five days after the birth with complications.
“Looking back, it was all a bit of a blur as Lily-Rose was two weeks old on the day of the wedding. I was incredibly tired but adrenalin got me through.
“The bride had bought dresses for all and, as I still had my baby bump, it didn’t fit.
“Luckily, I’d ordered something similar which was a maternity dress. It was almost identical.
“I was back and forth between baby and bridesmaid duties all day. My fiancé looked after Lily-Rose and she didn’t make a peep through the vows.
“I still feel so glad that I was able to make the big day. I’d wanted a baby for such a long time, so in a way it was the perfect chance to show her off.”
‘Heading to the studio is good for my sanity’
KELLY Gentleman, 32, went back to her gruelling training as a circus skills instructor two weeks after giving birth to daughter Marci. Kelly, who lives in Andover, Hants, with ten-week-old Marci, husband Tommy, 31, a life coach, and son Lincoln, two, performs and teaches highly skilled aerial tricks. She says:
“I wasn’t surprised to see Abbey out and about so soon after giving birth. I know exactly how she feels.
“I love what I do, so as soon as my body felt ready after the birth, I got back into it.
“I was buzzing after Marci was born, and when she was ten days old, I started doing press-ups and exercising my pelvic floor at home.
“Everything felt good, so a few days later I took her with me to the studio. I knew my limits about how high I should go and what I could and couldn’t do.
“Marci slept in the car seat while I eased myself back into it. I trained up until 36 weeks during both pregnancies and my body told me when it was time to stop.
“Being strong and flexible definitely helped with childbirth, as well as getting back into training post-partum.
“Now when I train I take Marci along every time, especially as I’m breastfeeding.
“I love being a mum but if I feel like I’m spending too much time at home, I head to the studio – it’s good for my sanity!
“When I am performing aerial skills I feel like me and I like challenging myself. I just have to be careful not to get tangled or fall off, but it hasn’t happened so far.
“When women have babies, they shouldn’t have to give up on their hobbies.
“My studio is my happy place and it is fantastic for my physical and mental health.
“I don’t feel like I missed out on anything during those early days as Marci came along with me every time I trained.”
‘I was beyond proud at what I had achieved’
PERSONAL trainer Hannah Golding became a pageant princess less than two weeks after having an emergency C-section. The 30-year-old, from Swindon, who had only been out of hospital for ten days when she restarted her pageant duties as she prepared to represent Europe in a US competition, says:
“I was in labour for 16 hours before having an emergency caesarean to give birth to Penelope, now 15 months old.
“After five days in hospital I went home as a single mum trying to get into my new routine.
“I hadn’t walked in heels for six months and had to be pageant elegant. Most importantly it was about understanding how my body had changed – I was breastfeeding and recovering from major surgery.
“Two weeks after Penelope’s arrival I had to complete a set of final pageant appearances before leaving for Texas to represent Europe at the Yemi Young American Miss International Pageant. I pulled on my support pants, put on a full face of make-up, a half-wig to cover the pregnancy hair loss and a pageant dress and crown.
“New mums can put too much pressure on themselves, but this is not how I felt about competing.
“There is a lot about pageants that is based on looks, but I never once felt like I was doing myself up for anyone other than me.
“Penelope came along to the appearances, and between feeds I posed for photos. I got support from my pageant competitors and there was not one person who criticised me.
“Seven weeks after the birth I flew with my newborn to America and took part in the international pageant to be crowned runner-up and was beyond proud of what I had achieved.”
‘Focus on book took mind off contractions’
DETERMINED mum Victoria Ademosu finished her first educational book, Wonderful Writing, and got it published two weeks after giving birth. The 31-year-old school tutor lives in Milton Keynes with husband Ade, 33, a business owner, and 17-month-old Isabella. She says:
“I’m always looking for inspiration for new ideas and two weeks before my child Isabella was born, I decided that I wanted to write a book for children about creative writing.
“It’s something that many children struggle with and I knew it would be helpful for them.
“I don’t know if it was the pregnancy hormones, but the ideas flowed out of me and I wrote the entire thing in Google docs on my phone in a matter of weeks, up to when I was 39 weeks pregnant.
“Even though my labour was long – 47 hours – keeping my thoughts focused on the book really helped take my mind off the contractions.
“Two weeks after my daughter was born I got itchy feet and decided to finish it off before self-publishing it on Amazon.
“I was over the moon when it charted in the top 20 creative books for children when my baby was one month old.
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“I believe that women should follow their intuition and do what they want to do as new mums.
“If a mum or expectant mum has the urge to work on a project then she should go for it.
But if she just wants to relax and take it easy then she should have the right to do whatever she feels like.
“I used to breastfeed lying down with my laptop in front of me and allocate a few hours a day to writing.”
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