TV personality and fitness coach Holly Hagan-Blyth has a lot to say about being a first-time parent and wants to share her candid experiences to reassure other parents.
When Tiny Happy People asks the Geordie Shore star to sum up parenting her son Alpha-Jax, her answer is simple: ‘whirlwind’.
“I feel like there’s so many things that you don’t expect to happen,” explains Holly.
In contrast to her confident onscreen persona, she’s had many moments of doubt and insecurity as a first-time mum.
“The biggest misconception about being a new mum is that you’re going to have glorious days in coffee shops and soft play centres, and that postpartum is just this beautiful, chilled-out time. Honestly, it couldn’t be further from the truth in my case.”
“It is a complete world-change, and needs to be spoken about more, people do need to be informed.”
We spoke to Holly about weathering these life-changing experiences, building her confidence as a parent, and how having a baby has changed – and strengthened – her relationship with her husband, professional footballer Jacob Blyth.
Image source, Holly Hagan-Blyth InstagramManaging new parent anxiety
Holly isn’t afraid to share her struggles and confides that she initially felt overwhelmed by the responsibilities of being a new mum.
“I suffered quite badly with postpartum anxiety, and I worried about absolutely everything.”
“I know this sounds morbid, but I just kept thinking that at any point Alpha-Jax could potentially die. We didn’t even have visitors for weeks because I worried that he might catch something.”
Holly looks back on this stressful start to parenthood wishing she’d been more relaxed. But she’s trying to practise self-kindness and celebrate her wins.
“I wish I hadn’t worried as much and that I’d trusted my gut in situations, but I think it’s a common to be worried about all these things. He survived all the visitors, and he even goes to nursery now.
“I’m proud of keeping him alive and that he’s a happy, confident little boy. There have been so many joyful moments and honestly, Alpha-Jax has just got such an incredible energy. He brightens up our days, even on his whingiest days.”
Learning to go with the flow
Image source, Holly Hagan-Blyth InstagramOne of the big parenting lessons Holly has learned is that everything happens in phases.
“Having a child is full of challenges. Once you get over one hurdle, you will be faced with another.
“When it’s your first baby and you’re in the midst of it, when you’re having a bad night’s sleep and when the baby just won’t settle, you just can’t see things improving.”
“People around you say, ‘Don’t worry it’ll !’ but it doesn’t feel like that. But it’s true. Just knowing that everything is a stage, that it will is reassuring. It won’t always be this full-on.”
“One of the most challenging times for us was Alpha-Jax’s whingeing. First, we thought it was his teeth. Then we thought that it was because he wanted to crawl and he couldn’t, but now he crawls and he still whinges. Then we thought it was because he wanted to walk, and then he walked. So, now we’re thinking it’s because he wants to talk.
“Knowing what’s wrong with your baby is a big problem!”
Holly’s learned to take things in her stride and accept that every day is not going to be perfect.
“Sometimes, if you have one bad night you can have dramatic thoughts like, ‘That’s it now, his sleep is going to be completely ruined forever’. But actually, babies are very adaptable.
“Every day is a new day. It’s something fresh and there are new opportunities – just take it as it comes.”
She wants new mums to know that life isn’t perfect for anyone – despite what you see on social media.
“You’re not gonna be glammed up with a filter on like the Instagram influencers are.
“Accept that what you see is a tiny, tiny snippet of someone’s day. I can guarantee that they had a meltdown in the soft play, the mum started crying, the coffee was knocked over and that is the reality of the day.”
Image source, Holly Hagan-Blyth InstagramForming a solid parenting team
Image source, Holly Hagan-Blyth InstagramHolly and Jacob have found a parenting style that suits them. A tag-team approach helped them weather their first few weeks as parents.
“I think the main way that protected my mental health during the early postpartum days was me and Jacob having opposite shifts.”
“I have some friends that decided to do absolutely everything together and I think for me and Jacob that wouldn’t have been possible – so when I needed rest, he would look after Alpha-Jax, and then we’d swap.”
Good communication is key to navigating the trickiest of challenges and emotions, including parent guilt.
“It’s easy to feel guilty when you go back to work. It’s important that the time we spend with Alpha-Jax is quality. If we can be off our phones and engaging with him 100% that’s more important than the amount of time we’re spending with him.”
The couple take care of their own wellbeing to help them handle everyday stresses, adds Holly.
“When you’re a new mum you shouldn’t rush back into exercise if you don’t feel ready. Your body changes but you have to what it’s done and just appreciate it.
“ it doesn’t have to be gruelling workouts in the gym – let’s be honest, nobody has time for that.
“Go for long walks, do the things that you like to do. Doing 20 minutes a day of something light will always make you feel better and it’s more for your mental health than anything.”
It’s busy in the Hagan-Blyth household, so Holly’s all about working out hacks to save time and make day-to-day life easier.
“One of my favourite hacks is to always have Alpha-Jax’s bag packed.
“In the bag, I’ll have a couple of spare changes of outfit, nappies, wipes, creams and snacks. So, every time you leave the house, you’ve already got the bag prepared, and it takes you far less time than if you had to get everything ready on the day.”
Image source, Holly Hagan-Blyth InstagramFeeling more closely bonded as a couple
Image source, Jacob Blyth InstagramHaving a baby reveals so much you didn’t know about your partner, explains Holly.
“Until you become parents, it’s hard to imagine. But no matter how long you’ve been with somebody, you see every single part of their personality and who they are. Parts come out that you just didn’t see before.
“I think it was just a real true lesson of how important it was for me to have picked the right partner.”
“You might be more frustrated, you might be more irritable, you might be more upset. But you discover amazing new elements of each other. I love seeing the amazing bond between Jacob and Alpha-Jax.”
Holly says that while Alpha-Jax is their priority, they work hard to nourish their relationship too.
“It’s easy to forget you’ve got a partner, because all your love, energy and time is going into your child.
“For me and Jacob, it’s important to plan date nights in. It’s just taking a night for ourselves, every now and again, because it’s so important to who you are without your child.”
Together they’re in awe of the energetic little person they have brought into the world – and endlessly fascinated by Alpha-Jax’s development.
“He’s always wanted to do things that he shouldn’t be doing and be ahead of his little body.”
“If there have been any nice surprises, it’s definitely his personality. I didn’t realise that a child of like nine months could have a personality!
“I’m looking forward to watching Alpha-Jax grow up and being part of his journey and education in life, just teaching him to be a good person.”
Image source, Jacob Blyth Instagram
