Millie Mackintosh has revealed she’s tried be more ‘honest and candid’ on social media since giving birth to her daughter Sienna.
The former Made In Chelsea star, 30, who welcomed her first child with husband Hugo Taylor in May, said she’s received a positive response from other parents for her open discussions of motherhood.
However Millie added that she has found it ‘hard’ juggling her social media presence with taking care of her daughter, but ‘doesn’t feel any pressure’ to present a perfect depiction of her life online.
Open: Millie Mackintosh has revealed she’s tried be more ‘honest and candid’ on social media since giving birth to her daughter Sienna
Speaking on the Scummy Mummies podcast, Millie explained: ‘I try not to think about every time I post how many people are gonna see it because the pressure of it makes you not want to post anything at all.
‘But since becoming a mum and when I was pregnant I wanted to share in a more honest candid way and not just nice photos.
‘I found I had a really great response from other mums and I’ve found it as a really good platform for connected with other people.’
Speaking out: The star said she’s received a positive response from other parents for her open discussions of motherhood (pictured with Sienna, nine months)
Millie added: ‘I don’t feel that much pressure to show my life is perfect because I try to be more honest and share more experiences on my motherhood journey, it’s a weird time right, we’re not going anywhere we’re not getting dressed up, and I don’t feel particularly Instagrammable.
‘People really love it when I show a day with Sienna, like the ins and outs. What I find hard is the balance of time and energy it takes having an account especially when you’re posting a lot yourself, being a mum and the balance of time I spend using social media.
‘When I’m with Sienna I want to focus on her, that’s something I find as part of the juggling act of parenthood and trying to find a good balance with.’
Challenges: Millie said she’s found it ‘hard’ juggling her social media presence with taking care of her daughter, but ‘doesn’t feel any pressure’ to present a perfect depiction of her life online
The star also discussed the challenges of giving birth to little Sienna while England was in its first COVID-19 lockdown.
She said: ‘[It was] pretty weird, obviously I don’t have anything to compare it to being my first child and in some ways when you have a baby your life does become a bit locked down, because you’re at home more, and your freedom is taken away from you a little bit as you’re looking after a little one.
‘When the first lockdown happened I was heavily pregnant, and then I gave birth on 1st May. I didn’t really feel the first lockdown that much, I had quite bad pelvic pain I couldn’t walk very far.
‘I was very fed up and uncomfortable, I didn’t want to go anywhere and see anyone. It forced me to slow down and stop and rest towards the end of my pregnancy more than I would have so that was definitely a bonus, and being at home and having that time to focus on my baby.
‘I’ve had Hugo around so much more, he would have had two weeks paternity leave from his job, but instead I’ve had him at home for almost a year. It has been tough, but I feel really lucky I’m not having to homeschool, whilst trying to work.’
Wow! She has openly documented her pregnancy, and admitted it was ‘pretty weird’ preparing to welcome her first child in lockdown
Millie has openly documented the daily ups and downs of raising her baby daughter, and recently reflected on how her body has changed since giving birth.
Sharing a snap of her post-partum physique, Millie said her stomach isn’t flat and her hips are wider but is in awe of how quickly her body has adapted to motherhood.
Millie wrote: ‘I can’t believe it’s been nearly 9 months since I gave birth to Sienna, I wanted to take the time to reflect on how my body has changed. I’m in awe of how incredible our bodies are, for 9 months they work their magic, becoming the perfect home for our growing babies.
‘Once our child comes into the world, it’s as though your body knows it needs to get strong again so that it can take care of the beautiful miracle it’s produced.
‘It’s amazing how quickly your body can adapt and change when it knows that It needs to have the strength to provide food for your baby to grow, run around after them for hours and be able to function whatever the time of day or night!
Looking great: Millie also recently reflected on how her body has changed since giving birth, alongside a snap of her post-partum physique
‘Today my hips and waist are wider, my lower stomach isn’t flat and sometimes it still looks like I’m 3 months pregnant. My body composition is very different, I’m holding on to body fat in places I’ve never had it before, and the skin on my tummy and boobs looks and feels a lot less firm and is slightly crinkled.’
Millie continued that ‘each mark is a memory of the miracle that is making a baby’.
The reality said she plans to keep eating nutritiously and allowing herself to rest.
She concluded the lengthy post by telling her followers: ‘I didn’t know the power of my body until I had a baby, I’m way more forgiving with myself, and I’m grateful every single day for what it has given me.’
Millie welcomed daughter Sienna last year with husband Hugo Taylor by her side.
Millie and Hugo dated in 2011 while on Made In Chelsea, but split up when it emerged he had cheated on Millie with her friend Rosie Fortescue.
They reunited in the second half of 2016 and Taylor proposed during a holiday in Mykonos, Greece.
First-time parents: Millie and her husband Hugo Taylor welcomed Sienna to the world last year