Billie Faiers on co-sleeping with baby Margot in the spare room as she admits it’s ‘hard to find time’ for husband Greg
FORMIE Towie star Billie Faiers gave birth to her third child in December last year.
Here, she opens up on her decision to co-sleep with her baby and how it's "hard to find time" for her husband Greg Shepherd.
All the women in our family are very maternal, and growing up I always dreamed of becoming a mum. I wanted at least two children, because my younger sister Sam, 32, and I have such a close relationship.
I was 22 when I met Greg, then 26, and from very early on we talked about having kids. I think you just know when you meet the person you want to have children with.
We were together for two years before we had Nellie, now eight. I’ve been really lucky because I’ve never had problems conceiving. I didn’t really know much about ovulation; I just came off the Pill and thought: “It’ll happen when it happens.” And luckily enough,
I fell pregnant within a couple of months. After having our son Arthur, now five, I had a coil fitted. But when we decided to try for a third baby last year, I had it removed in January and by March I was pregnant with Margot!
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I remember being nervous about telling my mum Suzie, 53, and Sam when I fell pregnant the first time, because I felt quite young.
But I was also so excited. I’ve been lucky with my pregnancies. I enjoyed them and didn’t have any mood swings, and only a bit of nausea. I’ve missed my bump once I’ve had each baby.
Nothing can prepare you for giving birth, and all three of mine have been totally different. It was tough with Nellie – she was back-to-back, so it was really painful and I was in labour for 38 hours.
Arthur was very quick, and with Margot, now two months old, I had to be induced. I went into labour after 48 hours with no sleep, which was really tough.
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Margot was breech until 38 weeks, when she turned, so it was really uncomfortable.
I’d go to the toilet about seven times a night because her feet were on my bladder. It’s like Mother Nature is preparing you for the sleep deprivation to come!
I didn’t breastfeed Nellie at all. I didn’t know anything about it – no one spoke to me about breastfeeding after she was born and she went straight on to a bottle.
Then, when I had Arthur, I breastfed him for the first couple of months because I wanted to give it a go. Margot really struggled to latch on and I was worried she wasn’t getting enough milk.
It was making me feel stressed and upset, so I expressed as much breast milk as I could, put some in a bottle and Margot drank from it straight away.
She was so much more settled within 24 hours, and now she’s on formula.
Sam is amazing at breastfeeding – she’s breastfed all of hers. But you’ve got to do what makes your baby happy, and then everyone’s happy.
Becoming a mum really puts life into perspective. I am a lot calmer and also as the kids get older, you learn how to be patient and more organised.
Before Margot, Greg and I could put the older two children to bed and have dinner together. But now dinner is on the table no later than 5.30pm, otherwise the nights go on forever!
Greg’s having to do a bit more with the other two now, and it’s hard to find time for a real conversation with him, because after the bedtime routine I’m exhausted.
I’ve moved into the spare room with Margot, because I’ve been co-sleeping with her. As soon as Nellie and Arthur are in bed, I’m in bed with the baby. But Greg and I did have a day date in London with Margot recently.
Nellie and Arthur love their little sister. We’ve had a few moments with Arthur, as he smothers her at times, but he’ll get there. Margot’s slotted into our family so well and I’m so happy for Nellie, because I know how lovely it is to have a sister.
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I’m not going to say I’ll never have any more babies, but I feel like our family is complete. I’m so grateful and lucky. It’s a lot of juggling and hard work at times, but I wouldn’t change it.
- Watch Billie & Greg: The Family Diaries – Baby Number 3 on ITVX. Series 4 of the show starts on ITVBe in April.