Ex Strictly dancer Kristina Rihanoff admits first month as a mum was ‘difficult’ as she reveals struggle to get pre-baby body back
Star welcomed her first baby with boyfriend and former Strictly partner Ben Cohen in June
FORMER Strictly Come Dancing star Kristina Rihanoff found the first month as a new mum was "really challenging";.
The 38-year-old welcomed daughter Mila with partner Ben Cohen in June after announcing her pregnancy on Celebrity Big Brother in January.
But in her first Hello! column since becoming a mother, the professional dancer admitted the first few weeks had been tough.
She said: "That first month of motherhood as a first-time mum was really challenging to be honest.
"It wasn’t an easy first month at all. I started feeling myself after about six or seven weeks.
"I can openly say that some days are amazing but some days I felt a little down.
"You feel like you can’t even get up and cook something or walk around because you don’t have the energy."
Thankfully Kristina had the support of boyfriend Ben, 37, who she met on the BBC One dancing show in 2013 when they were paired together, and her mother, who stayed with the couple in Northampton after Mila's birth.
In her blog, Kristina also discussed getting back in shape after giving birth, admitting it was proving difficult to get her famous six pack and dancer's body back.
She said: "So many people told me I was going to bounce back and get my dancer’s body back.
"But your body just goes through a crazy transformation during pregnancy and after labour.
"It took me a while to get used to exercising but once I got back into it I felt okay."
After a painful 19 and a half hour labour, Kristina wisely waited six weeks before taking up exercise again, and has recently posted some selfies of her in the gym.
One featured Ben in the background, running on the treadmill while his girlfriend gave a thumbs up.
She captioned the shot: "Crazy work out with @bencohenstandup today ! Killing me in the gym #workoutformums."