Grabbing the mirror from the table beside me, I sat up in bed and checked my reflection, making sure my hair and lip gloss were still intact. ‘Could you pass my hairbrush?’ I asked my husband Haydn, then 36, who was sitting in the chair beside me. ‘You look great,’ he reassured with a smile. It was September 2009 and, while it might sound as though I was getting ready for a night out, I was in fact in hospital – in the midst of labour with my firstborn! With a break between contractions, I took the time to give my appearance a once-over.
It was an important day in my life, and I’d worked hard to make sure I was feeling my best – and that meant looking my best. In the days before I was induced, I’d dedicated time to all my regular beauty treatments – hair, nails, tan – the works. And I’d gone into labour feeling as confident as I could.
MAKING AN EFFORT
I’ve taken pride in my appearance for as long as I can remember. My career as a broadcaster kicked off when I was just 16 on regional news, so being presentable and looking my best became a part of my daily routine. In my 20s, I started experimenting with fillers in my lips and tried botulinum toxin injections, too.
When I fell pregnant aged 29, I saw no reason why I should give up on my appearance. The first item to be packed into my hospital bag was my make-up bag and a compact mirror. I worked out regularly during pregnancy, doing yoga and swimming, and didn’t even ditch my trusty heels.
Denne historien er fra June 12, 2023-utgaven av WOMAN'S OWN.
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Denne historien er fra June 12, 2023-utgaven av WOMAN'S OWN.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
FAST & THRIFTY DINNERS
Filling family meals to save you time and money
ARE VIRAL FITNESS TRENDS WORTH THE HYPE?
Keen to know if the workouts she sees online can actually make her fitter, Rachel Tompkins, 44, gives them a try
GO OUT OF SEASON
While some European cities seem to go into hibernation over winter, others just get better in the colder months
MY LIFE IN MUSIC
Monica Cafferky, 55, reveals how certain tunes bring back special memories
THE DECISION THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
After trying diets without success, Breanne Concannon, 31, was left feeling hopeless
MY TOY ΒΟΥ KEEPS ME YOUNG
For Trish Hughes, 44, the thrills of being married to a man 20 years younger is worth all the judgement
'THAT'S NOT MY BABY'
Lying in the hospital bed, my husband Michael had tears of happiness in his eyes as he showed me a photo on his phone. 'Here she is,' he said proudly. 'This is our beautiful baby girl.'I stared at the photo and shook my head. 'No, that's not my baby,' I said. 'There must be a mistake.'It was August 2010 and I'd not long before had an emergency caesarean. I'd not had a chance to see Winnie when she arrived as she'd been whisked away for tests because she was nearly two months premature.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Hayley, 45, has her son to thank for crucial evidence
'I'D LOVE TO DO EASTENDERS'
Loose Women's Linda Robson on the daytime show, dating and her next career move
Beckhams INSIDE THEIR PROPERTY EMPIRE
We take a look at the power couple's posh pads
