Kate Lawler thanks fans for support after emotional post about struggling with motherhood

Kate Lawler has thanked her fans for their ‘love and support’ after she shared an emotional post where she admitted she was at ‘breaking point’.

The Big Brother star, 40, who welcomed daughter Noa in February, had confessed she feels like she’s ‘failing’ while hitting back at trolls who questioned why she’d shared a picture of her two dogs on Mother’s Day.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, the new mum said she’s been ‘blown away’ by the response to her candid post and revealed other parents had messaged saying they also felt they ‘couldn’t admit’ how they were feeling.  

Writing a lengthy caption, Kate penned: ‘I’m absolutely blown away by the response from my last post over the past 24 hours. 

‘Initially I felt scared about posting it because of a fear I’d be labelled insensitive or ungrateful but THANK YOU, it was the right thing to do.

‘So many people have reached out, sent messages of love, support, advice & understanding. Just because you’ve chosen and been fortunate enough to conceive, carry and birth a little human, it doesn’t mean that it’s all sunshine & rainbows. 

‘For some it’s dark, stormy & no parent should have to pretend it’s going well when it isn’t. It’s okay to feel s**t.’

She continued: ‘I’ve been inundated with messages from Mums & Dads telling me they felt like this too (in the newborn days and beyond) but couldn’t admit it to anyone. 

‘They behaved like everything was great when it wasn’t & it’s heartbreaking to hear they felt obliged to not speak their truth.

‘Big love to every parent old and new smashing it right now, but if you’re struggling, I hope my previous post will encourage more women & men to speak up (especially during the postpartum period) about WHATEVER is affecting their mental or physical health, their child, relationship or anything else making them feel sad, confused, anxious, depressed, scared or whatever. 

‘Whether it’s to relatives, partners, friends, midwives or health visitors. There are also fantastic charities like @pandas_uk who are there to support families coping with a perinatal mental illness.’

Kate then gave an update on her daughter, writing: ‘I actually managed to get some sleep last night & I can’t tell you how much better I’m feeling for it. 

‘Noa has improved over the last 24 hours too! She is crying less, sleeping a teeny bit more & the GP prescribed baby gaviscon saying her symptoms sound like trapped wind/colic, maybe reflux.

‘To my family, friends, everyone who has offered a shoulder to cry on – albeit over the phone/FaceTime, illegal hugs [laughing emoji] to walk our dogs, to walk with me, bake cakes, make us food, come over to help out (even though it’s not allowed) you have no idea how much this has lifted me. 

‘Finally, I can’t read all your messages but hand on heart I appreciate every single one of them, so apologies if you don’t get a reply. I love you all x’

Kate’s latest post came just a day after she admitted that she’s in ‘the darkest place’ and confessed that she feels like she’s ‘failing’.

While hitting back at ‘dog mum’ trolls, who came for Kate after she shared a Mother’s Day post dedicated to her pet pooches, the reality star urged people to ‘be kind’ and thanked her fiancé Martin for being her ‘rock.’

On Sunday, Kate had posted a snap of her two beloved dogs, Baxter and Shirley, and wrote: ‘It’s not my first Mother’s Day. It’s my 11th. Being a dog Mum is the best thing in the world.’ 

And on Tuesday, the Virgin Radio host revealed that she’d been subjected to trolling over her love for her pets, with some cruel trolls claiming she ‘shares praise and love for her dogs over her actual child’.

Kate shared a thread of screenshots, which detailed her experience over the past month, which went into detail about what she’s been through with daughter Noa. 

Her tiny baby has been taken into hospital three times in three weeks since she was welcomed into the world, and Kate has documented their journey.   

Alongside the new images which explain how she’s struggling to cope, Kate wrote: ‘Swipe left. It’s long but it needs to be said.

‘Thank you to everyone who has reached out and supported me recently, especially my family, friends and fiancé who has been my rock now more than ever.’ 

The reality star welcomed her first child with her fiancé and partner of seven years, Martin aka ‘Boj’, in February.    

Kate began by stating that she wanted to address ‘some extremely hurtful and abusive comments’ and reiterated that she has always cherished her two dogs.

The broadcaster then explained how she’s shares the ‘highs and lows’ of her journey as a new mum ‘because that’s the truth’.

Kate also pointed out how Instagram is simply a snapshot into people’s lives and is often not a truthful reflection of what is going on behind closed doors. 

Likening her Instagram followers to a ‘friendship group,’ the TV star reasserted that being a dog mum is ‘the best thing ever’ and confirmed that she stands by her words.

Moving onto discussing her life as mum to a newborn baby, Kate admitted: ‘If you must know, being a mum to a newborn is not the best thing ever right now. It’s broken me.

‘I feel like I’ve been treading water since February 11th and the last two days I’ve felt like I’m at breaking point. I’m not coping well mentally and I wish I could be stronger for my daughter.

‘I’m not enjoying what I’m going through, yes I’m struggling and you’re right, I am sad behind the eyes because I’ve always taken on new challenges like a duck to water but his one in testing me and I feel like I’m failing.’

Kate admitted that she’s not scared to be honest about her mental health battle and explained that she’s had to cope with 14 of Noa’s first 33 days in the world being spent in hospital, and stated that her little girl is still barely sleeping.

Lashing out at trolls, the reality star fumed: ‘How dare you say I put my dogs before my child’ before detailing her feelings of guilt over being unable to walk them as much now that Noa is her priority.  

Kate continued: ‘But I love my child and for nearly five weeks, I’ve devoted myself to keeping her alive. I breastfeed day and night, I comfort, hold, kiss and cuddle her, bath and dress he, I sing and play to her.’

Explaining that she hasn’t shared much of this side of her journey on Instagram because she’s been focusing on her daughter and making sure her needs of met. 

Kate insisted: ‘There HAVE been moments of joy, but hand on heart, I’m just exhausted, frustrated and the newborn days are not what I thought they’d be.

‘If that upsets or angers you then it’s your problem. I’m in the darkest place I’ve ever been in, trying to stay positive but I’m not the earth mother you want me to be, so accept it and stop with the hurtful comments.’ 

Concluding her lengthy post, the new mum also revealed that she ‘held back’ from posting photos of herself an Noa on Mother’s, Day because she was being mindful of women who’ve lost children and/or who have fertility struggles. 

Kate’s heartbreaking admission about her mental health problems came after she recently revealed her newborn daughter has been given the all-clear from doctors following a health scare and a series of hospital visits. 

The radio star took to Instagram to show her appreciation for the medical staff that helped her daughter during the time of distress. 

She wrote: ‘I’ve never been so grateful for our National Health Service as I am right now. The doctors, nurses, consultants, every member of staff at The Whittington Hospital has been incredible, attentive and kind and I can’t thank them enough.’

The baby girl, who was born in February, was recently rushed to hospital for the third time in three weeks with a temperature higher than 38C but thankfully has since made a full recovery.