Chloe Hurst, a 20-year-old ex-artist from Leicester, is a proud mother to her one-year-old child named Ru. She is currently anticipating the arrival of her second child, expected next month. Chloe has bravely spoken to Faulous about her personal journey, shedding light on the challenges she has faced due to receiving criticism for experiencing a range of emotions at a young age.
Taking a deep breath, I anxiously awaited the result as I peed on the pregnancy test stick in August 2020. At just 18 years old, I discovered I was three weeks pregnant with my first child. My partner, Billy Bailey, who is 23 years old and a team leader butcher, had been in my life for seven months. We first crossed paths in December 2019 during a night out in our hometown of Leicester. The news of the pregnancy came as an unexpected and thrilling surprise, as we hadn’t been using contraception. I had a feeling that I might be pregnant, so I purchased tests from a local shop.
The initial test yielded a negative result, but the following morning, the second test showed a positive outcome. It was overwhelming to process everything at once, considering our relatively new relationship. However, despite our youth, Billy and I made the decision to embrace the baby and proceed with the pregnancy. Fortunately, our families were not too shocked and provided us with support, even though I was still a teenager. Throughout the initial eight months of my pregnancy, I continued living with my parents, fearing the possibility of becoming homeless. This situation added to my stress, compounded by the experience of morning sickness.
After our 20-week scan, we already knew that we were expecting a baby boy. On April 29, 2021, at Leicester Royal Hospital, Ru entered the world after a labor that lasted seven hours. Despite being together for less than two years, Billy was by my side, cutting the cord, and I instantly fell in love with motherhood. It felt like my true calling. However, it wasn’t without its challenges. I experienced sleepless nights and placed immense pressure on myself to breastfeed on demand. Between feeds, I would pump milk, constantly worried about doing everything right as a new mom. Showers were rare, and I was always covered in baby sickness, with little opportunity to change my clothes.
Despite the difficulties, I had a strong sense that I was meant to be a mother. So, at 11 weeks postpartum, Billy and I decided to embark on another journey of parenthood. The first time we had sex, which was only eight weeks after giving birth, was slightly uncomfortable, but we made the most of it. I took my time and was grateful for having done pelvic floor and core body exercises during my pregnancy. Sixteen weeks later, I found out I was pregnant again, and I couldn’t contain my excitement. However, when we shared the news with friends and family, the reactions were mixed. Some were shocked and thought we were a bit crazy, and their astonishment grew when we revealed that the baby was planned.
I chose to keep our second baby a secret until I was 17 weeks pregnant. I purposefully wore loose-fitting clothes to conceal my growing bump, desiring to prolong the secret for as long as possible. When I eventually announced the pregnancy, I also revealed the gender simultaneously. Some people assumed it was an unplanned occurrence due to its close proximity to Ru’s birth.
There were concerns expressed about my ability to handle two babies so close in age and doubts regarding our decision-making process. However, Billy and I made it clear that it was a deliberate choice, as we wanted our children to grow up as both siblings and friends. Despite our explanations, opinions continued to pour in. Currently, I am eight months pregnant with our second son, who is developing well and is expected to arrive on July 25. I have planned a home water birth, fully aware that it may attract criticism and trolling. This pregnancy has been relatively smooth and easier compared to carrying Ru, and I am eagerly anticipating the experience of having “two under two.” I have chosen to document my pregnancy journey on TikTok, sharing details with others.
Initially, I started sharing my pregnancy journey on social media, primarily for friends and family. Over time, my following gradually grew, and I now have 43k followers. Unfortunately, along with the increase in popularity, I have also been subjected to numerous cruel and hurtful comments. This was especially true when a video of me “hiding” my bump by strategically breathing in went viral, reaching an audience of over 11 million people. I want to clarify that I am able to do this because I had practiced core and pelvic muscle exercises during my pregnancy, which helped my body bounce back. It is not harmful to me or my baby and is only possible because of the exercises I had done. However, I faced accusations of endangering my baby’s well-being, with people claiming that my life was in shambles and even going as far as calling me “braindead.”
As soon as people realized I was just 20 years old and having back-to-back babies, the trolling intensified. I was bombarded with comments suggesting that I was “ruining my life,” being a “scrounger,” and insinuating that the children’s father was absent from the picture. Criticism extended to my personal choices, such as my nose ring, tattoos, and even my belly button. I have been labeled as “selfish,” accused of “destroying my life,” and deemed a “waste of space.”
Despite facing criticism and assumptions from trolls, who were convinced that I was a single mom and claimed that I was ruining my life by having two babies at a young age, the truth is that Billy loves me, Ru, and our new baby immensely. Many people jump to incorrect conclusions, portraying me as scatterbrained and clueless about what I’m doing. In reality, we are a loving family, and having our children close in age allows them to grow up as both siblings and friends.
We have chosen to raise our children on a vegan diet, and I am a strong advocate of baby-led weaning. Ru is thriving on protein-rich meat alternatives, beans, chickpeas, tofu, and an abundance of vegetables. I prepare all his meals from scratch, which also saves us a significant amount of money each year. Having back-to-back babies has proven to be the best decision I have ever made. It is my life, and Billy and I are confident in our abilities as parents. As for the trolls, they can simply go their own way.