‘I want two more babies!’
The Corrie actress is adapting to being a mum again, and admits marriage plans are on hold until next year
She bravely opened up about suffering from anxiety and admitted it hit its peak after the birth of her first daughter Matilda in 2015. But speaking to Closer, Helen Flanagan reveals she feels more at ease after welcoming her second daughter, Delilah, this summer – and credits her fiancé, footballer Scott Sinclair, for being a huge source of support.
The 28-year-old actress says, “Delilah is already four months old and she’s growing so quickly. With your second child, you’ve got a lot more confidence. This time, I know how I’m going to feel and I’m a bit more prepared. Every week you get more into the swing of things – you just learn to manage your time better.”
She adds, “Scott is brilliant. He’s really hands-on with Matilda and usually takes over with her bedtime routine, while I’m with Delilah. When you’ve got two children, you’ve got to work as a team.”
But despite the juggling act, the star – who is currently on maternity leave from Coronation Street – says she’d love more kids. She tells us, “I love having babies and I love being pregnant. I really want four children – Scott might need some working on the idea, though!”
KEEPING THE SPARK ALIVE
Helen first started dating Celtic footballer Scott, 29, back in 2009, when she was just 19. But in 2013, they briefly split.
The pair worked things out, and now, as they approach their tenth anniversary, Helen says they’ve matured together.
“Scott and I have just grown together, really,” says Helen. “Obviously, having two children together has helped that. It’s really important that you make that time as a couple, too, and have date nights. We try to make time for each other, as well as the girls.”
The football star popped the question in May, and while Helen is excited to get married, she admits being a new mum means putting wedding plans on the back-burner until Delilah turns one in June next year.
She says, “I’m enjoying looking at wedding dresses and I’ve tried a few on, but I’m going to wait until Delilah is one before we properly plan it. It does already feel as if we’re married though, because we’ve been together for so long. For me, it’s just important to get married as I want to have the same last name as the girls.”
And the TV star – who looks incredible just four months after giving birth to Delilah – reveals she doesn’t feel the pressure to throw herself into an organised fitness regime ahead of her big day. “I don’t know who would look after my baby if I had a gym session,” she laughs. “Scott’s always at training, and when he comes back, I’ve got more important things to do, like sorting out Matilda.”
SHAPING UP
She adds, “I’m not really a person who sits down and chills anyway – I’m always running after Matilda or taking Delilah out in the pram. Breastfeeding really gets you into shape as you burn a lot and you have to eat a healthy diet. You’re not going to eat
a lot of junk if you know that’s going into your milk. It’s all about balance.”
After finding fame at just nine as Rosie Webster in Coronation Street, Helen admits she battled with life in the public eye. She left the soap in 2012 to take a break from the show.
BATTLING ANXIETY
After having Matilda and being a first-time mum in 2015, Helen suffered with anxiety as many new mothers do, but has found cognitive behavioral therapy (a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave) has helped her deal with her anxiety. And the star says that with her 30th birthday looming, she’s feeling more content. She admits, “I feel like the older you get, you just feel more comfortable in your own skin. You become happier and more relaxed. And as a mum, you learn not to sweat the small stuff. As long as the girls are OK, then everything is cool and I just treasure the time I have with them while they’re little.”
‘As a mum, you learn not to sweat the small stuff ’