‘MY BABY SHOWER WILL BE LIKE A SMALL WEDDING!’
‘CORONATION STREET’ STAR BROOKE VINCENT TALKS TO ok!’s KIRSTY HATCHER ABOUT EXPECTING HER FIRST CHILD
Dressed all in white and cradling her bare baby bump, Brooke Vincent couldn’t look any more content as she poses during OK!’S exclusive shoot.
‘I used to pray for things that I have now,’ says the Coronation Street actress, who is expecting her first child with her boyfriend of three years, Sheffield United midfielder Kean Bryan. ‘Me wanting to become a mum was probably the only thing in life I was sure of. I think my purpose in life is to be a mum,’ she says.
Brooke, who is due in the autumn, says her growing bump has helped the news sink in for Kean, 22, while she says she’s been embracing the changes to her body. ‘I’ve read some people moaning about pregnant women touching their bumps, but it’s only there for nine months and it’s not something to be taken for granted,’ says Brooke.
‘It’s a shame that there’s a few people out there who feel the need to do this. I’m appreciating what I have every day,’ she adds.
Here, Brooke, 27, tells OK! about how impending motherhood has changed her, working out while pregnant and why she’ll be ignoring people’s opinions…
You look amazing! How do you feel about posing with a bare bump?
I love my bump. Some people love bare bumps and some people don’t, but I’m so proud of my bump. I’ve read some people moaning about pregnant women touching their bumps, but it’s only there for nine months and it’s not something to be taken for granted. It’s a wonderful thing. It might just look like a bump but that’s my baby in there! It’s a shame that there’s a few people out there who feel the need to do this. I’m appreciating what I have every day.
How have you felt about the changes to your body?
It’s very strange having pictures taken and not breathing in [laughs] because you’re so used to doing it and standing a certain way. I think people underestimate how pregnancy makes you feel or how much you change. Your entire body changes. It’s a whole new experience but it’s nice having the challenge to find things that fit. Sometimes it takes me an hour to find something to wear!
Will you miss your bump when it’s gone?
I think so. I’ve not worried through my pregnancy and I’ve noticed every change. If I go on to have more children, I think I’ll be more relaxed. Stacey Solomon has been really honest about missing her bump; I think she has a really good take on what’s normal for someone in the public eye. I think that’s really important because when I first got pregnant I expected to look a certain way and I didn’t, and that’s down to social media. It’s nice to have someone showing what it’s really like. I’ve said to myself, one thing I want to be is honest throughout this process.
You seem very content…
I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. It sounds cringe but I used to pray for things that I have now. I’m very content and Kean is a massive part of that. I think that’s a big part of why we work so well. There is no edginess to him or the relationship, we just respect each other.
Have you always dreamed of being a mum?
Yeah. Every month I read my little baby app to see how the baby is changing. That’s my way of getting my head around the fact I’m growing a child. It’s absolutely mind blowing but the best thing in the world. I’ve always wanted to be a mum. Me wanting to become a mum was probably the only thing in life I was sure of. I think my purpose in life is to be a mum. I love children, I have such a way with them. I hope I’ll be the same with my own.
You’re into fitness. How often have you been working out since you fell pregnant?
Twice a week if I can. I waited until I got to the 12-week point so I could speak to my midwife about it. I’ve been training at Ultimate Performance in Manchester and they train me specifically with this in mind. It’s made me feel good. I missed the endorphins exercise gave me during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. But I can feel myself slowing down now so I’ll go with the flow and see how long I can carry it on for. Sometimes my bump feels really heavy.
What exercise have you been doing?
Me and Kean go swimming. When I’m at the gym I do a lot with my own body weight. Ultimate Performance did a three-month transformation with me a few years ago so they’re very familiar with my body. They know that if I say I can’t do something, then I really can’t. I have a female PT called Aroosha. She’s very positive; she does things for me that she thinks will help during birth, like leg exercises that will give me strong legs.
Vogue
Williams received a backlash for working out while pregnant.
Have you experienced the same?
I haven’t had people saying: ‘You shouldn’t be working out,’ but I have had people saying: ‘Be careful.’ I’m obviously going to be careful. I don’t need Jean from Kent on Instagram to tell me that [laughs]!
How are you feeling about the birth?
Before I was pregnant I thought I’d be really scared, but I’m not. I did stop watching One Born Every Minute when I got pregnant, though! I don’t have a birth plan yet, but that might change. I don’t want to stress myself out if it doesn’t go to plan.
How is Kean feeling?
It’s sinking in for Kean now my bump has grown. He’s become a bit more protective. He’s always been very caring but now the baby is on the way he’s extra caring.
Are you planning to breastfeed?
It would be lovely to breastfeed but I’m not putting pressure on anything, I don’t want to be disappointed. For the first time ever I’m laid back with what’s probably the biggest thing that’ll ever happen to me. There’s enough time to stress when the baby is here.
What changes have you seen in yourself?
I recently had my 27th birthday and it was a turning point. I thought, I’m just going to do what I want to do. If it makes me and my family happy, then that’s all that matters. I’m not going to take on other people’s opinions, because I know there will be so many. Everyone’s got an opinion and everyone thinks they know better, but you have to do what’s best for you and your baby.
Do you still think you’re having a boy?
I change my mind all the time. My mum and Kean’s mum think I’m having a boy. My skin has always been bad but it was particularly bad at the start and people were saying: ‘It’s a girl, they take away your beauty!’ My nana keeps me informed of my weight gain and tells me I’ve gone round, so I must be having a boy. Kean thinks we’re having a girl.
Has your skin got better?
It has. I think the hormones were just a shock to the system at first. I’ve always had bad skin on my face. At the start it was more on my chest and my shoulders and now that’s calmed down. If you look on Instagram everyone’s skin is flawless so you feel like the only person in the world who has bad skin. I like to be honest.
Are you having a baby shower?
Yeah. It will be a big party. It’s like a small wedding, if I’m honest! It’s rainbow-themed. I’m not into guessing what’s in the nappy, though, or people measuring how big my bump is! I’ve missed seeing my friends and I love a good celebration. It’s not going to be traditional.
How have they covered your bump on Corrie?
They have been sitting me down and standing me behind tables or cars! I used to hate having to walk around in my scenes so now I’m like: ‘Shall I sit?’ [Laughs.] All I used to do was eat and moan, but now I eat, moan and sit! Corrie have been so good with me.
Your co-star Julia Goulding is pregnant, too...
Yes! I am so happy for her. I told her first and then she told me and we’re the same number of weeks! It’s always better when you have someone going through the same thing as you.
And your friend Ryan Thomas recently proposed to Lucy Mecklenburgh...
It’s so lovely. He told me his plans. I told him: ‘When you’re doing your proposal, don’t rub your left eye like you used to do when you were playing Jason [Grimshaw]. Everyone has seen that and she won’t fall for it [laughs]!’ He was like: ‘Oh my God Brooke, I need some courage!’ But it’s amazing news, it’s lovely to see them both very happy. Lucy is lovely and she brings out the best in Ryan. Whatever they do for the wedding I’m presuming it’ll be big! STOCKISTS: FOREVER UNIQUE WWW.FOREVERUNIQUE.CO.UK; I SAW IT FIRST WWW.ISAWITFIRST.COM; KIRSTY DOYLE WWW.KIRSTY-DOYLE. COM; ROTATE AT WWW.NET-A-PORTER.COM; WOLFORD WWW. WOLFORDSHOP.CO.UK; ZARA WWW.ZARA.COM/UK.
TWITTER.COM/KIRSTY_HATCHER PHOTOGRAPHS BY KARIS KENNEDY ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS BY INSTAGRAM STYLING BY LORRAINE MCCULLOCH SET STYLING BY LAURA NORTH HAIR BY JORDANA LAWTON MAKE-UP BY NEALEY LEAH
‘I used to pray for things that I have now’