Former Bachelorette Sam Frost has revealed her mental and physical health struggles after falling pregnant with her first child.
The Home and Away star and her Australian Survivor fiancé Jordie Hansen confirmed they were pregnant on September 11, sharing a stunning pic of the couple holding a sonogram.
The actress later took to her Believe blog to share her experiences with pregnancy so far, explaining she began struggling with physical symptoms – and subsequently her mental health – around the six-week mark.
“The first trimester was incredibly difficult for me, mentally and physically,” Sam said, explaining she wasn’t prepared for how “taxing” pregnancy would be on her emotional wellbeing.
Sam Frost Struggled With Her Mental Health While Experiencing a Pregnancy-Related Illness
Sam was glad she told her “close girlfriends, gay friends [sic] and family” soon after finding out she was pregnant, rather than at the recommended 12-week mark because she became “bedridden for two months”.
“I became extremely unwell, throwing up constantly, with extreme exhaustion,” Sam said.
“I feel so far from the person I was,” she admitted. “Before pregnancy I was fit, healthy, full of energy, keen for adventures, financially stable and always giggling my head off. Now, all I can stomach is Vegemite toast.”
“I sleep literally the entire day. I only get up to wee (frequently) and throw up.”
Sam is now at 15 weeks, and while her nausea is letting up slightly and she has more energy, she still hasn’t been able to keep a lot of food down.
However, she has recognised she is “privileged” to have a partner and career that allowed her to stay home while unwell.
Sam said she didn’t want “pity” but decided to share her experience as she felt it was important to have open conversations about mental health and finding support while pregnant.
“This is not written with the intention of wanting sympathy or attention,” she penned.
“I wrote this because while I was going through the worst of it, I felt so alone. Social media glamourises pregnancy. No one talks about the ugly truth. For some people, the first trimester is mentally and physically challenging.”
Sam Frost and Jordie Hansen Announce They are Expecting a Baby Boy
Sam and Jordie announced on Instagram that a “tiny human is coming soon” before confirming she was expecting a baby boy.
“Everyone act surprised when he inevitably inherits his parent’s odd sense of humour. We don’t take ourselves or life too seriously, and we’re hoping to teach our tiny one the same values we share,” they continued.
The values include “the importance of being unapologetically yourself, always finding the fun and humour in all the small things” and “being kind, loving and empathetic is a superpower”.
The couple thanked their “beautiful friends and family” who have supported them and added that they were all “excellent secret keepers”.
“We are extremely excited and grateful for our tiny miracle.. your mum & dad love you so much already xxxx [sic].”
If you or anyone you know is struggling and needs support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, both of which provide trained counsellors you can talk with 24/7. You can also speak with someone confidentially at Headspace by calling 1800 650 890 or chat online here. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
If you, or a loved one, are struggling with feeling anxious or depressed during pregnancy or the birth of a child, please seek advice from your doctor or visit the Beyond Blue website or call 1300 22 4636 for more information.
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