Page 92 - Mother & Baby - UK (March 2020)

Mum mates!
Meet the mums who met through social media
but went on to become firm real-life friends
‘We bonded over wobbly bits!’
My first ever Instagram post was a photo of
my overflowing laundry basket. I wanted to
show my followers what’s normal for a new
mum. Little did I know I’d later go on to
post my “mum tum” saggy skin and all!
I have my “best Instagram friend”, Emma,
to thank for giving me the confidence to
share my postpartum body. Our friendship
began when we started commenting on the
same posts about living with anxiety as a new
mum. We’ve both been open about our mental-
health struggles, and how medication has
helped us. Before we chatted online, I noticed
we shared the same experiences and views
about how being honest can help us to feel
less isolated. I also noticed she lived close by.
One day I messaged her to point out our
similarities, and our Instagram conversations
just flowed. We chatted about our experiences
of anxiety, how we’ve changed since having
kid d h ’ l i l
WORDS RACHEL TOAL
90 | Mar ch 2020 | mothe ra ndbaby.co.uk
bodies. We even joked about how our belly
buttons have disappeared from sight!
Those conversations inspired me to post my
“mum tum” pic and I got so many positive
Erin comments from other mums. Emma’s done
McIver, 24, a the same, showing her wobbly post-baby bits.
brand ambassador, I was so proud when she wrote that her
lives in Glasgow with posts had been inspired by me!
fiancé Stuart and It was when Emma and I arranged to
children Kieran, 10 meet in person that our friendship grew
months, and stronger. On my way to that meet-up
Charlotte,
I started feeling apprehensive, like I was
three
on a first date! I knew Emma was a doctor
and had a different background. What if
we didn’t click in “real life”? I needn’t have
worried. Emma was just as lovely and down-
to-earth in reality as she is online. We bonded
straightaway, and our conversations about
mental health and body image continued.
Since then, we’ve been inseparable, meeting
up with our little ones. I can honestly say
we’re more like sisters then friends.
The other day while I was scrolling on my
ne, Kieran, my partner, teased that
s on “mumstagram” again! Joining
agram, opening up about my
ntal health, and meeting Emma
changed my life.
Insta sistas
Erin (right)
and Emma
The pair shared
their emotional
struggles