Kate Ferdinand Shares the Guilt of Mental Health Struggles
by Laura DriverKate Ferdinand, who is expecting her first child with Rio Ferdinand, has admitted to struggling in her first trimester and her battles with mental health.
During her pregnancy, Kate gave fans a glimpse into her life, sharing photos of her bump as well as revealing the gender of her unborn son, earlier this month. Now, during a candid podcast, the former reality star has spoken honestly about her struggles adjusting to expecting her first child, despite being a step-mum.
Speaking to Women's Health Going for Goal podcast, Kate said: "The first three months I really, really struggled. I struggle with my mental health…being active helps me day-to-day with my anxiety. So when I can’t do things, I really struggle with it…I want to do everything. Rio says to me ‘Kate, just sit down. You just need to sit down and relax’. But I don’t know why, I just feel guilty when I do."
She went on to say that despite living an active lifestyle and often being in the gym, she couldn't adjust to being tired all the time and not having the energy to work out.
Now being in her second trimester, she feels "more normal". Kate said that the lockdown period had been an "experience" as her three step-children didn't know she was expecting. "Something that I've struggled with is being pregnant with my first biological child, and still being a mum. So I felt I had all these new experiences… but I was still a step-mother or mother figure to three kids," Kate said.
Kate took on Rio's children, Lorenz, 14, Tate, 12 and Tia, nine, from his first marriage to late wife, Rebecca Ellison who passed away from breast cancer