Chloe Hurst, 20, a former hostess from Leicester, is the mother of one-year-old Ru and is expecting her second child next month.

She has shared her tale with Fabulous after being ridiculed for having “back-to-back” children at such an early age.

URINATING on a pregnancy test. I stopped breathing. I was three weeks expectant with my first child in August 2020. But I was only 18 years old and had been with my companion, now 23-year-old team leader butcher Billy Bailey, for only seven months. We had met eight months prior on a night out in our birthplace of Leicester in December 2019. Although we hadn’t used contraception, the baby was an unexpected and joyful surprise. I suspected I was expectant and purchased pregnancy tests.

The first test was negative, while the second, administered the following morning, was positive. We were still a relatively young couple, so it was a lot to take in at once. However, despite being young, Billy and I decided to keep the baby. Even though I was an adolescent, our families were not too startled and supported us. Still residing with my parents until the eighth month of my pregnancy, I was terrified that I would give birth without a home – it was a very anxious situation, as I also suffered from morning sickness.

We already knew we were expecting a boy after my 20-week ultrasound, but on April 29, 2021, after a seven-hour labor, Ru was born at Leicester Royal Hospital. Even though Billy and I had been together for less than two years, he was present to sever the umbilical chord, and I immediately fell in love with motherhood. It felt like something I was destined to do. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. I had sleepless nights and placed myself under too much strain to breastfeed on demand. Concerned that I wasn’t doing everything correctly as a new mother, I pumped milk in between feedings. I rarely showered, was drenched in morning sickness, and never had the opportunity to change my attire.

Still, despite the difficulties, I felt I was destined to do it, and Billy and I decided at 11 weeks postpartum that we wanted to try again. The first time we had sexual contact, just eight weeks after I gave birth, was a bit awkward, but we made the most of it. I took my time and was grateful that I had performed pelvic floor and core body exercises throughout my pregnancy. And 16 weeks later, I conceived again. I was ecstatic, but when I told my friends and family, I received conflicting reactions. Many were surprised and thought we were insane; they were even more astounded when we revealed that the pregnancy was planned.

I didn’t tell people until I was 17 weeks gone. I donned baggy clothing to conceal my pregnancy and to keep our second child’s existence a secret for as long as feasible. I chose to disclose the pregnancy and the baby’s gender simultaneously. People believed it was an accident because it occurred so shortly after Ru’s birth.

They also believed I was too immature to manage two infants so near in age and that we hadn’t given the matter sufficient thought. But Billy and I told people it was on purpose because we wanted the children to be neighbors and companions as well as siblings. It did not prevent individuals from having opinions, however. I am currently eight months pregnant with our second son, who is doing well and is due on July 25. I am planning a domestic water birth and expect to be ridiculed for it. The pregnancy has been straightforward and simpler than with Ru, and I look forward to having two children under the age of two. I chose to post information about my pregnancy on TikTok.

Initially it was just for friends and family but over time my followers grew and now I have 43k. But sadly, I’ve been hit with many cruel comments – especially when a video of me breathing in and’ hiding’ my bump went viral and more than 11 million people saw it. I’m able to do this because I’d practiced my core and pelvic muscle exercises while pregnant and my body pinged back into shape. It isn’t dangerous to me or my 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 and is possible because of the exercises I did. But I was accused of crushing my 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦, told my life was a “mess” and described as “braindead”.

And when people realized I was just 20 and having back-to-back babies the trolling got into full swing. People have said I am “ruining my life”, a “scrounger” and told me that “obviously the 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren’s father is not around”. I was slammed for my nose ring, tattoos and even my belly button. I’ve been told I am “selfish”, “destroying my life” and a “waste of space”.

Critics assumed I was a single mother and claimed I was “ruining my life” by having two children at such an early age. But Billy is extremely fond of me, Ru, and the newborn. And so many people incorrectly assume that I am a scatterbrained idiot who has no idea what I’m doing. We are a loving family, and the fact that our children are near in age means they can grow up as peers and siblings.

We are rearing our children vegan, and I support baby-led weaning. Beans, lentils, tofu, and an abundance of vegetables are the main sources of protein in Ru’s diet. I save hundreds of pounds per year by preparing all of his dishes from homemade. Having consecutive children was the greatest decision I’ve ever made. My life is my own, and Billy and I are wonderful parents, so naysayers can go to hell.