Pregnant Casey Batchelor: ‘3 babies in 3 years is crazy… and I want No 4 soon!’

While Closer’s shoot with Casey Batchelor and her adorable daughters, Florence, two, and Sadie, one, is one of the cutest we have ever done, the mum-of-two is the first to admit that getting these shots wasn’t the easiest task!

“I’ve definitely had some anxiety thinking about doing this shoot with two babies!” she laughs when we speak on the phone afterwards.

“Florence is a bit of a wild child and does what she pleases. Sadie isn’t properly walking yet, so she was easier, but everyone was in the garden singing, jingling toys and throwing pampas grass in the air to get the girls to look at the camera. So there’s a story behind this perfect photo! I absolutely love the pictures, though, and can’t wait to frame one for the house.”

And life is about to get even more chaotic in Casey’s household, as she and her fiancé, businessman Dane Goodson, 36, are due to welcome their third daughter in just three weeks.

“I’ve been lucky and had a good pregnancy so far, but just this week it has really hit me,” she admits. “I’ve been getting bad Braxton Hicks [early “false” contractions], I’m exhausted and then having the girls to look after too – they’re both still babies, really!”

With Florence due to turn three just a couple of weeks before their newborn arrives, Casey, 36, admits (almost) three under three is going to be hard work.

“It’s going to be crazy,” she laughs. “We know the baby years are really hard and exhausting, but it’ll be so lovely to have the girls so close together in age. I know if we didn’t do it now, in five years I’d regret not having a big family when it’s all about the magical Christmases and holidays with all the kids playing together.

“When the baby arrives, Florence will be going to nursery four mornings a week, then Sadie will start nursery next February. I also have a nanny who comes to help two days a week while I work, plus my mum is around for support, which really helps.”

But far from giving herself a break from the sleepless nights and nappies, the star says she and Dane will waste no time trying for baby number four – and hope they might have a boy to add to their brood.

“We both would like to go again, but we’ll stop at four, and I know I said that after three!” she laughs. “I think a fourth would be quite soon, so I’d like to be pregnant by January. I’d like to keep them close in age and also be in the baby stage all in one go. If I get pregnant again, I’ll have been pregnant for most of my thirties, though!”

The CBB star will have another planned C-section after experiencing a traumatic forceps delivery with Florence, which caused her agonising headaches for weeks after due to a complication with the epidural.

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She says, “I had a C-section with Sadie which went smoothly and, luckily, my recovery was good, and I have my section booked in for this baby, too. I am a bit worried about not being able to pick up the girls for a few weeks afterwards, but I’ll have lots of help.”

After having Florence in 2018, Casey – who launched her online diet and fitness app Yoga Blitz in 2018 – was trolled for her postnatal body. She went on to lose 4½st in six months through a healthy diet and fat-burning yoga. Then, after welcoming Sadie in January 2020, she shed 2½st in six months.

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“With Florence, I put on 5st, with Sadie it was 4st and this time I’ve gained 3st,” she explains. “When I was pregnant with Florence, I sat on the sofa eating and watching Game Of Thrones all day! Now I’m more aware of eating well. I know it doesn’t magically fall off when you have the baby.”

And while she’s spent most of her pregnancy in a pandemic, she has been grateful for some aspects of the lockdown.

She explains, “The pandemic has been awful, but it’s been nice to be able to relax at home. As well as that, my friends haven’t been able to go out either, so I haven’t had FOMO [fear of missing out]. I’m going to have the baby and then, a few weeks later, lockdown will be completely lifted.”

Laughing, she adds, “I timed it well – I did have a word with Boris!”

With thanks to In The Wild Events Styling and Boutique Camping for the bell tent.

Get the best celeb interviews in Closer magazine each week.