Nadia Essex EXCLUSIVE: New mum wants to ‘get healthy’ as she displays post-baby frame

Nadia Essex has vowed it’s time to ‘get healthy’ several weeks after welcoming her son Ezekiel to the world.

The new mum, 38, took to Instagram to post snaps of her in her underwear, displaying her post-pregnancy frame, declaring that she loves her body but wants to get back on track with fitness and health.

Speaking to MailOnline on Wednesday, single parent Nadia said: ‘I craved sugar during my pregnancy and nearly ended up with gestational diabetes but managed to get my eating under control and avoided it.

‘But since giving birth I have been living off ready meals, junk food and sugar to get me through the lockdown.

‘I’ve no help with the baby or night feeds, it’s all me 24 hours a day for weeks on end so I’ve been grabbing what I can when I can!’

The presenter welcomed baby Zeek in March, just as the UK went into lockdown due to the global pandemic.

‘I love my body and want to do it for myself – it’s time to get healthy,’ Nadia added.

She is working with brand Do The Unthinkable – a weight loss programme that delivers food daily to its clients’ doors.

‘Do The Unthinkable is the perfect plan for me because it’s not meal replacement. I will be eating real amazing food. And I am going to start with a PT and get my BMI down to a healthy number,’ she said.

Nadia revealed her terror after an ultrasound in January, when she was convinced she had harmed her unborn child due to careless nutrition.

She told MailOnline that a routine midwife appointment struck fear in her when she was told her baby bump was ‘way off the scale’.

She said: ‘I hadn’t seen [a doctor] in eight weeks and didn’t have a clue if everything was okay. You hope for the best but as a first time single mum, two whole months of no check ups seemed a long time.

‘I went for the midwife appointment and we listened to the heartbeat. That was all good. Then she measured my bump and I was way off the scale.

‘She was worried this meant I had gestational diabetes which could result in stillbirth. I have never been so scared.

‘I thought It was my fault and that, because I had eaten s**t, that I had given myself diabetes and potentially put my baby at harm before he is even born. I felt like the worst mum in the world. The worst human being in the world and cried solidly.’

Nadia’s concern was placated when she went for a follow up scan and the baby was measured.

‘It was all okay. He weighed well and there was no extra fluid which usually indicates gestational diabetes. I have to have the glucose test to double check.

‘Also, the baby is breech so I have to go back to the hospital in the new year to be monitored. It’s a lot but the relief that my baby is okay was the happiest day of my life.’

Nadia said that the worrying ordeal has only helped her take better care of herself for the remainder of her pregnancy.

‘It has given me the kick up the butt to get my nutrition on track. I have been craving nothing but sweet things and it’s time to get myself sorted as it’s crossed a line into gluttony I think,’ she said afterwards.

Nadia has also detailed her ‘extremely difficult’ breastfeeding journey after giving birth to her ‘miracle baby’ son. 

The former Celebs Go Dating star shared a candid Instagram snap as she looked every inch the doting mother while nursing her newborn in the fresh air on Friday morning.

The TV personality shared the powerful image alongside a heart-felt message as she smiled delicately toward the camera from behind a pair of oversized sunglasses.

Nadia wrote: ‘Going to lose a lot of followers for posting this but, for me, normalising breastfeeding is more important than likes and followers.

‘It’s nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to be anxious about and should be as normal as watching a child drink from a sippy cup.  

‘My BF journey has been extremely difficult so I’m proud of this picture. Did you breastfeed or if not, what formula did you use? 

‘#fridayvibes #breastfeeding #breastfeedingmama #newmum #ezekiel.’ 

Nadia shared the first picture of baby Ezekiel last month as she clutched him in her arms.   

She wrote in the caption: ‘Darlings I want to introduce you to my whole world…..

‘Ezekiel Michael Essex grab a copy of @closeronline (out today) for my most honest interview to date. 

Nadia, who had been given only a one per cent chance of conceiving, announced the birth of her baby on Instagram in March, sharing a picture of herself kissing his little hand.