‘We couldn’t be more in love’: Helen Flanagan admits she is ‘besotted’ with baby son Charlie

Helen Flanagan has told how she ‘couldn’t be more in love’ with her baby son Charlie as she shared her first photo with him since giving birth.

The actress, 30, welcomed her third child with husband Scott Sinclair, 32, on Thursday, with the proud father confirming the happy news on Instagram.

Helen shared a heartwarming snap of herself cradling Charlie on Sunday and admitted she hasn’t slept much since the labour. 

Heartwarming: Helen Flanagan has told how she ‘couldn’t be more in love’ with her baby son Charlie as she shared her first photo with him since giving birth

She wrote: ‘Our baby boy Charlie was born on Thursday on Scott’s birthday ✨ I was two days overdue like I was with Delilah ✨ 

‘We are in such a love bubble we couldn’t be more in love with our beautiful little boy, we can not stop staring at him. The girls just love him so much. 

‘We are absolutely besotted with our perfect little prince Charlie is an absolute dream come true. 

‘I don’t think I’ve slept much since the labour but I feel like I miss his little face when I do sleep, not been able to put him down or stop kissing and cuddling him, he is so loved ✨ Thankyou for all your lovely messages ❤️’

Family: The actress, 30, welcomed her third child with husband Scott Sinclair, 32, on Thursday, with the proud father confirming the happy news on Instagram

Family: The actress, 30, welcomed her third child with husband Scott Sinclair, 32, on Thursday, with the proud father confirming the happy news on Instagram

Helen wrote: 'We are in such a love bubble we couldn’t be more in love with our beautiful little boy, we can not stop staring at him. The girls just love him so much'

Helen wrote: ‘We are in such a love bubble we couldn’t be more in love with our beautiful little boy, we can not stop staring at him. The girls just love him so much’

Helen then shared the photo Scott had posted of the couple smiling with their son right after she gave birth. 

The actress said welcoming Charlie is one of her ‘proudest moments’ made all the more special by the fact he was born in the same hospital she was.  

She said: ‘One of my proudest moments is giving birth to Charlie ❤️ I was so lucky I had the loveliest midwife looking after me that day and Scott and I are so grateful to her for the safe delivery of our boy ✨ she was amazing and held my hand with Scott through it. 

‘I wanted a water birth like I had with Delilah. Delilahs birth was so quick, only two hours and really straight forward. 

Motherhood: The actress said welcoming Charlie is one of her 'proudest moments' made all the more special by the fact he was born in the same hospital she was

Motherhood: The actress said welcoming Charlie is one of her ‘proudest moments’ made all the more special by the fact he was born in the same hospital she was

‘I had to have my waters broken with Charlie though and he pooed so I gave birth on the bed and didn’t let go of my gas and air for a second. 

‘I feel like I can do anything now and it was really magical. He was 8lbs 4.5oz which is mine and Scott’s biggest baby our girls were really petite. 

‘It was really nice to have Charlie at Bolton Hospital too where my mum gave birth to me ❤️✨’.    

The former Coronation Street star is already mother to daughters Matilda, five and Delilah, two.  

Congratulations!  Scott told how he 'couldn't ask for a better gift on my birthday' when his son was born

Congratulations!  Scott told how he ‘couldn’t ask for a better gift on my birthday’ when his son was born

Scott, who also turned 32 on Thursday, penned in his post: ‘I couldn’t ask for a better gift on my Birthday, what a blessing!!! welcome to the world son. Charlie Scott Sinclair 25/03/21.’

Dozens of the couples friends rushed to congratulated them on the new arrival in the comments. with many of Scott’s football pals sending their well wishes.

Coronation Street star Brooke Vincent also gushed over little Charlie leaving several comments saying ‘OMGGGG’ and sharing her surprise at the couple having a boy.

Growing family: The actress is already mum to daughters Matilda, five and Delilah, two

Growing family: The actress is already mum to daughters Matilda, five and Delilah, two

The announcement comes after Helen originally predicted she would go into labour ‘tomorrow’ on Saturday, March 20.

The actress took to her Instagram Stories to share that she thought she would go into labour soon but joked her ‘predictions are rubbish’ and she’ll probably ‘be a week late’. 

She then uploaded another Instagram story and said her footballer beau thought the baby would come on his birthday, a prediction which turned out to be true.

Helen penned: ‘Meaning I’ve always thought I’ll go into labour tomorrow. Scott thinks his birthday.

‘My baby predictions are rubbish though each time with my girls I thought I was having a boy. I’ll probably be a week late now. Baby will come when ready.’     

Happy news: Dozens of the couple's pals left congratulations messages under the candid snap

Happy news: Dozens of the couple’s pals left congratulations messages under the candid snap

Bump: The announcement comes after Helen originally predicted she would go into labour 'tomorrow' on Saturday, March 20

Bump: The announcement comes after Helen originally predicted she would go into labour ‘tomorrow’ on Saturday, March 20

The media personality recently touched on her arrival in a press release with fitness and wellness community app TRUCONNECT by TV.FIT: ‘I’m so excited.

‘I’m on the home straight and I don’t feel like it’s too long before I get to meet my baby.

‘My girls are super excited about having a new baby brother or sister and I know that Delilah and Matilda will be brilliant big sisters. I think I’ll be two days off my due date, so I think I’ll have my baby on the 21st March!’ 

Helen revealed the happy news of her pregnancy in September, sharing sweet family photos while showing off her bump. 

The whole family posed for the snaps, with Matilda and Delilah proudly holding up ultrasound photos of their new sibling.   

Family: Helen revealed the happy news of her pregnancy in September, sharing sweet family photos while showing off her bump

Family: Helen revealed the happy news of her pregnancy in September, sharing sweet family photos while showing off her bump

She captioned the post: ‘Our 3rd baby arriving March 2021 @scotty__sinclair’. 

It was a difficult pregnancy for the star, who struggled with hyperemesis for the third time – a pregnancy complication that is characterised by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and dehydration.

In a November Instagram post Helen explained: ‘Super grateful for my pregnancy and I can’t wait to hold my little one but to be honest I’m not really enjoying this pregnancy.’

Reflecting on her pregnancies with daughters Matilda and Delilah, Helen continued: ‘I loved being pregnant with Matilda and Delilah.’ 

‘I think with Matilda everything was just so new and super exciting and with Delilah I just loved having my bump and everything about it after I got over the hyperemesis each time.’ 

Big sisters: The whole family posed for the snaps, with Matilda and Delilah proudly holding up ultrasound photos of their new sibling

Big sisters: The whole family posed for the snaps, with Matilda and Delilah proudly holding up ultrasound photos of their new sibling

‘This time round I just don’t feel like I’m enjoying it the same. Maybe because it’s my third and I just feel super tired and I know it’s going to be full on, I always just feel nauseas a lot and I just dont feel myself since I fell pregnant.’

Helen wanted to clarify that she was happy to be expecting, explaining: ‘It’s not that I’m ungrateful and I think it’s okay to feel however you feel in pregnancy.’

‘One of my close friends felt super anxious her whole pregnancy about the baby being okay and my mum said she felt pretty down in all her pregnancies ( I am one of four) but was on cloud 9 when the baby arrived.’ 

‘It’s okay to feel however you feel, pregnancy or after the baby is born, all is okay. My mum keeps telling me to enjoy it as it’s extremely likely this is my last pregnancy.’

Sickness: It was a difficult pregnancy for the star, who struggled with hyperemesis for the third time - a pregnancy complication that is characterised by severe nausea

Sickness: It was a difficult pregnancy for the star, who struggled with hyperemesis for the third time – a pregnancy complication that is characterised by severe nausea

Helen went on to explain that she had been forced to move back in with her parents during early pregnancy as Scott was busy training and she needed help with her girls.

‘I was really unwell this pregnancy with hyperemesis and had to move back to my parents house as I was so unwell and couldn’t look after the children and scott was training. ( I was allowed a support bubble with my parents, I was in and out of the early pregnancy ward ),’ she wrote.

‘I don’t think I could ever go through hyperemesis again and I had it each pregnancy and wiped me each time. It was really miserable and this time round so strong, wouldn’t want to do that to the children I already have, and I relied on my mum for everything.’

Expecting: In November Helen shared an update on her pregnancy ahead of her due date in March, sharing a photo of herself cradling her growing bump as she lounged by the pool

Expecting: In November Helen shared an update on her pregnancy ahead of her due date in March, sharing a photo of herself cradling her growing bump as she lounged by the pool

Helen concluded by revealing she expecting this pregnancy to be her last, partly due to her experiences with hyperemesis.  

‘I think there’s a sadness for women when they know it’s their last however for me that’s being taken away by the hyperemesis so that’s one positive,’ she said. 

‘Seeing as I’m pretty certain this as our last baby, I get a lot of people saying ah I hope it’s a boy for you this time. I think I’m pretty lucky just to carry to be honest with people close to me struggling to conceive, I’m just grateful to carry a baby.’ 

Helen and Preston player Scott have been in a relationship since 2009 and got engaged in May 2018.

Role model: In June, the actress took to her Instagram to announce she will no longer edit her pictures as she wants to set a confident example for her girls (pictured in a throwback instagram taken in April)

Role model: In June, the actress took to her Instagram to announce she will no longer edit her pictures as she wants to set a confident example for her girls (pictured in a throwback instagram taken in April)

The couple had originally planned to marry in 2020, with Helen previously revealing she’d even found her dream dress, but the actress explained in Ferbruary they had decided to postpone as her younger sister was due to wed in the same year. 

Speaking exclusively to the MailOnline after her engagement, Helen gushed about motherhood, declaring it to be her most fulfilling role. 

The soap star enthused: ‘I always wanted to have a baby, that’s what I’ve always wanted. I think it’s just made me a lot happier, and gives you perspective and helps you rationalise what’s important. I think it gives you a real purpose.

‘I feel like my girls make me feel like I can do anything. I love being a mum, I love everything of it. Sometimes I’m like ‘this is going to be really difficult’ because I’m tired or whatever, but it is amazing as well and I really enjoy it.’

WHAT IS HYPEREMESIS GRAVIDARUM?

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is defined as severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Celebrities who’ve been open about their own battles with HG include:

  • The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton 
  • Kim Kardashian
  • Kourtney Kardashian
  • Debra Messing
  • Kelly Clarkson
  • Tia Mowry
  • Tori Spelling 
  • Amy Schumer 

It affects up to two percent of pregnant women.  

HG symptoms usually appear between weeks four and six and peak at 9-to-13 weeks.

Up to 20 per cent of sufferers experience symptoms up to weeks 14-to-20, however, most have relief in the later stages.

Unlike morning sickness, which affects up to 80 percent of pregnant women, HG causes severe dehydration and prevents sufferers from keeping any food down.

Other symptoms include:

  • Losing five percent or more of their pre-pregnancy weight
  • Reduced urination
  • Headaches
  • Confusion
  • Fainting
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Loss of skin elasticity
  • A rapid heart rate  

Some HG cases require hospitalization where women can receive IV fluids and nutrition. 

HG’s cause was thought to be hormonal, however, research suggests it may be due to genetic variations.

Source: American Pregnancy Association