Today we speak to Youtube and Influencer personality Lucy Carter! Lucy is well known for her youtube channel and ig which we've popped below, and today we chat all things motherhood and her experience of having each of her children, Jenson, Jesse, India and Rosabella.

https://www.instagram.com/lucyjessicacarter/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBTPjAKFYoSmeTL3xE6c14A

Eve: We’re going to chat about a few different things today, do you want to start off by introducing yourself?

Lucy: I have 4 children, and I have a YouTube channel which is Lucy Jessica Carter and then I have my Instagram which is the same.

Eve: How did you and your partner Jordan meet? (1:10)

Lucy: We met at my friends leaving party and she was leaving to Australia. Jordan came along with one of his friends and I had just come out of a long-term relationship. We didn’t actually talk or acknowledge each other that night. He added me and on Facebook the next day and then he messaged me saying did you have a good night. It started off from a friendship and then it went from there.

Eve: Aw that’s so nice, and now you have 4 children together! Talk to me about your journey to motherhood? (2:45)

Lucy: I’m one of those people that has always wanted to be a mum and knew I wanted a lot of children. I struggled when I finished school because all I wanted to do was to be a mum, and it wasn’t the right time and then I met Jordan and it just happened. Every pregnancy just happened after that!

Eve: How were your all your pregnancies and births with each of your children? (3:50)

Lucy: I always knew about morning sickness as in being sick all day as my mum had it. When I was pregnant with Jenson, I felt fine for the first few weeks and then I hit 6 weeks pregnant and I felt so ill. It really took a toll on my mental health as well where you are so ill. When I was first pregnant, I was 23 and I didn’t know anyone that had a baby and I really felt alone in that pregnancy. We weren’t even married or living together at this point, it was very isolating especially in the first trimester. It was better in the 2nd and 3rd trimester and then I went overdue. I was then induced because I have high blood pressure. I felt really miserable as I was in hospital for a week. I had the hormone drip and everything like that, but Jenson’s heart rate kept dropping and it ended up in an emergency c-section. When I got home after having Jenson, I remember putting on one born every minute and I had to turn it off as I couldn’t watch anything about hospitals or childbirth. I had the baby blues after Jenson’s birth which is feeling all over the place and really low. I did pick up after a few weeks and was fine.

Eve: Then you went onto having Jesse, how was that pregnancy? (8:15)

Lucy: That was completely different as I was a few years older and I was married, I felt very secure. I had nailed the first few years of motherhood so I knew exactly what was coming. The only thing that was different about Jesse’s birth was the c-section recovery. I was expecting to bounce back, and I couldn’t even sit up in bed and couldn’t move. We actually had go to back into hospital as Jesse had jaundice.

Eve: Then over 2 years ago you were pregnant with twins, how was that? (10:10)

Lucy: Me and Jordan discussed having another baby and we kind of just went with it. I found out I was pregnant shortly after a Lanzarote trip. It was brilliant and then a few weeks later, I had a bleed, so I instantly thought I know what was happening here and thought the worst. I went into the scan and she told me I was actually pregnant with twins. Jordan was thrilled when I told him, he is so laid back and is always up for an adventure.

Eve: How was your pregnancy with the twins? (12:35)

Lucy: The first trimester was rough, I had severe morning sickness and I lost quite a bit of weight. In the end I was admitted to hospital, it was a bit of a rollercoaster. I kind of picked up around 17 weeks. My birth with the girls was a planned c-section and it went so smoothly. I think I was at 38 weeks. Rosabella went down to NICU straight away and India went down shortly after. They were there for 2-3 days. We came home on Christmas eve, so timing was not on my side.

Eve: Did you always want to have a big family? (18:20)

Lucy: I always said when I was younger I wanted 4 children. When I had my first child I thought oh this is pretty tough maybe I won’t have 4 children, but here we are!

Eve: When did you start your YouTube career? (19:00)

Lucy: I started in January 2017. Being online has been very consistent and it has grown overtime. Last year I launched you and me and it’s been quite a rollercoaster over the last few years. Especially the last year, because the whole world changed and having to consistently show up online when there is so much going on and so much uncertainty was a real challenge. Going to Weymouth recently was so lovely and I filmed it all and it made me realise why I started my channel.

Eve: Are there any negatives you’ve found in the influencer and vlogging world? (22:22)

Lucy: Like everything there will always be negative, and as I’ve got older I’ve learnt that anything and everything you do there will always be negative downsides. People online can be awful and when you are in a good place mentally, I can take it. But when you are not great and not feeling 100% about something it can be really hard to take it. That is a negative, although the positives do outweigh the negatives.

Eve: Your sister Elle is also a vlogger and an influencer. Have you been sharing any top tips or advice to her? (24:00)

Lucy: I definitely have but I’m also mindful of not to come across as a know it all at all. I’m sure every mum will agree that you need to let them do it their own way. I’m going to be around whenever she wants me, but equally I don’t want to intrude. I recommend to other new mums to make a support group around you and make those new connections and to find someone on your level.

Eve: How do you juggle your family life? (26:00)

Lucy: It is a lot and since I’ve started house renovations and starting you and me it’s just not all possible, I don’t upload 3 times a week on YouTube anymore. It’s up and downs and challenging at times but making sure we get quality time as a family as well.

Eve: What does motherhood mean to you? (29:00)

Lucy: It means everything, it sets my soul on fire. It’s the forefront of every single thing I do, and I think it will be that way forever. I was going to say I love every minute but it is hard. At the end of the day I smile and they are my purpose.