I've given birth after my unique baby news left men stunned – I have no regrets
A MUM has told how giving birth is a doddle when you do it without the dad.
Model Heather McCartney, 36, welcomed her second child last week after opting to use a sperm donor.
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The single parent received stick from men who branded her desperate because she wouldn't entertain a new relationship.
But Heather, who left Ayrshire for Australia, was ecstatic as she welcomed her daughter exactly a decade after she beat cancer.
She said: 'I had a planned C-section and no partner there.
"But my mum came all the way from Scotland to be with me, which made all the difference.
'Having a team of supportive women around, including the medical staff, felt really empowering and reassuring.
'I'm glad I did it that way—it felt right for me.
"As for offers to be the dad, I've had a few messages.
"But I'm just taking things as they come and enjoying this new chapter.'
Heather decided to put on make-up and give herself a glam look so she could take some special selfies after giving birth.
She received lots of compliments afterwards from folk who thought she looked incredible considering what she'd just endured.
The blonde pin-up added: 'My C-section was calm and smooth.
'So I felt pretty relaxed afterward. People mentioned I was glowing, which was really kind.
'But honestly, I was just happy everything went well.
'Feeling sexy wasn't really on my mind yet—more like taking it one day at a time.
'People will always love a MILF, so I'm happy to embrace that with a smile.'
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Daily Mail
32 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE She is the whip-smart investigative journalist. He is the jokester from MAFS. Now Stan Grant's ex-wife Karla reveals the reason she fell in love with Nasser Sultan in Australia's oddest celebrity couple
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'Nasser came up to me and introduced himself,' Karla explains. 'Of course I knew who he was because I'd seen him on MAFS.' The former music-manager-turned-over-50s-personal trainer rose to fame on the reality TV experiment in 2018, where he failed to find love with TV match Gabrielle Bartlett. 'He said how much he liked my work on SBS and I thought he was really nice,' Karla recalls of her first impressions. She was watching the movie with her son John, who is an aspiring musician, and one of three children Karla shares with her ex-husband of 16 years, Stan Grant. 'I thought he was really nice in how he gave John some advice (about the music industry),' she says. Meanwhile, Nasser was immediately struck by Karla. Over the next three years, the couple continued to get to know each other in small interactions at media industry events, and Nasser continuously sent Karla dinner and coffee invitations. 'I was always really busy with work. I'm kind of married to my job,' Karla says. 'I travel a lot for shoots. Nass would message me and I'd say, "Sorry, I'm overseas next week." 'We were both seeing other people during that time as well.' Last October, Nasser invited Karla to one of the infamous X-rated Maxim magazine Halloween parties. When the esteemed journalist said she wasn't 'really the demographic' for a room full of 'half naked' models, Nasser said 'don't be silly'. 'I thought "Well, why not?"' she says. 'At the end of that party, he asked me out again.' Karla turned down Nasser's next two invitations - once because she caring for her elderly mother and the other time because she was on a trip with her daughter over New Year's Eve. 'Another guy would've said "Stuff it!"' Nasser exclaims. 'The thing is, I'm not young. We're both not young. To find someone in this age group who's got a real job and drives a manual car is rare! So I kept at it for three years. I played the long game.' Daily Mail Australia first caught wind of the blossoming romance in February, as did Karla's SBS colleagues. The news travelled fast, with whispers of "Have you seen who Karla's dating now?' filling the Herbert Street Sydney office When they met for that dinner with friends, Nasser says 'it was love at first sight'. 'I remember putting my hand between her legs, I mean on her lap,' he jokes. 'We hit it off from there.' Several months into the relationship, the only arguments the 'foodie' duo have is over what to eat. 'We are very different,' Karla explains. 'Everyone knows me for being a serious journo, but I do have a funny side as well and I think Nasser has brought that out in me a lot more. We had good banter. 'What I love about Nass is we're very playful together and have a lot of fun and giggle and laugh. I think we complement each other.' Karla's split from her ex-husband Stan Grant became front page news in 2000 when the broadcaster left her for his Seven colleague Tracey Holmes, who was dubbed by the tabloids a 'Holmes Wrecker'. The publicity was so intense that the scandal-plagued couple both resigned on the same day because Seven management didn't want them to live together. With Nasser, Karla feels safe and happy, and the headline-grabbing reality TV alum is quite happy to hitch his wagon to her 'star power'. 'There is never a dull moment with Nass. I've never dated anyone like him,' she says. 'It has been so difficult to find a person who understands what I do, and that I'm away a lot and always busy, and supports me as well in what I do.' Karla joined SBS in 1995, and in 2002, became executive producer of the network's Indigenous Media Unit. She pitched the show Living Black to the national broadcaster's executives. 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'But they can see that I'm happy and said to me as long, "as you're happy, that's the main thing. We just want to see you happy".' The one thing she would like to state for the record is that despite her boyfriend's 'well documented' history of making publicity stunts - this love is the real deal.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Abbie Chatfield tearfully announces break from social media after a 'horrible year' of trolling: 'I need time off, desperately'
Abbie Chatfield has revealed that she is taking a break from social media after what she says has been a 'horrible year.' The influencer, 29, shared an expansive and emotional video to TikTok in which she outlined the reasoning behind her decision. She said that 'endless trolling' from 'right-wing freaks' had finally reached breaking point and that she needs time away from social media to 'protect her brain.' Over the next four weeks, Abbie's social media feeds will only feature pre-recorded clips for her It's A Lot Podcast. 'For the next month, I'm not going to be posting on social media at all except for pre-scheduled content for the podcast,' she revealed. 'I really need time off from the internet - like desperately.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Giving followers an insight into the level of trolling, Abbie said that the amount of abuse she receives online was 'endless'. 'It's been really horrific this past six months with the amount of violent trolling that I have received,' she said. 'It's hundreds of messages a day. It's really traumatising and I don't like saying that because I know that trolls want to hurt me. 'Ever since the end of last year the trolling has become increasingly violent and aggressive from people that don't like me. It's day, every day.' Abbie continued: 'Just imagine if every single day you received a hundred texts saying that people were going to SA [sexually assault] you, people want to be violent towards you, people hate you. 'I cant even enjoy TikTok because my for you page is videos about me - people making fun of me.' She also claimed that the vitriol had gotten so bad over the past year that she has even experienced suicidal ideation. 'I haven't really gone a day in the past eight months without having thoughts of un-aliving myself so, I really need a break because, when I get to have a day off without my phone, I'm able to get back to being normal,' Abbie tearfully admitted. 'I'm sick of being lied about, I'm sick of being attacked by right wing freaks and losers.' Abbie also revealed that she was currently in the process of writing a book - a process made almost impossible when coupled with the emotional drain of dealing with internet trolls. 'I've decided to put in like a boundary for myself to protect my brain because it's been extraordinarily difficult this year and it's incredibly exhausting,' she said. 'I'm also writing a book right now and, in order to write the book I need to be mentally clear because the constant criticism I receive makes me paralysed to write or actually do anything because I believe I am what everyone says I am.' Abbie's emotional admission comes after her online rival Clementine Ford defended Abbie amid their ongoing internet stoush. The pair have been exchanging barbs for weeks after Clementine accused Abbie of profiting from the 'performance of being politically engaged'. However, the pair have appeared to have found some common ground, with Clementine defending Abbie in an explosive response to an online troll. She shared an image to her Instagram story on Thursday that showed a very off-colour remark by a troll account called 'Right Of Centre'. The comment read: 'Two ugly xx trolls. Men should not help them at all. 'If they're being mugged they're not worth it - too ugly - only good looking nice women deserve chivalry on any level.' Clementine responded swiftly, slamming the commenter as an 'incel creep'. 'Regardless of my views on AC [Abbie Chatfield], I'm pretty sure neither of us need or have ever needed nor have ever asked for men to help us - especially not weird little incel creeps who blame women for their basement position on the male hierarchy,' she said. 'F*** off, loser. We both know you would p*** your pants in fear if one of us even looked in your direction.' Abbie and Clementine's feud began when the latter wrote on her 'Dear Clementine' blog on Substack that some influencers, like Abbie, profit from the 'performance of being politically engaged' while criticising anyone who disagrees with them. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, help is available. Mental health helplines offer 24/7 support, including crisis counseling, suicide prevention, and general mental health support.
