Gemma Atkinson says her boobs look like "the Mitchell brothers" since she fell pregnant.
Gemma Atkinson (c) Instagram/Gemma Atkinson
The former 'Emmerdale' actress has joked her breasts have grown so much since she discovered she was expecting, they now resemble EastEnders' follicly-challenged fictional siblings Grant and Phil Mitchell, who are played by Ross Kemp and Steve McFadden.
The ex-'Hollyoaks' star also revealed she has put on more than two stone in recent weeks due to her pregnancy, and she "couldn't be more proud" of her body.
She wrote on Instagram: "70kg vs 85kg. Softer arms, puffier face, bigger ass and thighs, bigger belly, uterus, placenta, water retention, huge rise in estrogen meaning more cellulite and lets be honest, my boobs are like the Mitchell brothers ALL of the above means my body is working to grow my baby and I couldn't be more proud of it (sic)"
The 34-year-old star is a self-confessed gym bunny and admits she has been "fed up" being unable lift heavy weights at times during her pregnancy, but she has advised others who feel the same to remind themselves it is "temporary" and their main focus should be on their impending bundles of joy.
She wrote: "Lots of you have DM me telling me you're pregnant & struggling with the changes in your body. Admittedly, it is hard at first especially if like me, you were / are a gym bunny. However, if you change your way of thinking and realise firstly that pregnancy is a beautiful privilege denied to many woman so be grateful you have this opportunity, things do start to become easier. Secondly, from the minute you are carrying your baby (for me anyway) EVERYTHING became about my baby. Not my appearance. I wanted / still want them to be as strong and as healthy as possible. So if that means for the time being me as the "carrier" gains weight then so what?! I can lose it in time. Yes I've continued my training but to nowhere near the extent I was and I've most certainly ate more than usual too. On the odd day I've felt fed up at not being able to run or lift heavy or have a good sweat on after training I've reminded myself that it's temporary and that my baby is growing well and that fed up feeling disappears in seconds. If you really want to do all that stuff again after a baby, you will. You won't find time as you'll be exhausted, YOU have to MAKE TIME. And if you can't get to a gym or exercise (which many people won't be able to) you can always start on clean foods again for a few months before anything physical. Whatever you know works best for you, you can do it. Small steps make a big difference. (sic)"
The star - who shot to fame as Lisa Hunter on 'Hollyoaks', and also starred as Carly Hope in 'Emmerdale' - has encouraged ladies "currently struggling" with pregnancy changes to "soldier on" because it will "all be worth it".
She wrote: "Me being pregnant is the reason I look so different to how I "normally look" Me being a mum WONT be the reason I don't get back to it and feeling as good again. Don't let it be yours either! Woman are incredibly strong, the last 9 months I've learnt that even more so. We got this. So to the ladies currently struggling with the changes soldier on. It'll all be worth it when little man or little lady arrives knowing their mum is a total warrior woman (sic)"
Tagged in Gemma Atkinson Steve McFadden Ross Kemp