How Carol planned her family

Carol has three children under five, which even with the luxury of being able to afford help, is a mammoth day-to-day job.

Was it planned to have children so closely together?
"The first two children were definitely planned, but we must have been doing something wrong because it took eight months each time! Then I must have got my dates completely wrong because, without trying, here comes number three!" Carol says.

"I think their age gap will be for the best in the long run, it’s difficult just now as there’s always one going through the terrible twos or teething… They are great together though, I was worried the older two would attack the baby or something, but they want to cuddle her and just sit and kiss her - they are very good.

"But I’m not having any more – people stop inviting you round! We’re already onto the people carrier. They are all under five and once you fit the proper car seats in then that’s it, you need a bigger car."

Did Carol go private when pregnant?
"I didn’t really want to have a baby privately as I believe that the NHS, certainly in Scotland, has the most up-to-date equipment because private hospitals are less used to it.

"But I did have some antenatal care privately, just because I was finding it quite hard-going. It is a shame because I know people make friends through antenatal classes, but I sit in the waiting room and people are there going 'Oh, isn’t she getting fat, and what does she think she’s wearing? It just felt quite intrusive at a time when you don’t look your best and just want to have your baby checked."

Carol’s other price for pregnancy is varicose veins. Although she couldn’t do much about them, she did decide to reclaim the rest of her figure through exercise.

Read how Carol began her exercise routine >>