News

Gemma Atkinson defies “pregnancy police” with mountain hike for her late dad

She said the trip was 'bitter sweet'

| Updated:

Gemma Atkinson pre-empted comments from so-called “pregnancy police” as she posted a snap of herself at the top of a mountain.

The former Hollyoaks star, who is expecting her first child with Strictly pro Gorka Marquez, shared a pic from a climb up Spain’s Mount Teide.

Gemma, 34, was expecting blow-back from people who are quick to offer negative comments on her actions now she’s expecting.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvbVFuelC9h/

Read more: Pregnant Gemma Atkinson goes hungry on James Martin’s Saturday Morning

She captioned the post: “Last week, me and Gorks climbed Mount Teide – it’s a drive, cable car and flat walk before the pregnancy police start on me.”

Gemma also revealed the emotional significance that a climb up Spain’s tallest mountain holds for her.

Her caption continued: “I haven’t been here since my dad passed away.

“We used to come every year and do the hike so it was bitter sweet, but I know he somehow helped drag me up there.”

Gemma’s dad died from a heart attack, aged 52, when she was just 17.

Her fans rushed to offer comments of support and tell her not to listen to her detractors.

One warned: “If you think the pregnancy police are bad, wait for all the unsolicited advice when the baby is born!”

Someone else said: “Good on her, exercise is good. Pregnant or not. What she supposed to do. Sit at home feet, doing nothing? Come on snowflakes. It’s 2019.”

A third told her, “You know your body and its capabilities”, adding: “Do what’s comfortable. But get your rest too. Looking beautiful.”

Another mum told Gemma she’d done something similar, commenting: “Don’t worry, I did Pen y Fan when I was four months pregnant, the more active you are in pregnancy the easier it is to recover, in most cases.”

The post is the second time this week that Gemma’s found herself having to use social media to clap back at trolls.

The star, who was on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, hit out at “negative Nancys” suggesting that having a baby would see her “cast aside” her two adorable dogs, Norm and Ollie.

Taking to Instagram on Norman’s 7th birthday, she uploaded an adorable snap of herself cuddling him and wrote: “Thank you for being the best companion I could ask for.

Read more: Gemma Atkinson shares adorable snap of her dog protecting baby bump

“Always making me feel happy and loved and expecting only love in return.”

“You and Ollie mean so much to me (and if one more negative Nancy tells me you’ll have to be ‘cast aside’ when our baby comes I’ll have to just [bleep] them!)

Gemma said the dogs are part of the family and she couldn’t imagine her life without them.

What’s your opinion on hiking during pregnancy? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think.


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor