‘I could go again’: Chiney K opens up about motherhood
Social media influencer Kerry-Ann “Chiney K” Collins is basking in the joy of motherhood since welcoming her first child with partner and fellow influencer, Danar “Dan Dan” Royal
Speaking exclusively with OBSERVER ONLINE for Mother’s Day, Collins said that her birthing process was seamless, adding that she wasn’t ruling out going through the experience again.
“I wasn’t in that much pain. In the beginning, I was in pain, but I tried to go the 100 per cent natural route. But when I felt that pain, I went with the epidural; which I’m glad I did. It made the whole labouring process very, very smooth, and it was a very quiet delivery,” Collins said.
“There was no yelling and no screaming, nothing. Honestly, after the delivery I immediately felt like I could go again. I just felt like I could do this again,” she add with a chuckle.
Collins revealed that, since giving birth in March, she has undergone a major shift in her thought process, including a change in some of her perspectives. For example, she said she is now more mindful and concerned about matters of health and wellness.
“I don’t think I’ve really changed as a person, but my perspective on certain things has definitely changed. For example, I’ve now realised the importance of time and the importance of being healthy, being available in the now and being present,” she said.
“I find myself hoping that I will live a longer healthier life, than I’ve ever wanted before; just to make sure I am there to see and experience her milestones with her. Just to make sure that you know, I’m around for as long as I humanly possibly can. Maternity leave and the downtime that I’m having now, I want to bond and spend as much time with her as possible, which is why some days I have plans and nothing gets done and I am okay with that. I spend that time really being in the present, not wanting to miss any little smile, anything at all, I want to make sure I soak that all in,” she added.
Being in the present for Chiney K has meant truly absorbing the experience, the influencer noting that there is no rush to ‘snap-back’, adding that she has already lost most of the weight she gained throughout her pregnancy just by breastfeeding.
“I am back at my pre-baby weight. However, there is no pressure to go back down to a certain weight because a lot of the brands that I work with are very inclusive of all body sizes and types,” she said.
While there is no pressure where image is concerned, Collins did admit that she gets a little flak from her mom, who she describes as a traditional Jamaican mom, for wanting to do things differently.
“And of course, typical Jamaican mom. My mom has three of us. So, if I do something differently, she is like, ‘Oh, you know, I have my kids already. I know how to do this and how to do that.’ ‘And don’t tell me to do this and do that’ – typical Jamaican mom kind of thing. I have to be like ‘mom, I want to do things my way and let me learn and understand this new process’,” she said.
“But she’s been very supportive. Anytime I need a break, I just say, ‘Go, go, to Nana’. And then she takes over for a bit. But I find myself not wanting to be away from her; I am so protective,” added Collins.
Collins further revealed that she insisted on bonding with her baby and seeing her personality, before deciding with her partner on a name for her daughter.
“There was a little bit of a back and forth between Dan and I but we came to an agreement. I pretty much had two names in mind since the gender reveal. And then it was just a matter of deciding which one it’s going to be in the end,” she said.
“As a matter of fact, it took until the very last minute to choose the name because I wanted to see her to decide, like okay, which name fit this little personality we have here. We ended up choosing a name and the name fits her perfectly,” added Collins, who did not reveal her daughter’s name.
As it relates to her career, Chiney K says that she will be taking things slow, noting that she will be releasing some baby-related content to her YouTube channel, as well as expanding her Joli Faire line to include children’s products.
