Brontë King-Scales is the founder of gals who - a female community which reaches over 3 million women worldwide. Soon to become a first-time mum, Brontë chats with The Edit about all things pregnancy.
How have you found pregnancy to date - has there been a favourite trimester?
It’s been magical! I feel like I’ve learnt and grown so much throughout. I also have a whole newfound appreciation for women - we are literally super human!
I really struggled in the first trimester. I think it was a mix of getting my head around the fact my life was about to change completely, and also the intense nausea. Mentally and physically I found I needed time to be at home and adjust to what was happening.
However, since week 12 I have enjoyed and embraced it all. The second trimester was definitely my favourite part - I got my energy back and felt like me again. Now I’m in the lead up to meeting baby boy I definitely feel much more pregnant - but I am just so excited to be a mum and enter this next chapter of life with my husband.
All in all, I’m very grateful to have had such a wonderful experience with being pregnant.
Have there been any surprises during pregnancy that no one warned you about?
There is actually a lot that women go through during pregnancy that I don’t think anyone warns you about and as women we just get on with! Firstly, the random leg cramps in the middle of the night that is like no other cramp I have ever experienced. Alongside that, the pregnancy insomnia and sleepless nights.
I was a great sleeper before pregnancy but now, I’ll find myself up for hours in the night. There’s a lot that you discover about your body and pregnancy as you go from week to week, but it’s all part of the process. I’m just embracing it all and feel so lucky to be growing a little human in there!
You’re a successful content creator, as well as founding the fabulous “gals who” community. What was the inspiration for gals who and how has it evolved since launching?
Thank you so much! I’ve always loved connecting with women, whatever reason that may be for, so when I left university seven years ago and felt a real sense of loneliness and fear, I knew I wouldn’t be alone if I reached out to others and spoke about how I felt.
I started a closed Facebook group the day I left university called gals who graduate, where we all connected over finding your feet post university. It brought hundreds of girls together who were all going through the same thing.
Since then, it’s evolved into a community reaching over three million women worldwide where we host events in London, trips around the world and wellness retreats. We now have over seven sub-groups within gals who, connecting women going through all different chapters in life. Maybe it’s time to start mums who?!
How does the gals who community inspire you?
One of the biggest things the gals who community has taught me is just how much confidence can grow from connection. When I started gals who, I thought I was starting a small Facebook group. What I've realised over the years is that we’ve actually built a community that gives women the confidence to say yes to experiences they never thought they'd have.
I'm constantly inspired by the women in our community. Every week I see someone book their first solo trip to the other side of world, or I see lifelong friendships formed between women who were complete strangers a few hours ago.
I see women who join us after a breakup, a career change or simply because they felt stuck and they come home more confident, independent and excited about life. Creating spaces where women feel safe, supported and empowered is the most inspiring thing to watch!
Has being pregnant influenced the type of content you create on your social channels?
I feel like it’s allowed me to connect with women on a whole new level and that itself has allowed me to connect to being a women even more so. Being open and honest about my journey through pregnancy and not just showing the highlights has been really important for me. It’s also so personal, so sharing this is opening a whole new door of content. I have loved sharing our journey.
What support networks have been most valuable during pregnancy?
We signed up to an antenatal class in our local area and that was amazing. We met so many other couples that live nearby who are also expecting around the same time us as and it feels like such a great support! It was also so informative and my husband and I learnt so much from the sessions. I’d really recommend to any first-time parents.
How do you manage energy levels and workload while pregnant?
Electrolytes and good food for fuel!! I know when I fuel my body and give it what it needs it really benefits. Eating foods that give me slow releasing energy, having electrolytes (especially during this hot UK summer we’ve experienced!) and just fuelling my body has helped so much with my energy.
I also savour my weekends, fill them with things that fill up my cup and let myself just be at home because I know in the week I need that energy for work.
What's been your most-used pregnancy essential so far and why?
Most probably my pregnancy pillow. It’s made me so much more comfortable when I sleep and feels like it’s giving a lot of support to my body. I really recommend investing in a good one and finding one that works for you, I will also be using it post pregnancy as a feeding pillow
You have the Silver Cross Cove 2 pushchair – how did it feel to choose and set up your pram?
It felt so surreal! It was a whole new world to my husband and I so finding the Silver Cross Cove 2 pushchair felt like it answered all our questions. The foldable carrycot was something that sold it to us and the gorgeous chocolate brown colourway! It really just felt so seamless and simple as a pushchair and ticked every box.
When it arrived at our house we were so excited to set it up and have a play around with it. We can’t wait to put baby boy in there and take him for his first walk!
As you get closer to meeting your baby, what are you most excited about?
I am most excited to cuddle him, live life with him, take him on all these adventures and just be a family of three! When I can’t sleep as night, I sit and think about what he’ll look like, envision him in his cot next to us in bed and just finally being able to hold him in our arms! Life is about to change dramatically but we cannot wait!
