ChicMe WW

Moana Hope's big step towards second child: 'It's my turn to carry now'

By Heidi Krause|

Moana Hope is completely devoted to motherhood.

The former AFLW star, who welcomed her first child 11 months ago, can't wait to add another baby to her brood.

"I wanted kids my whole life," she reveals to 9Honey Parents. "I literally don't know what I did before I became a mum.

"I feel like my book is starting now. These are the chapters I've waited my whole life to write."

READ MORE: Moana Hope's baby joy after two failed rounds of IVF

Moana Hope and her wife Isabella Carlstrom welcomed baby Svea 11 months ago.
Moana Hope and her wife Isabella Carlstrom welcomed baby Svea 11 months ago. (Instagram)

Moana, who shares 11-month-old Svea with her wife Isabella 'Bella' Carlstrom, is about to begin IUI and hopes to conceive by the end of the year.

"It's my turn to carry now," she explains. "My levels are looking good and we are about to have our first consultation. Fingers crossed.

"I want lots of kids, but I'll settle with three."

Moana, 34, grew up in a large family of 14 children and spent most of her childhood in government housing - 'poor' from the outside, but 'full of love'.

"I'm very proud of that and happy with how my mum brought me up," she reveals. "But I'm glad I waited to have kids as I want to make sure they have stability."

"I'm glad I'm gay or I probably would have kids already!" she adds with a laugh.

Every morning, Moana wakes up with baby Svea, makes a coffee then spends the next three hours doting on her daughter.

READ MORE: Moana Hope clears up how to pronounce her daughter's name

"We play for three hours while Bell sleeps in because she is still breastfeeding throughout the night," Moana explains, outlining their routine of play at home then a walk with the dogs.

"I sit there and look at her and think 'how did I get so bloody lucky?' I genuinely think I am the happiest mum in the world."

Moana gets emotional when she describes the moment her little girl entered the world.

"I actually got to pull Svea out from Bell which was quite an incredible moment," she recalls.

"And I was literally crying, and in that moment.. everything in my heart said 'you are going to protect and love this little one', and ever since then that hasn't changed and never will."

Moana Hope and Bella Carlstrom welcome their first child together
Moana Hope and Bella Carlstrom welcome their first child together (Instagram/MoanaHope)

She is 'incredibly proud' of how Bella coped with birth and the postpartum period, and hopes also to have a natural birth.

"Bella really inspired me," Moana admits. "I always said I would have an epidural if I get pregnant and give birth, but watching her go through it has empowered me to at least give it a try without.

"Not enough credit is given to women who carry a child or raise children. It's emotional and it's exhausting."

When it comes to discipline as Svea gets older, Moana opens up about their somewhat unusual approach.

"If she is exploring and does something wrong, why does she need to be disciplined?" she reveals. "I don't think it's a term we will ever use in our house. We are educating and guiding her is the main thing.

"Kids are kids. They do the wrong thing sometimes. It's how you support and guide them that's super important."

RELATED: Sylvia Jeffreys touches on IVF experience: 'So much goes into a successful embryo'

With International Day of the Girl (IDG) on October 11, Moana has teamed up with LEGO to help promote girl empowerment.

All around the world, girls and women like Moana are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion.

"I've always been very aware of equality and women's rights, but now I've got Svea that's gone up tenfold," she says. "I will do whatever I can to empower her and protect her. I will do whatever I can to ensure she is paid equally and treated properly."

Meanwhile, Moana does already worry about the challenges Svea will face as she grows up.

"I worry about her walking home alone at night time, I worry about her being attacked, I worry about social media, I worry about her going to a nightclub or when kids at school might pick on her," she reveals. "I worry about all of that.

"But we will always be there for her."

Moana Hope says she can't wait to have another child with her wife, Isabella Carlstrom
Moana Hope says she can't wait to have another child with her wife, Isabella Carlstrom (Instagram)

And while it remains to be seen whether Svea will follow in her famous mum's footsteps and play AFLW, for Moana all that matters is that she is happy.

"Svea will always be her own person... she already has that personality," Moana says.

"And while I'd love to see her kicking goals at the MCG one day, if she wants to be an astronaut, then I will drive her to the astronaut centre, if she wants to ride horses, if she wants to be a ballerina - it doesn't matter what it is, as long as she is happy."

Her message for girls around the world is strong and simple:

"You are woman, you can do this. Don't let anyone say you cant because you can."

Moana will be creating a LEGO build for IDG that is inspired by and promotes girl empowerment.

For a daily dose of 9Honey,?subscribe to our newsletter here.

15 of the hardest-to-pronounce names

Auto news: The terrifying moment a Ferrari narrowly misses a jogger.