Fiona Falkiner and Hayley Willis share reality of parenting ‘two under two’

The former Biggest Loser host and her fiancee open up about their IVF pregnancies, life as new mums, and their 4-week-old baby.

Fiona Falkiner and Hayley Willis are sleep-deprived but overjoyed by the new addition to their family, Spencer, who Willis gave birth to just four weeks ago.

He is little brother to 18-month-old Hunter, who former Biggest Loser host Falkiner gave birth to in 2020.

The engaged couple both fell pregnant through IVF and used the same sperm donor, so their sons are biologically related.

“I think I said to Fi, the most rewarding thing is getting up each day and having the blessing of two kids who are happy and healthy,” Willis told The Daily Telegraph.

Baby Spencer is ‘definitely a lot stronger’ than his 18-month-old brother Hunter, Falkiner said: ‘Hunter was more of a baby blob.’

Both women abstained from alcohol during their pregnancy planning, process, and breastfeeding, and are heading up a new Drinkwise campaign to raise awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). “We wanted to make sure our kids had the healthiest start to life,” Falkiner said.

Falkiner is up early in the mornings to tend to the kids, while Willis is up on the hour each night for Spencer.

“The biggest challenge this time around is the juggle of two under two,” Willis continued.

The new parents are sleep deprived by the juggle of ‘two under two’, but are loving every minute with their new bub.

“With one, you can both nap during the day if you’re a bit tired. Hunter goes to daycare a couple days a week, but when he’s home you’re his entertainment.”

“I can’t model and have bags under my eyes unfortunately,” Falkiner added.

The pair of Australian media personalities discussed trying to fall pregnant at the same time, but ultimately decided not to.

“Hayley said we needed someone that wasn’t full of pregnancy hormones to be rational. I think that was a good choice,” Falkiner laughed.

Fiona during her first pregnancy. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

Fiona Falkiner announces her pregnancy.

Falkiner’s pregnancy was more difficult, the 39-year-old shared, because she had pelvic girdle problems that made carrying painful and did maternity leave in lockdown. She got one viable embryo per IVF treatment, of which there were two, that cost about $10,000 a pop. Whereas Willis, who is 30, got seven embryos on the first go.

IVF “is not cheap,” both said in unison.

“We know we’re lucky,” Willis said. “The journey that it took to get here is a rollercoaster for everybody, whether you go through IVF or not.”

Hunter’s first and second words were mum and nan, with Falkiner being ‘Mummy’; and Willis being ‘Mumma’. “He does know both, but his vocabulary isn’t quite there yet. So he’ll point to who he wants,” Falkiner said. “He’s obsessed with my mum. He cries when she leaves, and totally has her wrapped around his finger.”

She added that he’s a “gentle little soul,” who gives his little brother cuddles and likes to hop in the bath with him.

The best piece of parenting advice they’ve been given, of which there was a lot, they said, is to sleep when the baby sleeps.

“And don’t be so hard on yourself,” Falkiner advises. “The washing can wait. You don’t have to have a perfect house.”

“ — You do love a perfect house,” Willis interjected.

“I do,” Falkiner said. “But we’re sitting in chaos right now,” and Willis is expressing as we speak. Falkiner likes to “keep it real” when sharing their family life online: “I had a picture of my conjunctivitis the other day. This is what parenting is.”

“I think everyone’s got an opinion on parenting, and you just have to back yourself.”