‘I can’t really hide it anymore’: Jules Robinson and Cam Merchant are expecting their second child

Former MAFS star Jules Robinson has revealed she is pregnant with her second child, detailing her struggles with fertility and a severe syndrome in a candid new interview.

Five years ago, Jules Robinson and Cameron Merchant turned their trial marriage on the 2019 season of reality series Married At First Sight into a bona fide union, tying the knot in November of that year and then having son Oliver in September 2020.

Now, on the eve of her 42nd birthday, Robinson has another milestone to celebrate as the businesswoman and media personality confirms she is pregnant with her second child.

“We’ve been trying since Ollie was one and he is now three-and-a-half,” Robinson tells Stellar of her and Merchant’s desire to grow their family.

“We were realistically going into 2024 thinking if it doesn’t happen, we will look at the IVF route, but I never lost faith that my body could do this again.

“Let’s face it, the past five years … It isn’t a normal life that I lead. It has been very busy, and I think my body was fight-or-flight all the time.”

Jules Robinson has revealed some personal news in Stellar. Picture: Simon Upton for Stellar

At 20 weeks into the pregnancy at press time, Robinson is ready to celebrate their happy news in public, despite wanting to keep things low-key for as long as possible. “We announced quite quickly last time as we were so excited having our first baby,” she explains.

“It was a very different pregnancy, being during Covid. There was so much exterior noise around it and we had constantly so many [paparazzi] outside our house, and then when I would go outside, a lot of articles would be about my body and comments.

“I guess when I was pregnant [the first time], I didn’t have my ‘force’ – which I have built around me over the past few years – and I found it really hard. I didn’t like all of the attention and the negativity from horrible people about my body when I was pregnant, and the terrible messages.”

Jules Robinson has showed off her baby bump. Picture: Simon Upton for Stellar

It’s little wonder that Robinson is still haunted by the online trolls who feasted on her social media feeds.

“They’d say, ‘I hope you have a painful miscarriage’ and horrible things like that,” she tells Stellar.

“Some people can just be terrible. This time round, it has been really lovely. I can’t really hide it anymore. I am popped. It has been nice keeping it between family and friends and a bit more private this time.”

Listen to an exclusive new interview with Jules Robinson on Stellar’s podcast, Something to Talk About:

Before Married At First Sight, Robinson was a hair and make-up artist who lived in London for 14 years, and at one point worked at the luxury department store Harrods.

She has thrived back in Australia. In 2020, she launched her inclusive shapewear brand Figur; it was joined by her fashion label Moira Muse in 2022 and Status Co., the Sydney hair salon and event space she co-owns, in 2023.

But Robinson still prioritises family, and says she and Merchant would welcome even more children in the future: “We want little babies running around. We’ll maybe go again if we’re lucky. If we have a boy, we’ll definitely be trying again for a girl, but I’ll probably end up being that mum with a little cricket team for Cam.

“I’m very lucky to have fallen pregnant naturally again and knowing that every woman is different. I do also believe it’s not impossible. There’s pressure from society that does tell women that once she goes past 38, of course it’s harder, but it isn’t impossible. We were always going to find a way to make it happen, whatever that means – adoption or IVF or whatever.”

Robinson has stayed focused on her wellness during this second pregnancy by meditating regularly and seeing a personal trainer three times a week. The extra attention has been essential for her since, after Oliver’s birth, she was diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which can cause severe irritability, depression and anxiety in the fortnight before a period starts.

“It’s complete Jekyll and Hyde,” she says of her PMDD symptoms.

“I’m on top of the world one minute, living life to the full, and then I just can’t see out of the darkness – and it’s on repeat. I feel like a completely different person around that time. I eventually learnt to honour that time and ride the wave, but it isn’t ideal having to plan your diary around this constant wave of emotions.”

Being pregnant and not having to endure that monthly mental rollercoaster has brought some relief. “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t at the back of my mind about how I’m going to feel [down the track] because it has been part of the blessing of going through this pregnancy of not having periods every month,” she explains.

“But I think where I have got myself emotionally and physically … I can’t look into a mirror ball, but I’d love to think I’ll come out in a better place in that time. That’s another aspect of why I wanted to really take care of myself through this pregnancy, get into some good routines and habits in my everyday life.”

Never one to shy away from sharing details of her personal life, Robinson has chronicled her experiences on podcast The Juggling Act and in her first book Ask Jules, which will be available on May 1 through Simon & Schuster. “It’s very personal, vulnerable and honest,” she says. “My DMs were flooded with questions, and not just mundane questions about fashion or beauty and make-up. It was women sharing their heart and soul about deep things and wanting my advice on stuff. I don’t know how I became this kind of modern-day agony aunt, but that’s how it felt.”

Still, as much as Robinson enjoys helping others, she says it’s Merchant, her family and her inner strength that she consults when the tables need turning: “Self-belief has been my superpower through the storms.”

Listen to an exclusive interview with Jules on Something to Talk About below or wherever you get your podcasts:

Originally published as ‘I can’t really hide it anymore’: Jules Robinson and Cam Merchant are expecting their second child