Former AFLW star Moana Hope talks through emotional rollercoaster after arrival of second child

Former AFLW drawcard Moana Hope has opened up on the mental toll after her son’s arrival earlier in the year.

Moana Hope has opened up on the mental toll after her son Ahi’s arrival earlier this year, revealing she has cried every day.

Speaking on her KICBUMP podcast with friend Steph Miller, the former AFLW star walked through the emotional rollercoaster.

“Labour was crazy. Post labour I don’t think there’s enough chat around that,’’ she said.

“I think for me it’s really got me mentally, I think I’ve cried almost every day if we’re going to be real and honest. Guess that’s part of it and the wave that I’m on. I wouldn’t change it and I love him and I’m in love with him and I don’t care about sleep that much.

“It’s definitely something I didn’t think about. You think about the birth a lot and you think about the pregnancy a lot but you don’t think about what happens afterwards. Even though I watched Belle give birth you think you know, but you don’t know. I went in thinking I know what pain is like, pregnancy is like, I was so not understanding enough.

“You don’t know unless you go through it yourself. As much as I felt I was ready I was not ready. It was pretty crazy.”

Moana Hope and baby Ahi

Moana Hope with her wife Isabella Carlstrom and their daughter Svea. Picture: Supplied/BONDS

Hope and wife Isabella Carlstrom also have a daughter, Svea, who Carlstrom gave birth to in 2020.

Hope was one of the first major stars in the AFLW, having had a stellar career at state league level, including becoming the first woman to kick more than 100 goals in a VFL Women’s season in 2016, before playing a few seasons of the AFLW.

Moana Hope and Isabella Carlstrom with their son Ahi Joseph Carlstrom Picture: Supplied

But she was delisted by North Melbourne after the 2019 season, and her focus became her family. After marrying in August 2019, the couple soon announced they were pregnant with their first child.

Last year, Hope said the couple had spoken about having three children.

She joked to Woman’s Day: “I want a houseful of babies. But we’re aiming for three at the moment.

“I was able to pull Svea out and put her onto Bell’s chest and in that moment I felt an overwhelming sense of love and protection that I’ve never felt before.”

Originally published as Former AFLW star Moana Hope talks through emotional rollercoaster after arrival of second child