‘Our whole world’: Laura Henshaw, 32, announces birth of first child
The woman who questioned whether or not she wanted children has shared a major personal update about her life.
Fitness and wellness advocate Laura Henshaw has welcomed her first child with husband Dalton.
The 32-year-old took to Instagram to post a photo of herself, her husband and her baby boy in hospital.
“Our whole world, baby Atlas,” she captioned the image.
Atlas is a baby name that has grown in popularity in recent years, often ranking just outside the top 100 of popular baby names in the United States. It means enduring.
Henshaw’s co-founder Steph Claire Smith was one of the first to send her well wishes.
“Our lil man,” she said.
The comments poured in.
Kellie Finlayson, a WAG who is battling Stage Four bowel cancer, said; “Ahhhh so special guys, congratulations! Welcome baby boy.”
Former Miss Universe Australia contestant Olivia Molly Rogers said: “Can’t wait to meet him!!! Congratulations Dalt & Laurs.”
“Oh my gosh !!! Huge congratulations guys, best feeling in the world,” said Love Island Australia star Anna McEvoy.
Abbey Holmes, an NRLW superstar and recent new mum herself, said: “OMG yay !!!! Congratulations beautiful people He is divine.”
Henshaw shared more pictures of the little boy, who was born on December 3, wrapped in a blue and green knitted blanket.
Henshaw has been open about her journey to motherhood, hosting a podcast called Do I want kids? last year. In it, she explored motherhood, speaking to various experts and women with and without children.
Henshaw said at the time she wasn’t sure if she wanted to have children but she felt like she had to so she explored the topic in this way to help her make a decision.
Henshawtold news.com.au at the time that she spoke with more than 1000 people and one of the main reasons people are hesitant to enter parenthood is money.
“One of the main reasons was cost. So many people are worried about renting and having children and want to buy before they do,” she said.
For her personally it was about if she could juggle having a career while also being a mum.
“My biggest fear is, can you do both? Can you have a career and have children? It is a real fear to become no longer relevant,” she said.
Henshaw said she has concluded that she can do both, but she’s worried that once she becomes a mum, other people will start to limit her career.
“I don’t want people to make decisions for me. I don’t want people saying ‘Laura can’t take that job, she’s just had a kid’. People can assume that because someone has a child, they won’t go for that job or promotion and we owe it to women to not assume and ask them,” she said.
Earlier this year Henshaw also called out a question that she was repeatedly getting — and one that people should never ask of a woman.
She revealed in April that her inbox has been flooded with questions asking if she is pregnant, with the shocking messages claiming to have been sent because she “looks it”.
“Every now and then one will come through but this year I have had more messages than normal,” she told news.com.au.
“We should never ask someone if they are pregnant for so many reasons – they might be struggling with infertility and be struggling to fall pregnant or have just suffered a miscarriage or they might not want to have children.
“It is a horrible assumption and I hate that we are still making it in 2025.”
Henshaw and her business partner Steph Claire Smith have always been vocal about calling out societal expectations that are enforced on women — whether that’s around motherhood, misogyny or body image.
Discussing the messages regarding her “looking pregnant” on Kicpod, which she hosts alongside Smith, the 32-year-old described the situation as “triggering”.
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Originally published as ‘Our whole world’: Laura Henshaw, 32, announces birth of first child
