TV Star Hayley Pearce Shares Challenges of ADHD and Preparing for Motherhood

Hayley Pearce, known from BBC's The Call Centre, shares her journey preparing for motherhood while managing ADHD and the challenges it brings, including risks of postnatal depression and strategies for support.

Hayley Pearce Faces Motherhood with ADHD

Hayley Pearce, known for her role as the tea lady on the BBC reality TV show The Call Centre, where she was portrayed as a party girl who was rarely seen without fake tan or false nails, is now expecting her first child. The 36-year-old TV personality is contemplating how her "neurospicy" brain will manage the demands of motherhood.

Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age 20, Hayley has struggled with time management and organisation throughout her life. She shared,

"I have no concept of time… I've been sacked from jobs because I'm always late."

She added,

"I'm not an organised person... I'm overwhelmed all the time."

Her midwife informed her that having ADHD may increase her risk of postnatal depression compared to neurotypical women. Hayley hopes that by sharing her experience, she can help initiate conversations about better support for women with ADHD.

Currently residing in south Wales, Hayley's home is covered with sticky notes to help her manage her responsibilities. She explained,

"I'm overwhelmed right now with too many appointments going on."

She described herself as "neurospicy," stating,

"I've always been like 100 miles an hour, some people call it scatty."

Hayley when she was in The Call Centre. She is wearing her hair up in a bun, is wearing a blue shirt and has large hoop earrings. — Image caption, Hayley's TV career started when starred in the BBC reality TV series The Call Centre in 2013 and went on to make a number of documentaries and host a podcast

Hayley's television career began in 2013 when she appeared in the BBC Three fly-on-the-wall series The Call Centre. Since then, she has produced several documentaries and hosted a podcast.

Understanding ADHD and Its Impact

The NHS defines ADHD symptoms as including being easily distracted or forgetful, difficulty organising time, and challenges in following instructions or completing tasks. Hayley, diagnosed a year before her rise to fame in 2013, has lived with these symptoms for as long as she can remember.

Seeking Support and Advice from Fellow Mothers

With her baby due in August, Hayley sought advice from 42-year-old Rhiannan Morgan, who also has ADHD and four children with autism aged 21, 14, 11, and nine.

Rhiannan shared her experience, saying,

"Every time I was about to have a baby I was thinking 'well if I don't get my act together now I'm in real trouble'."

She spent many hours researching strategies to manage motherhood effectively.

Rhiannan, who posts on social media as Mummy of Four, creates and shares resources to support what she terms other "neurosparkly" mums and families.

A heart shape has been drawn in sand and — Image caption, Hayley's baby daugter is due in August

Rhiannan and Hayley are standing in a white kitchen. Rhiannan has long dark wavy hair and is wearing a white zip-up top. Hayley is holding her baby bump. She has red hair tied up in a bun and is wearing a brown cardigan which is partially open revealing her baby bump. — Image caption, Rhiannan (left) creates resources to support what she calls other neurosparkly mums and families

She explained,

"ADHD brings lots of creativity and enthusiasm, but it also brings challenges with working memory and remembering things. Without systems and strategies, it feels like you're trying to swim uphill constantly."

Rhiannan is sitting ona sofa and smiling at the camera. She has long dark wavy hair and is wearing a white zip-up top — Image caption, Rhiannan has ADHD and has developed a range of hacks to help her stay organised

Practical Strategies for Managing ADHD in Motherhood

Rhiannan shared several hacks that help her stay organised, including:

Asking children early on to assist with household chores
Encouraging children to contribute to the shopping list
Setting up a comfortable feeding area with a chair, water, and phone charger
Entering information from letters and emails directly into a calendar and paying bills promptly
Using 'set and forget' systems, such as scheduling grocery deliveries at the same time weekly
Utilising mobile phone alarms as reminders for tasks
Employing screen time apps to reduce distractions

Concerns About Postnatal Depression

Hayley is also concerned about postnatal depression. A Swedish study of over 770,000 births indicated that mothers with ADHD could be up to five times more likely to experience postnatal depression than neurotypical mothers.

Dr Nicola Peek, a counselling psychologist in the Perinatal Mental Health Service at Hywel Dda University Health Board, explained that women with ADHD are more sensitive to the sharp decline in oestrogen and progesterone after childbirth, which can reduce dopamine levels. She said,

"They might present as feeling lower in mood, more fatigue, more brain fog, they might find it's difficult to focus on things in the way that they used to."

Advice for New Mothers with ADHD

Dr Peek recommends that new mothers with ADHD:

Advocate for themselves when interacting with medical professionals
Recognise that social media may create unrealistic expectations and that others' experiences may not reflect reality
Communicate openly with partners, family, and friends about their feelings
Set boundaries regarding advice from others

She emphasized,

"With ADHD you can be an incredible parent. There's going to be huge empathy, there's going to be huge creativity."

Hayley and her partner are each holing long white tubes with pink powder coming out. They are laughing, Hayley is dressed in all white. Her partner has very short hair and a beard and wears glasses. He is wearing grey trousers and a jacket over a white t-shirt, — Image caption, Hayley and her partner discovered they were having a baby girl at their gender reveal party

Embracing ADHD Positively

Hayley appreciates many aspects of having ADHD, including being a "fun auntie." She stated,

"If I struggle, I struggle, I'm going to be honest about how I feel."

Living in Maesteg near Bridgend, she anticipates significant changes with the arrival of her baby.

"My life's going to take a massive 360 when I have this baby. It's going to be testing, it's going to be challenging and it's probably going to be the best feeling and the best thing I've ever done in my life."