Pregnant Paloma Faith discusses the contradictory emotions she felt after welcoming her first baby

She welcomed her first child in 2016 and recently announced she is pregnant with her second.

And Paloma Faith opened up on feeling a plethora of contrasting emotions after welcoming her first baby as she suggested parenthood is as much about pain and anguish as it is about joy.

The singer, 39, who shares her daughter with partner Leyman Lahcine, said of her girl: ‘she’s devastated me, and made me feel purposeful and full at the same time.’

Opening up about her parenting journey, Paloma told how her new album Infinite Things will explore the contradictory emotions she felt after welcoming her first child, now three. 

Speaking to the BBC, she said of her album: ‘It’s like a love song to her but it’s not sentimental – because it’s like she’s devastated me, and made me feel purposeful and full at the same time. 

‘That’s sort of what the whole album encompasses, in a way. I’m trying to relinquish the expectation, that a lot of people are raised with, that the only good life is a happy one.

‘I don’t think that’s realistic. It’s about the peaks and troughs, because if you didn’t have one you wouldn’t recognise the other.’

The Never Tear Us Apart hitmaker began penning her new track last year, but has since scrapped many songs as the coronavirus pandemic made her feel more reflective as she looked back on all the things that have changed. 

Last month, Paloma opened up about her gruelling battle with postpartum depression, which came on after she gave birth to her daughter.

Speaking on Channel 4’s Sunday Bunch, she told hosts Simon Rimmer and Tim Lovejoy: ‘I did have a traumatic first birth and did have postpartum depression. So I’m trying to make sure I surround myself with people who know that. 

‘I don’t think I realised I was that ill until it went away. Yeah, it’s quite difficult because you wonder whether you’ll be happy again.’ 

During her appearance on the show, the star also spoke about falling pregnant on her sixth round of IVF, which she shared as she announced her pregnancy earlier in September. 

She said on Sunday Brunch: ‘I think being pregnant is often glorified as this beautiful sentimental thing, and I am overwhelmed with joy I tried very hard on IVF to get pregnant – it’s my sixth round, and that means I definitely want a baby. 

‘But, I swell up a lot, I feel very full, and I know this is a family show but I don’t like having breasts very much.’

East London native Paloma’s candid chat came days after she announced her pregnancy via her social media platforms alongside a picture cradling her bump. 

She penned: ‘It is with extreme pleasure I announce I am pregnant. I am going to be releasing new music at this time and wanted to feel free in my body as it changes before all our eyes! 

‘I love my job and can’t wait for you all to hear my 5th album and I will be out and about playing as much as this crazy time will allow (also a tour next year).’ 

The music star gave birth to her first child with long-term boyfriend Leyman Lahcine in December 2016.  

And back in July, Paloma shot down claims that she’s raising her daughter gender neutral, days after finally revealing her child is a girl.

She had previously kept the gender of her daughter under wraps, leading to speculation that she had opted to raise her child outside of any definitions.

However, when asked by the Radio Times what made her finally reveal the toddler’s gender, she explained: ‘I was misunderstood – the media reported that I wasn’t dictating gender stereotypes.

‘True, I don’t encourage gender rigidity with toys, but really, I was traumatised by the birth and protective of our privacy.

‘I wanted her to develop into herself before the world decided who she was. I felt like a lioness. She makes me look at the world in a way I’ve neglected for a long time.’