Dianne Buswell has offered fans a deeply personal glimpse into her first week of motherhood — and it’s far from the picture-perfect fantasy many might expect.
The Strictly Come Dancing star, 36, who recently welcomed her first child with long-term partner Joe Sugg, revealed she underwent recovery sessions in an oxygen chamber just days after giving birth — highlighting the physical toll behind her joyful new chapter.
Sharing a heartfelt Instagram post, Dianne documented the emotional rollercoaster of becoming a mum, from her final moments with a baby bump to the sleepless nights that quickly followed.
She wrote candidly: “What a week… The last few hours of baby bump… The start of what was a very long day… A lot happened in between but I’m skipping to home time.”
Her update painted an honest picture of early motherhood — balancing overwhelming love with exhaustion. “Watching this will never get boring… The reality of night feeds… Glorious mornings,” she added, capturing both the magic and the challenges of caring for a newborn.
Among the most striking details was her recovery process, which included time spent in an oxygen chamber — a method sometimes used to aid healing and boost recovery after intense physical strain.
Despite the challenges, Dianne’s post was filled with warmth and gratitude, especially for Joe, who she praised for his unwavering support during their first week as parents. She shared: “Massive thank you to my Joey who has been looking after us so so well — couldn’t have done all this without ya.”
The couple welcomed their son, Bowden Mark Richard Sugg, earlier this month — a name rich with meaning. His middle names pay tribute to Dianne’s father, Mark, and Joe’s late grandfather Richard, making the newborn’s arrival even more emotionally significant.
Dianne also took time to explain the unique pronunciation of her son’s name, clarifying to fans: “Bowden Sugg (pronounced Bow like ‘How’, not Bow like ‘Row’… hopefully that makes sense).”
Her announcement post, simply captioned “Never felt a love like it,” featured touching images of the couple bringing their baby boy home — marking the start of a brand-new chapter for the beloved Strictly star.
The journey to this moment has been anything but ordinary. Dianne made headlines last year as the first Strictly professional to compete while pregnant — continuing to dance while expecting, before eventually stepping back due to her partner Stefan Dennis’s injury.
At the time, she firmly shut down speculation that her pregnancy was the reason behind her withdrawal, insisting: “We wouldn’t lie… I am pregnant, but I’m also very capable and feeling really good.”
Now, as she embraces life as a new mum, Dianne’s candid reflections are striking a chord with fans — offering a rare, unfiltered look at the highs, lows, and raw reality behind those first precious days of parenthood.
