Bre Tiesi on expecting Nick Cannon's 8th child: 'I feel like I was not prepared for pregnancy at all'

Welcome to So Mini Ways, Yahoo Life's parenting series on the joys and challenges of child rearing.

When the news that she was expecting a baby with actor and rapper Nick Cannon came out earlier this year, model Bre Tiesi shared a touching Instagram post letting followers know the baby was a boy.

"Been keeping you safe in my belly from this world as long as I could," the 30 year old wrote in the post. "You are surrounded by so much love. Mommy and Daddy can't wait to meet you."

While Tiesi has yet to reveal her son's due date, she says she's thrilled to become a boy mom.

"I was really excited," Tiesi tells Yahoo Life. "That's what I wanted. For me personally, I had such a close relationship with my dad and was very tomboyish growing up. The sports and boxing and games — just that whole vibe, I loved so it much and I loved being able to do it with my dad."

As she prepares to welcome Cannon's eighth child into the world, Tiesi says she's been surprised by the ups and downs of pregnancy. "I feel like I was not prepared for pregnancy at all," she says. "I feel like our parents didn't really tell us anything [about what it's like to be pregnant] and now, my girlfriends who have had kids, I'm like, 'How did you not tell me this was going to happen to me?'"

"I don't know if women are embarrassed or not sure these things happen to everyone, but I definitely feel like there's not enough resources or support unless you really know where to look," Tiesi adds.

While she plans to deliver her son via homebirth, Tiesi says she's also been surprised by how much that choice shocks those she shares it with.

"I'm choosing waterbirth and homebirth," she says. "Most people, when I tell them that, their first reaction is, 'Are you crazy? Hell no, you can't do that. Get that epidural.' So for me it was really interesting to see how shunned the other side of it was: It's not supported unless you go the cookie cutter way, but I find it so interesting that more women don't explore this route because for me, it just makes the most sense."

Tiesi says it's not just her birth plan she's received comments on. Since news of her pregnancy hit the internet in January 2022, both she and Cannon have seen critical comments about Cannon becoming a father of eight.

"It's one of those things where you can't say it doesn't affect you because obviously you see it," Tiesi says. "I've been in the industry for so long and I feel like you just kind of come to terms with the fact that people feel that, because you're out there [in the public eye], they have the right to have an opinion on your life."

"You just kind of have to let people do that," she continues. "I try not to look at it because I can take the heat. You can say what you want about me, that's never affected me, but I feel like a child is just a different level of disrespect, so I try to tune that out as much as possible."

Tiesi, who is currently working on both a line of athletic apparel and family resort and swimwear, says she makes it a priority to step out of the spotlight and get some time for herself. "I'm a really big planner so I feel like I structure my schedule perfectly," she says. "For me a big outlet is working out and when I focus on that vibe, I feel like the physical and the mental go together and I get to destress."

She also emphasizes the importance of regular date nights with Cannon.

"I plan at least one day a week where he and I can have time together," says Tiesi. "With his schedule, I call the assistant or whatever I have to do. Whatever makes it work."

And, as she approaches first-time motherhood, Tiesi says she envisions herself as the tougher parent.

"I'm a little bit more of the authoritative one," she says. "Nick is very lenient and lovey-dovey and that type of vibe, so we balance in that sense. But we'll see how it goes."

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