Big Brother star Brian Dowling has admitted he didn’t sleep for the first six weeks his daughter Blake was born because he feared she would be taken away from him.
The Kildare native welcomed his first daughter with husband Arthur Gourounlian last September via surrogacy.
But Brian revealed it wasn’t easy the first few weeks Blake was born, with the couple admitting they barely slept a wink for fear their daughter would be taken away from them due to the fact that his sister Aoife is considered her legal mother due to carrying Blake via surrogacy.
READ MORE: Arthur Gourounlian and Brian Dowling consider legal action over 'disgusting' online abuse
"One of us has no legal rights over our daughter; one of us does because obviously one of us is Blake's biological father," he explained.
"I hate saying that, it's almost like saying one person is valid and one person is not, but that's genuinely how it feels when you're in this situation. I remember being in the hospital and I kept my hand on the little glass crib thing she was in because Aoife had to sign paperwork and we had to have a social worker assigned to us. I kept thinking the worst was going to happen, so I didn't sleep for the first six weeks."
Arthur also told the RTE Guide how he would like a few more children with Brian, saying that three children has always been the dream for him.
"I want a big family, I want another two," he told the RTE Guide. Brian agreed that he would like Blake to have a brother or sister, but joked: "Stop manifesting three children Arthur!"
Arthur said he hopes Blake grows up to be independent and powerful.
"I want Blake to be very independent and powerful in her own right. I'm the kind of person who is positive and fearless.
“Life can be very cruel, I've been through it; I've seen it all. I don't want her to be scared of anything,” he added.
READ NEXT:
- Irish Fleabag star Andrew Scott to take on four roles in same West End play
Irish actor tells how he was scammed by 'Con Queen of Hollywood'
Get news updates direct to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here
