Hailey Bieber reveals why she’s “not particularly close” to her famous family as she prepares for motherhood

Hailey Bieber is the woman behind what may be Hollywood’s most anticipated pregnancy – as strange as that may sound – and she knows it.

The Rhode founder, who has faced relentless criticism of the two as a couple and persistent rumors of divorce since marrying husband Justin Bieber in 2018 when she was 21, kept her pregnancy secret until the sixth month, However, she considered keeping it a secret until the end.

She finally announced her pregnancy with a photoshoot with her husband, which she shared on Instagram, and has since continued to post adorable pictures of her baby bump, documenting her journey to first-time motherhood.

Speaking to W Magazine, Hailey also opened up about what pregnancy was really like for her, including how she found herself becoming more and more distant from her own family as she and Justin expanded their family.

The model is the youngest child of Stephen BaldwinAlec Baldwin’s brother, and his wife Kennya Deodato Baldwinwho also have a daughter Alaia Baldwin31; Alaia recently made headlines after she was arrested for assault in connection with an altercation at a Georgia club.

“I am not particularly close to my family at the moment because I feel like I am very independent,” Hailey confessed, adding, “I am now my own individual and have started my own family.”

Still, she has fond memories of her relatively “normal childhood.” She was born in Tucson, Arizona, and later grew up in Nyack, a village on the Hudson in upstate New York, before moving to New York City at 17 to pursue her modeling career.

MORE: Hailey Bieber’s 15 Best Pregnancy Style Moments

MORE: Hailey Bieber beams in new photos showing her growing baby bump

“Obviously, coming from the family I came from, I was always aware that it was different,” Hailey noted, before adding, “But when I look back on my childhood and growing up, I have very fond memories.”

As her pregnancy progressed, Hailey also said, “You see so many stories – traumatic birth stories, traumatic experiences – and I know that’s very real,” but emphasized: “I don’t want to scare myself.”

MORE: Hailey Bieber Just Reclaimed This Y2K Scarf Styling Hack

“I probably could have hidden it until the end,” she continued, noting that she didn’t have a very big belly until about halfway down.

MORE: Hailey Bieber showcases her growing belly in a black romper while enjoying a shopping spree

Despite the intense criticism and speculation she’s become accustomed to, she said it was a relief to finally share her and Justin’s happy news. She said, “I didn’t like the stress of not being able to enjoy my pregnancy on the outside. I felt like I was hiding this big secret and that didn’t feel good. I wanted the freedom to go out and live my life.”

When asked how her relationship with Justin will change after six years of marriage, she admitted, “In the beginning (of the pregnancy), it was super emotional for me. Like, ‘I love this person so much. How can I bring someone else into this?'” She added, “I try to soak up these days when it’s just Justin and me, just the two of us.”