Being a new mum comes with enough challenges, but model Rhian Sugden is currently navigating a particularly tough one.
On Saturday, she took to Instagram to ask her followers for advice after revealing that her 14-month-old son George had come down with hand, foot and mouth disease.
A Rash, a Virus, and a Call for Help
Posting to her Instagram Story, Rhian shared a photo of George’s rash and explained how the illness was picked up from nursery.
“My little man has caught hand, foot and mouth from nursery,” she wrote.
“Spoken to the Dr but if anyone has any tips to settle him… fire away.”
The disease, although common and usually not serious, is uncomfortable for little ones — it causes rashes, blisters, and flu-like symptoms that can linger for over a week.
There’s no cure or antibiotics that can treat it, so parents like Rhian are left doing their best to soothe and comfort.
A Tough Journey to Motherhood
George is a particularly special baby for Rhian and her husband, actor Oliver Mellor.
The couple went through an emotionally exhausting and financially draining IVF journey, spending more than £150,000 on eight rounds over five years.
In past interviews, Rhian has opened up about how difficult those years were.
She shared that she struggled with depression, anxiety, and even developed an eating disorder due to the repeated heartbreak of not conceiving.
“I became brainwashed,” she admitted, describing how she dreaded Mother’s Day and found pregnancy announcements incredibly painful.
A Long-Awaited Miracle Baby
Eventually, the couple came to terms with the possibility that children might not be in their future.
“We started to plan a good life without kids,” Rhian recalled.
But then came George — their miracle baby. His arrival changed everything.
Rhian has since spoken lovingly about her pregnancy experience, saying it was healing after all they had been through.
In fact, she’s already thinking about trying for baby number two.
“I can’t bear the thought that this is the last time I’m pregnant, we’ve got to go again,” she said, adding that while she’d love to space it out, time isn’t exactly on her side.
How OnlyFans Helped Fund Her IVF Journey
Interestingly, Rhian has been very open about how she managed to afford such an expensive fertility journey.
Her income from OnlyFans — where she shares racy content — helped fund the IVF treatments.
She’s said she was earning up to £1,000 a day on the platform, which far outpaced anything she earned during her modelling career.
“I’ve made more money on OnlyFans than I have in my whole career,” she told The Sun. “I’ve got good boobs and I’m not ashamed.”
Her husband Oliver, she said, finds the idea amusing more than anything. “All these men pay to see his wife’s boobs, and he gets the benefits of IVF!”
What Parents Should Know About Hand, Foot and Mouth
Hand, foot and mouth disease (not to be confused with foot-and-mouth disease in livestock) is a viral illness that often affects kids under five, especially those in nurseries and preschools.
It spreads through coughs, sneezes, and — unfortunately — poor hygiene, especially after using the toilet.
Symptoms include fever, sore throat, a rash with blisters, loss of appetite, and irritability in toddlers.
There’s no medication that cures it, but plenty of fluids, soft foods, rest, and mild pain relief can help manage the symptoms.
Most kids recover within 7–10 days.
Hoping for a Speedy Recovery
For Rhian, right now it’s all about helping little George feel better as they ride out the illness together.
As always, she’s sharing her journey with raw honesty — and hoping that some advice from fellow parents might ease the path ahead.