'I'm exhausted': Ryan Gosling's girl Eva Mendes on why they don't have a nanny, the meaning of the name Esmeralda and why she kept her pregnancy private

She's usually fiercely private, but Eva Mendes has lifted the lid on her new life as a mother. 

The 40-year-old actress welcomed her first child, Esmeralda Amada with actor Ryan Gosling six weeks ago.

And she admits it's been quite the adjustment, telling Violet Grey‘s digital magazine in her first photo shoot since giving birth: 'I’m completely exhausted.'

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Smouldering: Eva Mendes opened up to Violet Grey about motherhood in her first photo shoot since giving birth to her daughter with Ryan Gosling in September

She added: 'I thought my wild nights were over but these are some of the wildest nights I've ever had.'

Unlike many A-listers, the Training Day star doesn't have hired help with her newborn. She explained: 'I’m doing it without a nanny for now but I’m open to the idea of having a nanny in the future.

'For me that part of being a mother at this early stage is the struggle of not being able to sleep and not knowing what I’m doing and really going through it with her and battling out those nights.'   

Beautiful name: The 40-year-old actress revealed the meaning behind her baby's name, Esmeralda Amada 

But the actress has found some support from the elder women in her family as well as online parenting forums. Eva said: '[I] read the comment section from other mothers because I find so much solace in that,

'Just knowing that I’m not alone out there and that other moms have gone through the same thing can at least get me through the night.' 

The Hitch star, who has been dating Ryan, 34, for several years, also revealed the meaning behind their baby girl's beautiful name.

'Ryan and I both love the Esmeralda character from the Victor Hugo novel, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, and we just think it’s a beautiful name.' she explained.  

Old Hollywood: Eva stuns in a series of glamourous 70s style shots

Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes on the red carpet (archive)

'Amada was my grandmother’s name. It means ‘beloved’ in Spanish.' 

Eva, who was rarely seen in public during her pregnancy, said it was a conscious decision to stay out of the spotlight.

'Ryan and I decided early on to give her as much privacy as we could. And my pregnancy was the first opportunity to give her that. It’s such an intimate time for the mother, too.

'I find the media’s 'bump watch' obsession to be both intrusive and stressful. So I made a decision to eject myself from it completely.' 

Under wraps: Eva and Ryan Gosling have been dating for several years and try to keep their relationship and their baby girl out of the spotlight