Candiace Dillard Bassett Happy She Left RHOP to Focus on Pregnancy: ‘I Don’t Know If I Could Have Made It’ (Exclusive)

Candiace Dillard Bassett has no regrets about putting down her champagne flute.

The The Real Housewives of Potomac alum, 37, tells PEOPLE exclusively that she is “so happy” to leave the Bravo reality series after Season 8 ends to focus on her pregnancy. Candiace and husband Chris Bassett welcomed their first child together last month, son Jett Maxwell Lee Bassett.

The former reality star says that leaving the series – and the on-screen drama – has allowed her to enjoy a calmer, smoother pregnancy.

“I’m so happy and satisfied and pleased with how easy my pregnancy was. It was easygoing and kind and beautiful and fun and just spoiled,” says Candiace, who appeared in six seasons RHOP before she announced her exit back in March.

“It was all because I literally did whatever I wanted,” she continues. “Working out was so empowering, eating whatever I wanted, demanding any food from my husband, and him running to the store at midnight to get whatever I needed. It was amazing.”

Candiace Dillard Bassett with her young son Jett.

Antwon Maxwell

Candiace says she was surprised to discover how much she “loved” being pregnant. “I thought I was going to hate it,” she admits. “And I was so afraid of being sick and not accepting the changes in my body and all the unknown things you read about.”

When she reflects on how her pregnancy experience would have been different if she had continued filming season 9 RHOPCandiace insists, “I don’t know if I made it.”

“I know I wouldn’t have that [positive] the experience of going through my pregnancy, the heart of my pregnancy, which is the second trimester, it’s the time when you’re no longer sick [and] your energy kind of comes back,” she explains. “That’s when you can really thrive. And I wouldn’t enjoy it. I would be robbed of what was the most beautiful experience of my life outside of it [Jett] to be born.”

Candiace Dillard Bassett reveals her pregnancy is ’95 percent’ the reason she quit RHOP: ‘It’s not smart’

Candiace tells PEOPLE that she has no regrets at all about her decision to leave the Bravo franchise. “Not one. Not one,” she says. “I don’t watch the show, just because there’s so much going on, but I hear people love it so I’m happy to hear it’s doing well.”

Candiace Dillard Bassett and Chris Bassett on ‘The Real Housewives of Potomac.’ Paul Morigi/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

As for what she took away from her time on the show, she says it’s a sense of pride. “I am part of the legacy Potomac and no one can ever take that away from me,” she notes. “And that’s something I’m really proud of, to have been a part of building this incredible legacy.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Shortly after announcing she was pregnant in April, Candiace said Party tonight that her baby on the way was “95 percent” of the reason she gave up RHOP.

Candiace Dillard Bassett was paralyzed with pain days after giving birth. Here’s What Doctors Discovered Next (Exclusive)

“I was really adamant about making space not just for the baby, but for myself — for us — for this time in our lives,” she said at the time. “I wanted the space around us and around our child to be calm and free and positive, without any additional pressure, good, bad or indifferent from the show.”

Candiace Dillard Bassett with her young son Jett.

Antwon Maxwell

“I wasn’t convinced that I could have that in the space that the show exists in, right now. It was a no-brainer,” she added.

Candiace revealed the news of her baby boy’s arrival on Oct. 3 exclusively to PEOPLE earlier this month and shared sweet photos of her new family of three.

Describing her son as “just the cutest little thing,” she said, “Chris and I couldn’t be happier. It’s such a cliché to say, but he’s brought such joy to our lives in ways I could never describe before. It’s pure love!”

She added: “I just look at him and imagine all the adventures we’re going to have.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education