Q&A with Expecting Mama Ally

Our People Operations Manager Ally is currently pregnant with her first baby. We sat down with Ally to chat all things pregnancy, birth plans, meeting her baby girl and setting herself up for a positive postpartum experience.

What has been the most unexpected part of your pregnancy?

I never expected to be as impacted by exhaustion as I have been throughout my pregnancy, from as early as week 5 I found exhaustion the biggest symptom (and having a day nap was actually one of the symptoms that my partner raised as to why we should do a pregnancy test!).

As someone who is always on the go, and rarely stops throughout the day, I have found myself surprisingly craving stillness and not feeling like doing anything at all!

I always knew fatigue and exhaustion was a symptom, but it’s really surprised me actually how much it’s changed my day-to-day. Going from 5 days a week weight training, to feeling like I need 3-4days recovery after a weight session, to not even wanting to weight train anymore and opting for more yoga and mobility based movements; right through to falling asleep on the couch at 7pm and having to have breaks just cleaning the house! It’s been a big shock to my system!

What has been the most memorable part of your pregnancy?

This whole experience has been pretty memorable, as I’ve always dreamt of being a mum, so I’ve taken considerable effort to be really present in every moment of this pregnancy!

But the standout moments have been seeing that first positive pregnancy test together with my partner, seeing her in our first ultrasound and being able to tell our families and friends together.

Something that also sticks out as pretty memorable is how finding out we are pregnant has heightened the closeness with my partner and seeing him already becoming a (protective) doting father & support, even before baby girl is earth side.

What has been the most challenging part of your pregnancy?

As a career driven woman, I’ve realised I have probably taken my brain for granted all these years pre-pregnancy! Baby brain is real.

And to be honest, I’ve struggled some days (there have been tears) where I feel as though I have lost A LOT of brain capacity and just feel really stupid.

Things I normally would do with ease or without consciously thinking have become something I’ve had to actively think about or set reminders for and where normally I thrive on doing multiple things at once, I now need to really focus on what I’m doing or I will literally forget the very next moment… it’s been tough mentally coping with that big change!

Grappling with this change has certainly been challenging on so many levels.

Tell us about your cravings and symptoms.

Well I’ve already covered two biggies - being exhaustion and baby brain… they’ve been the stand out ones in terms of symptoms.

Some of the other fun symptoms I’ve been blessed with have been;

• Nose bleeds (when I’m too hot or stressed)

• Insomnia

• Leg Cramps/Restless Legs

• Rosacea on my chest

• Sensitivity to caffeine (I couldn’t even smell coffee until the 3rd trimester)

• Very clingy with my partner (never been so clingy in my life!)

• Emotional (think crying at cute baby clothes and when I mucked up a recipe!)

• Swelling in my feet is a recent one too 

Craving wise, I have found myself more sweet food inclined than I normally am - especially craving fruit, chocolate and ice cream!!

What is your must have pregnancy product?

Just naming one is tricky… so my top 5 would be

1. Pure Mama Belly Oil (has meant I haven’t suffered with itchy skin or dryness at all!)

2. Krumbled Foods Magnesium Hot Choccie to help with my insomnia (I’ve been eagerly awaiting its launch after I luckily got to trial it months ago and had better results than any of the strongest magnesiums I’ve had - one of the perks of the job!)

3. My fit ball (helping me with my mobility and to relieve body aches and pains)

4. Hydramama (obviously) 

5. Bioveda Aryurvedic pitta & relax massage oils (great for my pre shower nightly routine to help relax me and shift out of work mode, but keep my skin reactions calmed and reduce my rosacea flair ups too as a bonus)

Can you touch on your birth plan?

I’m hoping (and planning) for a natural, intervention free and un-medicated home birth!

I know things don’t always go to plan, but we have been focused on a calm birthing experience and have gone through the SheBirths course work where we know all the skills can carry over to the hospital to make that an equally calm and un-medicated experience if needed too. Mindset is everything, so I’ve been practicing meditation, breath work and mindful movement to shift me into the right headspace for birth.

How are you feeling about meeting your baby girl?

I’m very excited!! It feels like it’s all happened so quickly and I can’t believe I’m going to be meeting her soon.

Seems like a bit of a whirlwind, but we’re feeling pretty confident and calm about welcoming her into our life soon. We have done a lot of work together as a couple to get to where we are, so now its just about refreshing what we’ve learnt, buying little bits and pieces we still have to buy but also just enjoy the last few weeks we have as just us two!!

How have you prepared for a positive postpartum experience?

I guess all the work I’ve done to prepare for a natural birth is also where I hope it will help me in postpartum. In the next few weeks though, I plan on starting to cook nourishing and healing meals we can freeze so we don’t have to think too much about that.

I’ve also been attending my amazing women’s physio who’s guiding me through pelvic floor release, perineum massage and ensuring my breath work is actually working to hopefully make my whole postpartum (and birth) experience better!