The pregnancy

How was your pregnancy?
Challenging! I’m not sure if the difference was because I was having a girl this time or because I was also coping with a toddler, but this pregnancy felt much harder than the first. For my first trimester, I had constant nausea for five or six weeks; it was all day and night, never mind just the mornings!
When I was pregnant with my son, Luke, it wasn’t nearly as bad. Unfortunately this time I had to get up; I couldn’t just hibernate as I had Luke to think about. As far as cravings, I didn’t have an urge for anything too mad, although I wanted strong flavours like gherkins and olives. Oh, and I did end up driving all over Joburg to track down some meebos the one day. It was unbelievably difficult to find.

Why did you decide to find out the sex of your baby this time?
Luke was a surprise; we didn’t know if we were having a boy or a girl. But this time, being pregnant with a toddler, life is so busy and I just wanted to get organised. I needed to know if I should keep or get rid of all Luke’s baby stuff.

Staying in shape

How did you keep in shape during your pregnancy?
I did Preggi Bellies again. I did the classes through my first pregnancy and it worked so well; my body seemed to bounce back quickly. The sessions incorporate cardio, core and endurance work, plus it’s healthy for your baby to get all that oxygen-rich blood. Even when I was busy, I made a plan to go two or three times a week for an hour at a time.

Do you have a special plan to lose your pregnancy weight after the birth?
I put on a total of 11kg with my first pregnancy. I didn’t go to gym for four or five months after Luke was born, but I breastfed and that burnt so much energy, the weight just seemed to naturally fall off. I hope I’ll also be able to shed it as easily this time.

As a model, we’d love to hear your take on maternity wear.
I stuck to looser-fitting, stretchy tops that aren’t actually “maternity wear”. In South Africa, it’s not easy to find beautiful clothes that you can wear while you’re pregnant. And when you do find something, it’s so expensive – to spend that kind of money on clothes you only wear for maybe four months is madness. But, I’m glad you asked because I’m actually in the process of designing a range of stylish and affordable maternity wear. It’s not 100 per cent ready but I’m busy working on the samples.
You’ll be able to wear these clothes post pregnancy too. Watch this space.

The birth and her relationship

What kind of birth did you have with Luke?
With Luke, I kept a very open mind. I wanted to give natural a try but I didn’t want to set myself up for disappointment. You never know how things will go; a birth is unpredictable. After six hours of labour, I was only one centimetre dilated and our baby was in distress. That’s why it’s so vital to find a gynae you completely trust. No one panicked. My epidural was topped up, I had a Caesar and was holding my baby 45 minutes later. People have such strong opinions on this, but it’s so important to have an open mind so no-one panics and everyone just stays calm, although in saying that I know everyone’s situation is different.
After my first Caesar, I was sore on day one, but by the time I left the hospital, I was carrying my own bag. I healed really quickly and took the necessary precautions (although I didn’t want to take the painkillers). Each to their own; do what you need to do to make the result a safe and happy one. You don’t need to be a hero, as long as you and baby are healthy.

How has having babies changed your relationship with Neil?
Neil is a fantastic dad. When he’s around, he is so hands-on. We also alternate mornings so one of us can have a little lie-in. Times have changed; dads are now more involved and most women still work after they have children. One of the biggest changes is that it’s not as easy to travel as much, and Neil’s season is the priority as I can’t be working too much now.
I need to be in Cape Town for modelling season so I might think about coming down here with the kids for a while. Luke is already a seasoned traveller; he’s had his own passport since he was three weeks old. I’m really worried they won’t be able to identify him from his baby picture now that he’s a two-year-old. We’ll be travelling quite a bit next year with our new baby. Between the two of us, it’s quite unpredictable. It’s possible Neil may even play county cricket in the UK.
On a more personal level, Neil and I are much closer in many aspects. To look at your child and see something made by the two of you is incredible. Yes, there’s enormous strain on the relationship, huge responsibility involved and added to that you have sleep deprivation. But you have to learn to balance your life again. The reality is that you have to work harder at your relationship. It’s almost like starting over. You need a very strong relationship. And we promised each other that anything said in frustration between midnight and 4am would be forgiven and forgotten.