The Bump: Marlies Boland

Sweet Singapore maternity photos in Sassy Mama’s ‘The Bump’!

This month’s ‘The Bump’ features lovely maternity photos of Marlies Boland, courtesy of Julia Whale Photography. Full time mama, Marlies has two kids to keep her busy: daughters Mia, born Nov 2015, and Amy born Aug 2017. Marlies chats to us about her pregnancy highs and lows, along with some of her down to earth tips and key motherhood learnings. Read on for a lovely interview and stunning photos!

What was your reaction when you first found out you were pregnant?
I was really excited! It took quite a while until we were lucky enough to get pregnant the first time around and we weren’t sure if we’d even get to have another one. We were aiming for a 2-3-year gap between the two and hit the jackpot straight away the second time around. It was almost too go0d to be true.

Your funniest memory over the 9 months?
During the final stages of name choices, we test ran a few with our first daughter so she was part of choosing the name. She struggled to say some of them, and the way she said some names had us falling off our chairs. But she was very excited about Amy’s name and kept saying it over and over, so it stuck! Luckily it was already a favourite.

Any great books and resources that prepared you for when your baby arrived?
‘Up The Duff’ by Kaz Cooke is a fun look at everything you need to know about being pregnant and having a baby – playing up the downsides in hilarious ways and illustrated with cartoons that will put a smile on your face and remind you that whatever you are going through is “just a phase!”

‘French Children Don’t Throw Food’ by Pamela Druckerman – how French parents strike a good balance between being a parent and still having a life and successfully raising well-behaved children. 

What do you think every woman should know before getting pregnant?
Becoming a mum is one of the greatest gifts and while parenting is often challenging and demanding, we should remind ourselves of how lucky we are to be mums.
Also, remember that for the baby there is a fourth trimester. This lasts from the moment your baby is born until she is three months old. During these first three months your baby is adjusting to life on the outside and while it’s a challenge as a parent, everything is completely new for the baby.

What was the easiest trimester and which one proved most difficult?
Definitely the second trimester. I felt great, had plenty of energy and we even did some long haul travel as a family of three.

Did you follow a fitness programme while you were pregnant?
My fitness program was my first daughter, who kept me on my toes. As my first pregnancy was high risk and due to complications during the first few weeks of my second pregnancy, I tried to rest as much as possible though.

Any fashion tips and tricks for maternity dressing?
Living in Singapore I tried to choose casual outfits suitable for hot weather from either H&M or Maternity Exchange. Shorts with a stretchy waistband plus a t-shirt or lightweight summer dresses were my favourites.

Did you have any weird and wonderful cravings?
I’ve always had a sweet tooth, but during my pregnancy I was craving delicious dark chocolate patisseries – preferably from Sweet Spot at Marina Bay Sands.

What did you struggle with most being pregnant?
As I was suffering from complications during the first trimester with a high chance of loosing the baby, I was always trying to contain my excitement in case it didn’t work out. This was emotionally stressful at a time when you should actually feel happy.

Name a mama you find inspiring and why?
In typical millennial fashion, I admire a yoga teacher residing in Aruba – Rachel Brathen. I find her parenting style to be very down to earth and she is following her baby’s cues while trusting her instincts. She is always striving to be the best mum she can be, and is truly grateful to be a mother to her little girl.

What are your thoughts about finding out the sex in advance?
We both wanted to find out what we were having. It kind of makes it more real for me to know if ‘it’ is a he or a she. I thought I was having a boy, but to my surprise we were expecting another girl. I always wanted to have a sister and I am more than happy to be a mum to two little girls.

What kind of birth did you have? (hospital, home, epidural, c-section, with a doula, etc.).
I had a c-section, which went very smoothly. We even managed to have some skin-to-skin in the operating theatre before Daddy got to have lots of newborn cuddles while I was still in surgery.

Who was your OBGYN, and where did you give birth? How was your birth experience? (optional)
Dr Kelly Loi – she’s a wonderful, kind-hearted and very experienced doctor. Thanks to her I had two very positive birth experiences. Both our girls were born at Mount Elizabeth Orchard.

What helped you get your groove back after being pregnant?
Getting out of the house and meeting up with other mums really helped me a lot. Simply being able to socialize and talk to someone who’s going through the same made such a big difference.

Do you have any mama-friendly favourite places (restaurants, parks, etc.) to hang out with your baby? Why?
PS Café at Martin Rd is a great baby-friendly place for brunch. And we also really like Café Melba, where they have a bouncy castle and a grass area to run around on, perfect for our first born to burn off some energy.
Another favourite is Kaboodle at Katong Square, a playgym that is never crazy busy and it has a lounge area, where I can comfortably sit down and breastfeed Amy while her older sister is playing.

Any local businesses (or websites) that made your pregnancy journey easier?
Mother & Child at Tanglin mall. We took an antenatal class when we were expecting our first, which was taught by a very experienced midwife. She gave us lots of invaluable advice, and as an added bonus I also made some new friends. We also took a first aid course, which I think is a sensible idea for all new parents.

What are your hopes and dreams for your baby?
I’d love for Amy to be kind and respectful, find happiness, explore the world, and be able to pursue anything she wants in this life, knowing no limits to fulfilling her dreams. It’s our job as parents to give our children wonderful memories that will shape their lives forever.

Thank you so much, Marlies! And thank you for the lovely photos Julia Whale Photography!