‘The Bump’: Trisha Vu Dotta

This month’s ‘The Bump’ features the absolutely stunning Trisha Vu Dotta, who gave birth to her first baby, son Eric, in April 2014. A fashion designer with fierce style (it’s no coincidence her celebrity mama role model is Victoria Beckham), Tricia has stepped back from that role in motherhood and now focuses on raising money for needy children in her native Vietnam through clothing sales and donations. Read on to find out her secrets to a truly glamorous pregnancy!

What was your reaction when you first found out you were pregnant?
Surprised! We had just gotten back from Monte Carlo (where we had our wedding). I was about to head out to boxing but my insides felt a bit strange. I did a test and …

What do you think every woman should know before getting pregnant?
Whether you’re pregnant or not, we should maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating well and exercising regularly. But if you do intend to get pregnant, make sure your body is stocked up on calcium, iron and folic acid at least 6 months in advance.

Any great books and resources that prepared you for when your baby arrived?
Your Pregnancy Week by Week by Dr. Philippa Kaye.

What was the easiest trimester and which one proved most difficult?
The second trimester was the best for me. Lots of energy, and I felt good as I was pregnant but still able to fit into a lot of dresses in my wardrobe. My most difficult period was the 40^th week, as my baby was getting heavy, plus I couldn’t contain my excitement to meet him for the first time but had the suspense of not knowing when it would happen!

Did you follow a fitness programme while you were pregnant?
Yes. I started doing Prenatal yoga three times a week from week 5 through week 20.

From week 20 I swam three times a weeks for an hour, and walked 20km every day for 5-6 hours, until the day I went into labour. My husband used to tease me that I must have been walking to Changi Airport every day!

Any fashion tips and tricks for maternity dressing?
Don’t try to hide your belly! Instead, I played around a lot around with accessories like a belt, ribbon, and fitted shirt. It’s your sexiest moment. Show it off!

My main advice would be to make sure to wear light materials as you tend to sweat quite easily. Cotton stretch leggings work best for your belly as they’re both comfy and supportive.

Did you have any weird and wonderful cravings?
I needed to have big bowl of different kinds of steamed veggies every day. I couldn’t sleep without it! I guess that’s a wonderful craving, right?

What did you struggle with most being pregnant?
Weight gain! I gained about 7kgs in total and I know in the scheme of things that was totally within the normal range, but my weight has always been so stable, not varying more than 1-2kg from my teens all the way up to my pregnancy. I had never gained that amount of weight in such a short period of time. My back is still suffering from it!

Name a mama you find inspiring and why?
Victoria Beckham. An A-list celeb, great businesswoman, and mother of four with a fantastic body!

What were your thoughts about finding out the sex in advance?
Personally, I like to organise things ahead of time, so finding out the sex helped me decorate my baby’s room in my preferred colours. It also helped me manage all the necessary elements for my baby carefully when I still had the time and ability to shop for him, as I knew I wouldn’t go anywhere in my first month after giving birth due to confinement, and I don’t like anyone doing my shopping for me!

Did it take you some time getting pregnant or were you one of those mamas who got lucky on the first try?
In fact, my husband and I hadn’t planned on having a baby yet and were looking forward to our coming honeymoon in Polynesia. We planned to enjoy a year as just Mr and Mrs Dotta before starting to try but our Prince Eric had other plans! And our life has changed forever, and completely for the better …

What kind of birth did you have? (hospital, home, epidural, etc.)
I had an epidural.

What helped you get your groove back after being pregnant?
Looking after my baby, eating healthy, boxing, aqua bike, and swimming.

Do you have any mama-friendly favourite places (restaurants, parks, etc.) to hang out with your baby? Why?
I love taking a long walk with my baby in Sentosa to enjoy the sea views, followed by all the restaurants at Quayside. There are plenty of toys and activities to entertain your baby when you want to have a meal.

Ion Orchard is a very kid-friendly mall with valet parking that helps you to unload your stroller; it’s also got great baby changing rooms and a lot of elevators for new moms like me who are scared of taking the stroller on an escalator!

Any local businesses (or websites) that made your pregnancy journey easier?
Two websites I found really useful and informative were babycenter and bellybelly. And Sassy Mama, of course!

What are your hopes and dreams for your baby?
I hope that he can always be healthy, and becomes an intelligent man with a great heart.

Thanks Trisha! And thank you to the talented Hart Tan of Tomato Photo for the gorgeous snaps!