Stretch marks, swollen legs, weight gain: Janet Hsieh on her pregnancy & tips to stay happy

Update: Janet Hsieh has given birth to a baby boy, the couple confirmed on Twitter on Oct 11. Congratulations to the couple!

You might have heard of that oft-cited pregnancy glow, but most pregnant women feel down and bad about themselves at some point of their pregnancy. It is definitely not easy to feel confident and beautiful with the extra weight, swollen ankles and stretch marks.

Like many first-time mums, Fun Taiwan host, Janet Hsieh, who is now 41 weeks pregnant (and overdue), wrote about her struggle with stretch marks on her Instagram account: “My previously smooth and beautiful abs (if I don’t mind saying so myself) now have the mark of motherhood. The pregnancy battle scar. The telltale sign of pregnancy. The “tattoo” we get, like it or not” but that changed when she realized that , “there’s nothing left to do but to wear these marks proudly. Rather than see them as ugly, I’m going to try and wear them as a badge of honor! My LIFE is never going to be the same after giving birth to a baby, so why should I expect my BODY to be the same after giving birth…Time to embrace these lines and wrinkles… after all, from this angle, doesn’t it kind of look like a cute Mid-Autumn Festival pomelo? #loveyourlines”.

Pregnancy is a beautiful thing even with all the (not-so-beautiful) side effects. While these side effects are far from desirable, we assure you it is perfectly normal. Rather than dwelling on the inconveniences and pains of pregnancy, it should and could be a time of motivation, growth and fun. Here are some ways to maintain a positive mindset and stay happy during pregnancy.

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Moving and exercising might feel a little awkward and uncomfortable when you’re pregnant but trust us you are doing a great thing for yourself and your baby. Be it aerobics or yoga, find an exercise that you enjoy and try to do it at least three times a week. Exercising revs up those endorphins and you’ll feel less lethargic and lazy,

Even with her baby bump, there is no stopping the active mother-to-be from doing the things that she loves. In an Instagram post, Janet Hsieh posted a picture of herself hiking with the caption: “I’ve been hiking, swimming, yoga-ing, pilates-ing… even flying all over the place, from Taipei to LA to Houston back to LA and I feel GREAT! Exercise has been very good for me, keeping me in shape, feeling good and energetic, and helping me sleep better at night.. so my advice: just keep on movin’ “.

Photo: Janet Hsieh/Instagram

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When you are pregnant, you will meet other mums who are eager to give you advice out of good intentions. While such advice is coming from a good place, it can be a source of unnecessary stress.

When a pregnant Janet Hsieh posted a picture of her going to a massage, many concerned netizens shared that pregnant women shouldn’t go for massages. The 37-year-old responded to such comments with a link to the website of a prenatal massage centre. According to the website, prenatal massages can help to sooth the nerves, sore muscles and joints of expectant mothers.

Like Janet, when you receive unsolicited advice, the best way to deal with it is to acknowledge the advice and make the best decision for you and your family.

Photo: Janet Hsieh/Instagram

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Chances are, they would have experienced what you are going. Don’t be afraid to ask other mums or pregnant women for advice.

Photo: Janet Hsieh/Instagram

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While you might be the one going through the physical changes, there is someone who is probably just as anxious as you are. Sometimes the dad-to-be doesn’t know how to involve himself in the pregnancy process. You can involve your partner by bringing him to an obstetrician appointment or attend a childbirth class together.

Photo: 123rf

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In the same vein, treasure the time alone with your partner before the baby comes around. Go on lots of dates and weekend trips. Communication is key, so be sure to share your aspirations and fears about parenting with your partner. 

Photo: 123rf

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When you know what to expect, you will be less anxious about the process. Arm yourself with knowledge by picking up a good pregnancy book and attending a baby-care class. You can also surf the net for forums and chatrooms about motherhood and pregnancy. But just a word of caution, always double-check what you read with a reliable source or clarify any doubts with a healthcare provider.

Photo:123rf

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Record how you feel and what you are experiencing during pregnancy so you can look back on these memories. You can even start a pregnancy journal on social media platforms like Instagram. When your child is old enough, you can show him or her all of these memoirs.

Photo: 123rf

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Pregnancy will present you with lots of trivial challenges but don’t let that pesky morning sickness and mood swings get you down. Try to sleep as much as you can so you look refreshed during the nine months and shop for clothes that you feel comfortable and confident in. More importantly, don’t forget to have fun and be silly. Instead of being stressed out when she was past her due date, cheeky Janet Hsieh decided to have some fun while inducing birth by bouncing on a yoga ball, joining a flash mob and eating spicy food.

Photo: Janet Hsieh/Instagram

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Beauty is a state of mind. Rather than being fixated on the weight gain and stretch marks, embrace the changes you are going through. These changes are reminders that your baby is developing healthily! When you have a positive mindset, you’ll feel better about yourself and the process. In the words of Janet Hsieh, “You lose all modesty at times (I would fart loudly in public and not even blink an eye. Or sit on a chair with my legs wide open and not care who could see my underwear.) but with that, you also gain courage. The little baby inside makes you feel so sexy and more womanly than you’ve ever felt before”.

Photo: Janet Hsieh/Instagram

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