An interview about maternity with MANGO
M: What use to meant motherhood before and what it means now?
I think I had no idea about what motherhood meant. I remember our happiness when my sister became a mum and how much I enjoyed seeing my nieces growing up, but I never had a very strong maternal instinct. Today I have a totally different feeling, I think motherhood is the most incredible thing, it’s raw and animal. I’m still understanding and learning about it but it’s been an incredible journey so far.
N: How did you feel when you discover you were pregnant?
I discovered it some minutes before me and my partner started a road trip on a van. During the first hours I had tons of questions passing by my brain and I had a mix of happiness and preoccupation. Shortly after, I realised a road trip in nature was an amazing way to spend the first days and I decided to start enjoying the feeling and started letting it soak slowly.
M: Have you ever visualized yourself being a mother when you were younger?
N: I don’t think so, I started traveling at a very young age for work and I never thought I could be able to combine my professional career and creating my own family.
But then the pandemic changed everything and showed me that there are many other things that really matter besides than being successful at work.
I decided to explore a new way of being happy with myself. I slowed down and I started to focus on my immediate future not only based on my image as a model but also on developing my view in creative direction. Around 4 years ago I co-created a plant-based beauty brand called ROWSE, which started to grow exponentially during lock down and it felt the best moment to also do something new not only in my profesional but in personal life as well.
M: How did you feel about your body during pregnancy?
N: Something I’ve learnt very soon is that pregnancy is not something pleasant for the body. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a miracle of life and you definitely feel empowered but hormones and physical changes happen very fast and sometimes it feels a bit tough, specially at the begging and end of the process. However, it also feels like something magical happening inside your body, everything starts getting ready give birth and develop a new life and this is a feeling that I can’t even explain. My body was incredibly adaptive to every step of the process and I felt very proud and grateful for it.
M: Did you feel the pressure of coming back into shape after giving birth? What do you think about this matter?
N: To be honest, I did. While pregnancy I enjoyed a lot having a huge belly and taking care of my baby inside my body. But once Olivia was born it was a different thing. My body has changed a lot and it will take time to recover.
I ended up having a c-section and it was a bit hard for me to accept it at the beginning. After some days I started to change my mind and to be very thankful and condescending with my body. I started to love and take care of my new scar, and I thought about the moment I would be able to explain Olivia how she was born and how much I enjoyed that day.
M: What are the values you want to instill in Oli?
I want to enjoy every step of the way without planing so much. I really want set a good foundation for her so she becomes a kind person, respectful with the rest of the people and aware of how important is to be connected to nature and the environment. I want for her to be a loving care person who can decide for herself what’s best so she can make her own decisions without feeling like the pressure or judged by society. Basically, I will try my best to help her be a nice human being.
M: Are you looking forward to watch her grow up?
N: A lot! She keeps learning new stuff everyday and I’m just amazed by how her abilities keep improving so fast. It’s just fascinating. We’re also building a beautiful casita in a piece of land surrounded by olive trees. The house will most probably be ready this summer and I am eager to see her grow surrounded surrounded by nature.
M: What would you say to the new moms like you out there?
N: I still have so much to learn, but I would tell myself and the rest of the future mums out there to enjoy every single step of the way. It definitely is the most amazing adventure one will ever experience.
M: How you celebrate the International Women’s Month?
N: I’m celebrating women’s month by being honest to myself. For the first time, I’m openly talking about my fears, my new body and my new roll as a mum while Olivia is sleeping on my arms, it definitely feels very special this year. I now realise even more how special we are and how important is to fight for our rights so Olivia founds a society with good values that respects her and treats all individuals the same way.
