Content created in partnership with Elevit and Menevit
A surprise pregnancy led to an unexpected emotional journey for Zeenat Wilkinson. The 37-year-old editor of Sauce was just beginning to feel like herself again after the birth of her first child, Aaliyah, two, when she found out she was pregnant with her second.
While feeling super grateful, she also felt “extremely overwhelmed. There is a lot that goes on with your body when you’re pregnant and it can feel really intense.”
This time around, that included terrible morning sickness. “When people talk about morning sickness, no one actually tells you how awful it can be,” says Zeenat. “I was sick all day, every day and couldn’t function.” She found the whole process alienating and isolating. “It’s really hard to describe what it feels like and as a culture we seem to brush it off. If men had to experience ‘morning sickness’ they would literally be in bed all day long!”
While the physical hurdles were challenging enough, Zeenat also struggled emotionally. “For me, and for many others, quite a lot of things surface during early pregnancy - fears, traumas from first birth, and I also experienced a mourning period of having very little control of my life all over again.”
The first two years of motherhood weren’t easy for Zeenat, who felt very isolated with her family in India where the Covid pandemic was in full throes, so she and husband Luke Wilkinson were excited but also a little overwhelmed with the idea of having another little one. However, they felt more confident once they shared the news with family and friends. “I think deep down we always wanted to have two,” she says. “Leaning into family and friends was an important part of the process.
To help cope with the extra demands on her body, and mindful of staying healthy, Zeenat ate instinctively and tried not to overly restrict herself with her pregnancy diet - as long as it was fresh and pasteurised, she was happy. Having dealt with pelvic issues in her last pregnancy, she attended regular osteo and physio appointments this time and took aqua natal classes.
She also learned to slow down and lower her expectations. “The most important thing I’ve done is rest and sleep when my body needs it,” she says. “I am always on the go and I thrive on deadlines. Being a lot more mindful of how much I commit to and saying no to jobs that I wouldn’t normally turn down was a tricky one to navigate.”
With only two weeks to go until her due date, Zeenat has been “leaning into this new season of life” and relying on the support of her colleagues, family and friends. “Going through this pregnancy while running my own business and looking after a toddler hasn’t been an easy one,” she shares. “On the outside, you are expected to show up at work, live your life as normal and it can feel like a lot.”
But she is grateful for all the learning and growth, and she and Luke are looking forward to meeting the new little person in their lives. “Honestly, like everything else with motherhood, it truly is a leap of faith. We are excited to take it all as it comes.”
Elevit is a pre-conception and pregnancy supplement with 19 vitamins and minerals that are formulated to meet the increased nutritional needs of women who are trying to conceive or are pregnant. Always read the label and use only as directed. Bayer New Zealand Ltd, Auckland. TAPS NP19121
Evidence shows that the first 1000 days of a baby's life (from conception to age 2) are the most important to ensure your baby has the healthiest start to life and that adequate nutrition during this period can positively influence life-long health[1]
Currently, there is no pregnancy multivitamin that contains more folic acid and iron than Elevit.[2] It is New Zealand's number one pregnancy multivitamin that meets the recommended dietary intakes for folic acid, iron, and iodine.[3]
Menevit is a male fertility supplement that has an antioxidant formulation to support sperm health and male preconception health.
For more information about Elevit and Menevit, visit elevit.co.nz/products/elevit and elevit.co.nz/products/menevit. For helpful pregnancy planning information, click here.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Vitamin and mineral supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet. If you have a baby with a neural tube defect/Spina Bifida, seek specific medical advice. Bayer New Zealand Ltd., Auckland. [TAPS NP19121]
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