POV: I’m a first-time mum in S’pore. Nothing could've prepared me for the realities of pregnancy.

Last October, Alena and her husband, Shi Lei, learnt that they were expecting.

It will be their first child — a son. He is due in early July.

This Mother's Day, we spoke to the 31-year-old about the struggles and joys of being an expecting mother. 

As told to Ilyda Chua

When did you guys decide to have a baby?

We were dating for four years before getting married.

We knew that we both wanted kids. I've always liked kids, I would take care of my cousins last time.

We are also getting older. So after our honeymoon, we began trying.

That was in February.

Fortunately, we found out I was pregnant in October.

How has your pregnancy been so far?

Actually, not too bad. I don't have morning sickness.

I don't work out as often. Last time I tried to work out every day, maybe every weekday.

Now I'm down to maybe twice a week, but I still teach [yoga]. So I think that helps with the physical aspect — like growing bigger, or managing lower back pains.

The first and second trimesters were OK. Now I've started to feel some pelvic floor pressure, some pain.

I've also developed some varicose veins, and people have started to notice.

I've tried compression socks. legs elevation. Nothing helps.

It just keeps getting worse.

Did you hear of any 'pregnancy horror stories' before getting pregnant?

I saw some side effects, such as postpartum hair and postpartum depression.

Also some scary experiences. When my friend was delivering her baby, the doctor wasn't able to perform the perineal cut in time.

So the baby basically slipped out of her and caused a perineal tear.

For some people, they have this motherly love and are like, anything for my child. They're noble like that.

But some people can't accept the idea of their body changing, of how they'll potentially look like after [giving birth].

I think these people are just more aware of what they want. To each their own.

What do you miss the most about your pre-pregnancy self?

Wine. I'm a wine girl. (laughs)

Honestly, in trimesters one and two, it's not too bad.

But then your boobs get bigger, and you need to buy a new bra. New undergarments, new clothes, vitamins and so on.

You need to spend a lot of money. That's something nobody talks about. I didn't expect to spend so much on it.

[Being pregnant] does change the way you see yourself. Like oh, your boobs used to be so perfect, you used to have abs. And now you're just a bowling ball.

I'm not sure how to feel with a baby bump, because I don't feel like myself anymore.

I know it's a temporary thing. But I do miss [my old self], and I don't know whether I'll get it back.

Do you feel the pressure to bounce back after giving birth?

I feel times have changed.

Nowadays, people are all very 'just listen to your body', 'just do this step by step'.

So any pressure I feel is probably self-imposed, because of how I miss my old self.

But there are still a lot of things I don't know about.

I didn't even know about varicose veins until it happened to me. And I realised a lot of other people don't know about it also.

I was thinking of doing something, like making a post, after I give birth.

I don't really see a lot of people posting about such things. Or at least around me.

But I'll just deliver. I'll recover well, then I'll exercise as much as I can.

Do you feel a connection to your baby yet?

Yes! All the kickings. The nurse said he's quite active.

Even though I can't see him, I feel like there's something I need to protect.

Sometimes in the shows, you'll see a pregnant woman in a car accident, and she'll turn away and protect her stomach.

I think I'll be like that. Or I hope so. (laughs)

As a mum, what is your biggest wish for your baby?

To be healthy.

I'd want to teach him yoga. I see those videos with the kids doing cartwheels, or the parents holding them upside down.

I'd want to try, so that they can do inversion poses next time. (laughs)

I'm not sure if my husband will approve, but I'm going to do it anyway. (Oops, sorry husband.)