Hilaria Baldwin, Alec Baldwin’s wife, is expecting her third child in four years. She’s also trying to build her brand as a Yoga Mom, which is why she covers the new issue of Fit Pregnancy & Baby. She’s got a book coming out called The Living Clearly Method, all about healthy living and all of that Goopy stuff. I came into this interview thinking that Hilaria was going to sound out of touch, but she’s mostly fine here. I’m actually surprised that she’s talking about how it’s fine to have epidurals and it’s fine to not breastfeed as long as you originally planned. Those two subjects alone have been the cause of many a mommy war.
She’s all for epidurals: “I’d originally wanted to have my kids without drugs, but I ended up having epidurals for both. It gives you just enough relief, so you feel happy and present but not numb. With Rafa, I labored without one for 15 hours, and I was in extreme pain. Then I got the shot, and suddenly I was smiling. I love giving birth, probably because of the drugs.”
Pregnant women shouldn’t give up on working out: “So many women give up. They think, ‘I’m a mom now, so I’m always going to be out of shape.’ No! I’m of the opinion that just because we’re pregnant doesn’t mean we’re sick. Let’s be strong and in the best shape possible. I still jog four miles, four days a week, though I plan to switch to swimming soon. I do barre class three times a week. And I do yoga every day. For me, it’s all part of having a healthy mind-set.”
On breastfeeding: “I prided myself on being a Super Breastfeeding Mommy, but I was only able to breastfeed Rafa until he was 10 months old. I got pregnant again, and my milk supply went way down,” continues Hilaria, who adds she was able to breastfeed now-2½-year-old daughter Carmen Gabriela for 15 months. “But the fact that I didn’t breastfeed him for as long as I’d intended is okay. We beat ourselves up for not being perfect, but there’s something to be said for letting go.”
Eating while pregnant: “There’s a certain intense hunger you have when you’re pregnant, like, ‘I need to eat right now, and if I don’t, I’ll either die or kill somebody.’ When you feel that way, it’s easy to gobble so fast that you feel sick afterward. So, I try to take a deep breath and be present for every meal. At night, I try to eat less to prevent acid reflux.”
Women need to be stronger: “I’ve had my moments of being emotional during each pregnancy, but I always remember what my mother told me when I got my first period. I was being obnoxious, and she said, ‘Being a woman means you need to be stronger. Just because you’re feeling this way doesn’t mean you get to treat people badly. Take a deep breath and rise above it.’ I bring that same philosophy to pregnancy. I’ll warn my husband, ‘I’m feeling this way now, so if I snap, I’m sorry.’”
“I’m of the opinion that just because we’re pregnant doesn’t mean we’re sick.” That’s great for women who feel pretty good during their pregnancies, but a lot of women feel sick as hell, or they have preeclampsia, or any number of other pregnancy-related issues. And to all the women who are like, “Yeah, I would be able to do all of that stuff too if I had enough time in the day” – just remember that this is all about Hilaria’s brand. Talking about her easy, breezy pregnancies is her job.
Photos courtesy of Fit Pregnancy & Baby.
She seems likeable here. I’m just sorry she’s married to such an ogre.
I was incredibly sick with my daughter. To the point that I had to be given fluids via IV, because I was throwing up so much. I felt like I was dying.
I have a hard time picturing Alex as a supportive, caring partner.
I took her comment as a ‘just because we’re pregnant, we shouldn’t be treated like we’re severely maimed’ sort of statement. Often during my pregnancy-where I was so I’ll all the time-I was treated as this fragile, almost sickly person. No one thought I could do anything for myself, and that thinking seems to span from experience to experience regardless of whether you’re extremely ill during pregnancy or not.
I don’t have an issue with what she’s saying. Some pregnant women are able to do things, others are not. I hated it when people assumed I wasn’t able to do my own grocery shopping or cooking or cleaning.
Love the interview, pretty much do you. I have always said each to their own when it comes to raising children and being pregnant. I will never understand women that bash other women because of the way they raise their kids or something they decide to do while pregnant.
Most mothers will do anything on earth of their kids, so I trust them to make the best judgement, decision on how to raise their own kids. Just wish everyone will get to that non -judgemental place.
I totally agree. I don’t understand how you can judge someone when each pregnancy is different. I am pregnant with my first child now, and while I try to prepare for a labour without epidural, I want to keep this option open because you never know how your body will react to labour pains. Some women give birth in 10 minutes without much pain, and some suffer for hours and then need to have a C-section. How can anyone be judged in these circumstances?
Congratulations! Also, I agree with you: every woman and every circumstance is different. Don’t judge! Offer support instead.
I really like her.
Sure she has it easy but she’s not too goopy.
She’s having an easy pregancy and so can do all the workouts she wants to do. There are so many women who are restricted because of health issues during their pregnancies. I had easy pregnancies also compared to many women. This statement: “‘I’m a mom now, so I’m always going to be out of shape.’ ” is not generally true for most women. Are there some with this attitude – yes, but I think most women, if they can, try to stay active and stay in the best shape they can. I believe most doctors encourage women to stay active and “work out” (even if it is walking around the yard or neighborhood).
I have preeclampsia! Of course it is all very specific per each individual’s case. But my care plan INCLUDED 30min of brisk waking/day to keep my blood pressure down. Bed rest was a no-no. Again, all very dependent. But even for high-risk me, I’ve been keeping up my exercise because I’m afraid if I don’t, things will get worse for me. I think it’s also working- of 3 pregnancies, I have had fewer complications and a later onset than with the previous 2 when I reduced my exercise (#1) and stopped entirely (#2).
I hate this “we’re pregnant” bullshizz. Just had to chime in with my positivity!
Oh crap. Now I see what she meant….
The humble brag of “only” breastfeeding for 10 months is a bit annoying. Like, does she know that for some mom a couple weeks would be a blessing? Or working moms for whom breastfeeding has professional consequences? I don’t know. Good for her, but it seems a bit out of touch.
Breastfeeding should never have professional consequences. It’s federal law that you are entitled to reasonable breaks in a quiet, private space to express milk no matter where you work. You can tell your employer it’s your right to express milk. Most states require refrigeration be available to store milk. Yeah I guess since my pregnancy has been relatively easy thus far, I forget about the horribly sick mamas. It seems pretty common sense everything she said.
Most women do try to stay active and all obgyns these days say to do what you can. For me, it’s a cycle… If I skip a few days at the gym, overload on carbs and sodium, or don’t drink enough water… The sick/tired pregnant starts to creep in instead of the easy/happy pregnant. So that’s motivation in itself. And I think she means pregnancy doesn’t mean your sick as in disabled somehow. I’ve met mainly men who try to treat me that way and lift my gallon out of milk out of the shopping cart onto the check out thing for me… It does get annoying even though I appreciate the gesture but… The days of delicate pregnant ladies in pastel mumus lying leisurely on the couch all day seem to come from a sexist/1950s mindset to me.
Just rubs me the wrong way when people assume pregnant ladies can’t lift their own gallon of milk.
If I’m a fit, healthy woman – before- my pregnancy-yes. Otherwise it can be 9 months torture.
And I’ve heard a lot- A LOT of this “I’m pregnant, not sick from women, who with the very next breath send someone to fetch something because…ehrm, whatever reason, just don’t expect me to do it myself.
So I take the whole not that seriously.
Not sure how many mums can afford that workoutschedule.
7 weeks pregnant but keeping up my running on the treadmill (45-90min depending on my energy level per day for 5 days) & weight training 3 times a week (45 min.). BUT, I have no known pregnancy issue.
I also work 8 hrs Mon-Fri and study part time. I’m no celebrity but I make time. My partner also benefits from it since I have not had any erratic mood swings so far. Must be the endorphins.
The only issue I have with running while pregnant is you have to stop & pee midway.
When I feel tired (growing a human is tiring), I still go for a walk but progressively increase the speed & incline.
I was a slob, had plenty of years of eating junk & not exercising but someone’s renting out my body for the next 33 weeks so I had to change & clean up. I cleaned up 6 months prior to getting pregnant, to get the place ready for my VIP.
I can go back to being a slob when it’s only my body that’ll be affected. But I don’t think I will because I’d need the energy & fitness to run around, looking after a kid.
To each their own.
So what does he tell her when HE snaps? ‘Cause he we know he does that a lot.