A horrified woman stopped me in the street the other day. “What are you doing out and about?” she cried, staring at my big baby bump. “You should be at home resting.”
She's not the first person to tell me I should be putting my feet up now that I’m in my third trimester. It’s true that pregnancy is exhausting, but I know that it’s a good idea to keep moving as long as I don’t do anything super strenuous.
Not only does it make me feel good but it’s safe for the baby and might help me cope better with the birth.
I try to go for a walk every day in between my work commitments as a reflexologist, even if it’s just 10 minutes. I’ve joined a pregnancy yoga group (which is so much more chilled out than normal yoga).
I walk up and down the hills in my neighbourhood. And, when I feel up to it, I still go to my Colombian salsa dance class, which is quite a cardio workout.
Growing up in north London, I was never a sporty person. I felt exercise wasn’t for me.
Even though my dad is from Cuba, where people are always dancing in the streets, I never danced myself because I hated people watching me. I was shy and had zero confidence.
Everything switched about seven years ago when I turned 30.
One night I went to a club salsa evening and I knew that I wanted to be able to dance like that. I went home and signed up for a beginners’ class.
The first session was really scary as I didn’t know anyone and had no idea what I was doing. But I realised that I didn't care what people thought of me so much anymore.
Afterwards, I felt amazing, and I soon made friends who motivated me to come back week after week.
Now, dancing brings me joy – it doesn’t feel like exercise. It’s something I can do with my 12-year-old daughter Naila and our flatmate, who’s a professional dancer.
When my partner Emmanuel joins us from Cuba and our child arrives, I hope it’s something we can all do together.