FOR Sarimah Ibrahim, being pregnant is not an excuse to lie still but to carry on with her usual routine — which includes getting physical doing regular exercise.
The 41-year-old actress and TV host is a fitness fanatic, whose regime includes a good dose of Pilates.
“It’s amazing to be pregnant and especially at this age. I had never imagined how it would feel to be pregnant,” she says.
But she admits that she was not spared from a bad allergy and morning sickness during her first trimester.
“It was very bad. Some days, I was weak the whole day.”
However, the mother-to-be didn’t give in. After seeking advice from her doctors, she went back into the gym to practise Pilates, which corrects body posture and helps in fighting backache, a usual occurrence for pregnant women.
“Pregnancy is a blessing. Besides, I think lying down without doing anything will make me depressed,” shares the bubbly and energetic personality who is due to welcome the new addition to the family next month.
Sarimah says exercising also helps her keep gestational diabetes at bay, another plus point for her to remain active during this pregnancy.
“Of course, there were many people who criticised me on social media for engaging in this activity. They think this would bring harm to the baby. Well, nothing unbecoming has been detected so far.”
Her regular exercise has also kept her in good shape. She gained only about seven kilogrammes by her eighth month.
“When I found out that I was pregnant, besides praying for my baby’s health, I also prayed that I wouldn’t put on more than 10kg during the pregnancy,” she quips.
However, Sarimah is thankful that her appetite has so far not been unusual.
“I have been eating like I normally do. And thanks to the exercise, I have been able to keep within the desired weight,” shares Sarimah, who adds that she has been drinking a lot of milk though.
Sarimah and her husband, Tunku Nadzimuddin Tunku Mudzaffar of the Negri Sembilan royal house, announced that they were expecting a princess at an event held in Petaling Jaya late last month.
“We’re happy to find out that it’ll be a girl. My husband doesn’t mind whether it is a boy or girl, as long as we are blessed with a healthy child.”
Asked of her birthing choice, Sarimah doesn’t rule out the possibility of a Caesarean section.
“Like many woman, I would want to experience natural birth but if there’s a need for an operation, so be it.”
However, Sarimah is definitely not going to try hypno-birthing.
“I don’t think I can be hypnotised. I can’t imagine me staying calm. It’s just not me. I’m not that kind of person,” she admits.
Sarimah added that she could not observe fasting last Ramadan due to her condition.
“When I tried fasting, my blood pressure became very low due to dehydration. My doctors advised me not to fast as it could affect the baby’s well-being. It was a risk I wasn’t willing to take,” says Sarimah, who is excitedly counting down the days.
Sarimah, who married Tunku Nadzimuddin a.k.a. Tunku Jamie on April 2, 2015, had taken a break from TV hosting for the past two years to concentrate on family life.
“I was advised to relax. Running around for recordings and other work commitments can be stressful. Thankfully, the rest had been good for me,” adds Sarimah, who last hosted her own show on TV3, The Sarimah Show, in 2017.
“I’ve been offered a new show in October but for now, I haven’t decided whether to take up the offer. The decision can only be made once this bun in the oven is out.
“I’ll have to see how life as a mother turns out for me — whether I’d be able to divide my time between my family and the limelight,” she says.