Pregnancy is often a time when an expectant mum is showered with gifts and congratulatory words. Sarunrat Deane had all that, but she was also bombarded with massive online criticism for engaging in what the society deems an abominable action when one is pregnant -- she exercised.
The drama ignited from a set of photos Sarunrat -- better known as pop/R&B singer Lydia -- posted on her Instagram. posts showed the singer carrying barbell and dumbbells despite having a visible baby bump. The sight sent many netizens into a flying rage.
"I've had comments like, 'Lydia! If you stretch that way during yoga, the baby would pop right out! If you get on the treadmill, you risk giving birth prematurely!'. Some people meant well, really, but some just cursed me right out, saying things like, 'You're not listening to us. Just wait and see you'll have a miscarriage!'," said the 29-year-old.
Sarunrat 'Lydia' Deane. Pornprom Satrabhaya
Thais are not used to seeing a pregnant woman exercising, that much was a given from Sarunrat's experience. The singer gave birth to a boy in July and now, almost five months post-pregnancy, she looks back at those nine months where joy, fear, excitement and worry rolled into an entangled mix.
Sarunrat has always been into exercising and didn't give it up when she got pregnant. But, despite the yoga and weight training, despite firmly believing that it was good for her and the baby, and despite having consulted a gynaecologist and personal trainer, she admitted that the harsh comments had a massive effect her.
"I actually got super paranoid. I asked myself all the time if I was hurting my baby," she revealed. "I even bought a baby heartbeat monitor, not a hand-held one everybody else would get, but this big one that they have in hospitals. I used that to hear my son's heartbeat when he was still too small for me to feel his movement. After my exercise, I would listen to see if he's still alive! It got that bad." The singer sighed and shook her head.
While she didn't appreciate all the negativity, Sarunrat said she's thankful for the people's concern as it also made her more careful. At the same time, it made her realise how badly people need to be educated on the matter.
"Eventually, I realised that as a mother I need to be sure about myself. I talked to doctors, read books, did online research -- everything. I got so much information that I want to share. Exercising while you're pregnant, if done right, is good for both mums and babies."
In hopes of sharing her knowledge and experience, Sarunrat is releasing a pocketbook, Lydia Diary, which entails exercise moves, easy recipes, medical advice from experts and style tips for new mums. It's true that pregnant women may not be able to do every single thing. However, they are not patients who are sick and don't need to be confined to the bed.
Exercising while pregnant can benefit the mother's health in reducing pregnancy discomfort, stress and even lower certain pregnancy-related complications. Exercising can improve blood circulation and decrease the risk of the baby being overweight.
"It's very crucial for mothers to take good care of themselves. All the food we eat, the exercise we do, whatever good things the mums are getting, all are passed on to the baby," Sarunrat added.
However, it's highly recommended for mothers to seek medical advice even if they've been pregnant before. No pregnancy is the same. The singer stressed that no expectant mother should exert themselves.
"If you feel faint, then that is dangerous as the oxygen doesn't reach the baby," she said. An easy way to watch out for overexertion is taking a walk without feeling tired, also jogging, weightlifting or doing any other kind of exercise.
After pregnancy, exercising also helps in getting rid of the excess weight the mother may have gained. Sarunrat happily shared that exercising, together with breastfeeding, is helping her body get back in shape.
When asked if she considers herself a guru, the singer waved the title off with a laugh.
"I've only had my first baby!" she said. "I just think that exercising is good and that it's a very new concept for some. There are certain beliefs that are just plain wrong and I hope I can help correct them."
Fighting with people's belief while staying firm with her own has brought a satisfactory result, she said. Dylan -- her first child with husband Thai-Brit actor and singer Matthew Deane -- is healthy and strong. Sarunrat likes to refer to Dylan as "the giant baby" as he's big for his age.
"He takes after his father! That's good," she commented.
The singer is taking a break from showbiz to spend time with her son. Still, she hasn't given up on singing. Her audience is now little Dylan, who often gets an exclusive performance from his mum.
Having a child has drastically changed her life, said Sarunrat. And while she may feel tired, she said she wouldn't trade it for anything.
"In a marriage, we may have less personal time for each other. But we're also happier because there's now another person -- a half of both of us -- to complete our small family. In everything we do now, there's another person to make things all the more lively and colourful.
"It was a good change," she concluded.
Sarunrat's pocketbook Lydia Diary. unknown
Sarunrat with her baby boy Dylan. unknown
Using weights during pregnancy. unknown
