Remain active, allow fathers into scans: Mariyam Nafees

Actor opens up about pregnancy, supportive husband

In a recent appearance on Nida Yasir's morning show, glowing expectant mother and actor Mariyam Nafees shared her version of the relatable struggles of pregnancy.

"When I told my mother [I was expecting], the first thing she said was to please not treat this like an illness and to just carry on as normal," began Mariyam, who announced her first pregnancy with her husband and filmmaker Amman Ahmed in a cute Instagram post last November. Having clocked nearly three years into their marriage, Mariyam hinted that the time was ripe for the couple to embrace parenthood.

"I feel like there is a time for everything, and again, there are things that Allah has set out for you," explained the Jaan-e-Jahan actor. "We enjoyed the early days of our marriage a lot – it will be three years in March – so maybe now, it's the right time to get on this journey."

Mariyam added that she "loved" kids, but admitted that like most women, she was not immune to doubts about how she would handle the journey into motherhood – particularly with a career in front of the camera where she would be open to having her appearance judged.

"I love kids – I love all my friends' kids, and of course, I wouldn't say that you don't get scared," mused Mariyam. "Well, maybe not scared, but you definitely have mixed feelings about how you are going to go about doing things."

Referring jokingly to her inevitable pregnancy-induced weight gain, Mariyam added, "In the work that we do, we have to be in front of the screen and people, so we get conscious about gaining weight – I feel that everything looks swollen!"

Regarding pregnancy-safe exercises, Mariyam noted that she had been advised by her trainer friend to continue her fitness routine as before without adding anything new. "Of course, that does not mean that you start weight-lifting, but you can continue with training," said Mariyam, and added, "No one tells you how difficult it becomes to do things like saying your prayers!"

Mariyam was careful to point out that every pregnancy is different, and that women had to consult their doctor before incorporating new exercises into their routine. Taking on her mother's advice to not treat her condition like an illness and to remain active throughout, the mother-to-be added, "I am now doing yoga. I was very active throughout my pregnancy and walked 15 to 20,000 steps every day. I travelled, I took all the flights, I did my production work."

Waving aside the cultural norm of shielding all mention of pregnancy in public, Mariyam explained that when she and Amman revealed the impending arrival of their baby on Instagram, she was considered to be in the "safe zone".

"People are still so shy when talking about pregnancies," observed Mariyam. "But I want to talk about these things! Why do I have to hide my bump? It's a very natural thing. No one is saying spread indecency, but it's something to be proud of. The journey I am going through is so beautiful and I want to share it with the people who are happy for me."

Mariyam also credited having a supportive partner as vital for maintaining a smooth pregnancy. Recalling her doctor's appointments and scans – all of which were attended by Amman – Mariyam expressed sympathy for the women she had seen who had always come alone, even on weekends.

"It made me appreciate my husband. I didn't even have to tell him," said Mariyam warmly, who remains convinced that fathers can bond with their baby before the birth if they are involved in antenatal care. "It was a joy to watch him look at the scans. It was so beautiful."

Mariyam and Ammar tied the knot in March 2022. In November 2024, the couple took to Instagram to make their official pregnancy announcement, using a pair of cute yellow baby sneakers to symbolise their unborn child.