Actor Mariyam Nafees recently opened up about her journey through pregnancy and early motherhood on a local channel's morning show, appearing alongside her husband, filmmaker Amaan Ahmed.
“When I told my mother [I was expecting], the first thing she urged me to do was to not treat it like an illness and just carry on as usual,” Mariyam recalled. She explained that a friend, who was a gym trainer, advised her to continue exercises she had been doing before her pregnancy, minus the heavy weightlifting. Subsequently, Mariyam maintained an active routine that included yoga and walking, in addition to her work-related travel and commitments.
Looking back on her journey, the actor insisted things would not have been easy without her husband's support. “It made me really appreciate him. I didn’t even have to tell him,” the Neem actor said, sharing how Amaan attended every scan and doctor’s appointment. Post-pregnancy, Mariyam revealed, her husband handled household chores and took care of their baby, all in addition to his work.
Amid the praise, Amaan jokingly offered advice to other husbands: “Dishwashing is therapeutic - I’ve noticed that. Seriously. Just put on some music and start doing dishes. You fall into deep thought and solve a lot of things in your head.”
Mariyam also addressed the stigma of being pregnant in the public eye, saying, “Why do I have to hide my bump? It’s a very natural thing. No one is telling you to promote indecency, but it is something to be proud of.” She said the couple waited to announce the pregnancy until they were further along and well within the "safe zone."
Her approach to this new phase of life is practical and joy-focused. “Food is one of the biggest joys of my day. I look forward to it. So food comes first,” she laughed. “Even after delivery, I didn’t stop eating … Our day would start with, ‘What should we eat for lunch?’ and ‘What’s for dinner?’”
Food habits, Mariyam insisted, are critical for new mothers in postpartum recovery. “People who stop eating after delivery, their hair falls out. Thankfully, mine didn't because I never stopped taking my supplements.” She stressed the importance of ignoring concerns about weight gain, remarking, “Don’t worry about the weight. You have plenty of time.” As per the actor, “breastfeeding naturally reduces weight” and “you can always tone your body later.”
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