This interview took place in late March, since then, Snezana and Sam have welcomed their baby girl, Harper.
Snezana Wood is in a unique position. She’s pregnant with her fourth child, but also back to the beginning in terms of baby gear. “We’re so unprepared, we haven’t got anything. We thought our last little one, Charlie, was our last baby, so we gave everything away. We truly are starting from scratch.”
While others might find this a little overwhelming, or annoying, Snezana sees it as an opportunity. “I’ve always kept things super simple. No bells or whistles with anything that I’ve used with the girls, it’s all been pretty old-school, but now I’m moving with the times and looking forward to using the new innovations and gadgets.” Even though Snezana’s last pregnancy was only three years ago, a lot has changed in the baby landscape. “I was at a girlfriend’s baby shower last week and there were so many things I didn’t know about or didn’t exist even when Charlie was born.” One baby tool she’s particularly keen to use? The SNOO. “I’m really excited about it. Everyone has been speaking about it and they all swear by it. Until now, I’ve had bassinets you can swing, but you have to swing it manually, which means waking up to rock them. All my little ones have liked being rocked to sleep and this means I have some extra help.” Here, Snezana talks through 10 things her fourth pregnancy has taught her, and how she and husband Sam, along with their three children, Eve, 17, Willow, 5, and Charlie, 2, are prepping for the new arrival.
1. Pregnancy sickness is real.
“I’ve been feeling really horrible! I’ve been constantly nauseous, really fatigued and my body has just not been enjoying the pregnancy. I’m 30-weeks now and finally feeling better, but now the aches and pains are kicking in. One issue resolves and then something else takes its place, but I’m happy that I can finally get up and move about now. I’ve been sick with all my pregnancies, so I knew it would happen with this one, but I wasn’t expecting it to be worse and nothing has compared to how I’ve felt this time. I’m sure how I felt has also been impacted by being older. I’ve got 20 years on this pregnancy to my first. I was 24 when I had Evie, and I’m going to be 42 this year, so that makes a lot of difference. It’s been a lot harder on my body. I’ve also got little kids to run around after so I don’t have as much time to rest. It’s probably the combination of everything that’s made it so hard.”
2. You’re no good to anyone if you’re not good to yourself.
“I’m really bad at asking for help. I never do it, until this pregnancy, when Sam has offered, I’ve said yes. It’s something I had to learn and become OK with. Because I really needed it this time around. I’m thankful that Sam has a job where he can kind of pick up where I stop. He does a lot around the house, he helps a lot with the girls, and he knows how horrible I’ve felt so every chance I get, I rest and try not to feel guilty about it at all. Because I know if I don’t, I’m no good to anyone else. It’s taken me 17 years and 4 kids to learn it, so I know it’s hard, but it’s the best thing to do.”
3. Get your nutrients where you can.
“I was having lots of cravings in the beginning and I gave-in to nearly all of them. So I wasn't very conscious of what I was eating then. It was more, whatever was going to make me feel better, that’s what I was eating. Now that I am feeling better I’m trying to eat more nutritious food and the things I just couldn’t stomach before. I’m being as healthy as possible, but also, not being obsessed with it. I’m still eating my cheesecake and bread and all the things I’m craving, but trying to get the greens and protein in too. Things I couldn’t even think about a few weeks ago. I don’t mind roast veggies — I can’t do steamed, still. I have my greens in a smoothie, that’s easy. Meats, I’m still kind of off. Even just the smell of it cooking turns my stomach so a protein shake is better. You’ve just got to get it how you can.”
