'One of the lucky ones': Steph Claire Smith is grateful to be well enough to do one thing while pregnant
Steph Claire Smith is just weeks away from welcoming her second child and tells 9honey Coach she's "incredibly excited".
Last November, the model and co-founder of wellness app KIC shared her pregnancy announcement with the world and has since shared snippets into her day-to-day life navigating her second pregnancy on Instagram.
As someone whose life revolves around fitness, Smith has continued to find ways to move her body throughout her pregnancy – but of course it looks a little different than normal.
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Steph Claire Smith says she's "incredibly excited" to meet her second child. Instagram/ @stephclairesmith
Apart from some pelvic girdle pain which she was able to swiftly get on top of, Smith says she has been "fortunate again to have felt really well through this pregnancy" and hasn't experienced many issues that have prevented her from exercising – something she is very grateful for.
"If you feel well enough to exercise, you're one of the lucky ones," Smith says, noting that she's had friends who have had the option to exercise during pregnancy taken away from them due to complications.
"I like to really focus on how grateful I am that my body is still allowing me to do movement."
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Steph Claire Smith is grateful to be able to move her body during pregnancy. Suppled/ Kic x New Balance
For Smith, movement during her pregnancy has involved taking short walks, which she has had to pare back to accommodate for her mobility, alongside some strength and Pilates training.
She has also been taking part in KIC's Real Runners Challenge in partnership with New Balance which encourages KIC community members to get out there and commit to running or walking a certain distance.
While her co-founder Henshaw has incorporated the challenge with her marathon training, Smith has used it to help keep up her habit of movement.
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Kic has launched the Real Runners Challenge in partnership with New Balance. Supplied/ Kic x New Balance
"Where I'm at with my pregnancy, I'm not running, I'm walking but I am still trying to include some movement and walking is something that I've always loved," she says.
"While I've definitely pared back the distance that I'm covering or the pace that I am doing, it's still something that's important to me to make the most of what my body can do."
"My routine is honestly maybe one strength workout a week and like one or two ten minute Pilates classes on the mat at home and a couple of one to two kilometre walks," she later adds.
"So it's definitely pared right back from what I supposed I'm used to but for me it's enough that it's filling up my cup."
Keeping up the habit of movement while she can is something that she believes will benefit her during birth and postpartum, something she noticed with her last pregnancy.
"I do think that keeping up the habit of movement and even just rolling out the mat makes that return to exercise a little bit easier on the motivation side," she says.
Smith encourages expecting mothers to find movement, where they can, that makes them feel good.
"When I say make the most of it and move your body, it does not have to look like it usually does," she says.
"Your routine during pregnancy does not have to look like it did prior to being pregnant."
While Smith believes finding movement while pregnant is beneficial she also says its important to "give yourself grace". Supplied/ Kic
Smith adds that it's important to allow yourself to take it easy and "give yourself grace" during pregnancy.
"If we could all physically see what our bodies were doing anyway with creating a human, you'd be like, 'Oh my god, my body is constantly working'," she says.
"So it's totally fair that we might not have the energy or the ability to do what we once did and that's OK.
"Even like five minutes of mobility on the mat is so beneficial for you and your body, so yeah, just do your best to kind of keep up with the habit as much as possible."
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It's advice that KIC physio Ash Ormond echoes.
"Movement during pregnancy has many benefits," she tells 9honey.
"It can help with musculoskeletal niggles like back and pelvic pain, improve strength and support postpartum recovery.
"But exercise doesn't have to look one way. It might be Pilates, stretching at home or a gentle walk. There's no one right way. What matters most is choosing movement that feels right for you and being kind to yourself along the way."
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However, she stresses it's important to "always listen to your body".
"If you feel pain or discomfort, especially in the pelvis, hips, or lower back, stop and seek advice from your healthcare professional. Avoid anything that risks falling, abdominal trauma, or overheating."
And of course, always follow the advice of your healthcare provider.
"If you've been advised not to exercise due to complications, it's important to follow that guidance to keep you and your baby safe. If movement is allowed, seeing a women's health physio can help you find gentle, tailored options that feel supportive," she says.
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Smith says she's feeling "really good" as her due date nears. Instagram/ @stephclairesmith
Smith is entering the final stages of her pregnancy and as birth draws closer she says she's feeling "really good" about it.
She says she hopes to experience a spontaneous labour which is something that didn't happen with her firstborn Harvey but says she will be happy with however birth pans out so long as little one arrives safely.
"I had an induction and an epidural the first time around which wasn't necessarily my plan or what I would have wanted or dreamed of in birth however I had a really good experience so if it all plays out that same I'm happy with that," she says adding that baby is breech and is open to the fact that she may need a C-section.
"We're so lucky to have access to what we do in this country and in this day and age," she adds.
"So many women decades ago died in birth because what is available now wasn't back then so I'm not opposed to [any interventions] but I think it's OK to also have your wishes."
But overall, Smith simply can't wait to meet the newest member of her family.
"I'm just really excited to meet them and to see Harvey as a big brother," she adds.
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