Freya Killin is a fashion, beauty and lifestyle content creator, loved for her effortless style. As Freya prepares for her biggest adventure yet, becoming a mum, she talks to The Edit about all things pregnancy, style - and cravings.
As someone who loves fashion, and is soon to be a first-time mum, how has your personal style evolved during pregnancy?
Shall I tell you the absolute truth... I’ve struggled with fashion during pregnancy and my outfits have very much taken a back seat the last eight or so months. I’m all about comfort right now and have struggled to find any really great maternity brands. I think there’s actually a really big gap in the market for one!
What are your go-to pieces that make you feel stylish and comfortable?
My go to look, especially this time of year, is a dark Jean and a baggy, chunky, knit jumper. It always looks well put together yet is extremely comfy and, in my life, comfort is key, especially during pregnancy!
What have been your pregnancy essentials?
Now these are going to sound so random, but number one has to be coconut water! I’m totally addicted and it has been my pregnancy craving, along with cake (not so healthy haha). I’ve also learned that coconut water has so many benefits for pregnant women, so it’s not been a bad craving to have at all. Some, less edible, essentials have included the Elemis Japanese Camellia body oil - I’ve lathered this on my body daily to keep my skin hydrated. I’ve also loved a good pregnancy massage; they’re incredible.
You’re now in your third trimester. Which trimester has been your favourite?
For me, my favourite trimester was my second one. The awful morning sickness from the first had gone, energy was high and sleep was great. Overall though I’ve enjoyed each stage, taking the rough with the smooth and I feel so grateful to be on this journey.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received on pregnancy or parenthood?
‘Just do you’! I think that’s the best piece of advice I’ve been given so far. Everyone is so quick to tell you their birth stories or how they would do this, that and the other, but the few people who have told me to ‘do me’ and to ‘trust your own instincts and do what feels right for yourself and your partner’, have been so helpful.
What’s been your favourite part of preparing for baby’s arrival?
It has to be shopping for the clothes! Why is everything just so much cuter in tiny sizes?! And as a self-confessed shopaholic, I’ve enjoyed every minute of that. However, we don’t know that baby's gender yet (we’re keeping it a surprise) so I can’t wait to find out if it’s a boy or a girl, to then buy even more cute colourful things!
How has pregnancy influenced your perspective on body positivity and confidence?
It’s made me see women’s bodies and women in general in a whole new light. I always knew we were incredible, but now I truly think we are superhuman. There is no doubt pregnancy takes a huge toll on our bodies but it’s nothing short of a miracle that we are able to grow life. I feel so beyond lucky to be able to experience one of life’s greatest privileges.
What excites you most about becoming a parent?
The love we are no doubt going to feel excites me so much. My sister had a baby at the beginning of the year and the love I have for my niece is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, so I can only imagine how I will feel about our little one. I also can’t wait to show them the world and experience things again for the first time but through their eyes.
How are you preparing for labour and birth? Do you have a birth plan?
I read a quote somewhere recently that said, ‘you wouldn’t try and run a marathon without training for it, so why do we go into childbirth without preparing’. It really hit me, as at that point I’d done zero preparation at all! Since then, I’ve started hypnobirthing and pregnancy yoga to get my body as ready as possible. It can all feel a little overwhelming, but I believe the more knowledge I have about birth the better, so I've been researching and planning for what I hope will work best for me. Everyone's birth plan will be different, again that advice of 'just do you' very much applies.
What kind of parent do you hope to be?
I hope to be as good of a parent as my own. They’re just the right amount of everything they're fun, present, kind, loving, there to sort every problem and give the greatest advice. If I’m half as good of a parent as what they are and have been to me, I’ll be beyond happy. I got emotional writing that, that’s the third trimester pregnancy hormones for you!
