Mum of the Month - Jeanna!
14 October 2014
Hi Jeanna! First of all, congratulations on being Mum-of-the-Month!
Thank you! It’s a true honour.
Tell me a little bit about your background, Jeanna.
I’m a Canadian and moved to the UK nine years ago this November. I’m married to a great man called Laurence (the reason I relocated), and together we have Natalya who was born in April. I’m also very lucky to have two terrific stepsons Dominic and Benjamin.
Having Natalya has been a pretty amazing feat given your medical condition. Could you tell us all a bit about it? (Jeanna no need to if you don’t want to broach this aspect)
Yes, I have multiple autoimmune conditions, which means my own immune system attacks various parts of my body. My most problematic conditions are Ankylosing Spondylitis (an early age onset arthritis affecting mostly the spine and big joints) and Crohn’s Disease. I have to take various medications to stay well, but not all of them are conducive to pregnancy and breastfeeding. We went for preconception counselling and together with the team there made the best decisions we could. It was a fine balance between keeping myself well enough to conceive and carry the pregnancy and minimising the risk of harm to the baby. I was considered a high risk pregnancy and was monitored closely during my pregnancy.
During pregnancy I was very lucky in that my conditions stayed quieter than usual; this isn’t uncommon, for autoimmunity to be dampened by a pregnancy. Unfortunately, I’ve had a post-pregnancy flare of my arthritis, which has made taking care of Natalya a bit more interesting at times! I’m very lucky that I have great team of doctors who have taken care of me throughout this whole exciting time.
What aspects of motherhood do you most enjoy?
I love watching Natalya’s personality develop. You can already tell that she’s a strong-willed girl who knows her own mind. Her smiles and giggles and cuddles melt my heart.
And the not-such-fun bits?
Getting the knack of breastfeeding was a challenge, I could have done without! But the perseverance has paid off, and I’m going to keep going as long as I can! Natalya has Cows’ Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA), and the lead up to that diagnosis was rough, but no one can deny that she’s thriving now!
What’s your favourite gadget in motherhood, the one you can’t live without?
My sling! It’s helped me immeasurably when my wrist has been particularly bad, or when Natalya’s been particularly fussy, and when we’ve travelled with her. A close second is Skype, so my Canadian family can stay in touch with Natalya’s development.
You do postnatal fitness with me but have you always been into exercise?
I’ve always wanted to find time for exercise, but unfortunately, sometimes exercise has taken a backseat to my career and/or studies. Also, sometimes my conditions can flare which can make an exercise programme difficult to maintain. It’s really important that I prioritise exercise though, because it keeps me more mobile in the long run. Working with you has been great Jo, because you help tailor the workout to how difficult my joints are behaving that day. I’ve never had that kind of personalised touch before.
Are you into healthy eating? What’s your all-time favourite dish?
I try! Due to time constraints, I’m a big fan of the one dish meals. Both myself and my husband make a tasty spaghetti bolognaise. We use turkey mince to reduce the amount of red meat we eat.
Tell us a little about your career Jeanna.
I’m a Specialist Registrar in Palliative Medicine – that’s the training grade of doctor before you’re a consultant. Many people ask what Palliative Medicine is – it’s the aspect of medicine that works to improve the quality of life for terminally ill patients and their families. I know that sounds all doom and gloom, but I think it’s a very rewarding and important aspect of medicine. I also have an academic component to my post in Medical Education and am currently working on a Masters in this.
What are your feelings about going back to work and balancing career and motherhood?
I’m really worried about this! I am just in the process of negotiating my return from maternity leave and thinking about childcare options. I haven’t been particularly skilled at keeping a good work-life balance before now, but I need to get better at it quickly.
We all need a bit of “me time” when we’re mums. What’s your favourite “mummy me time” activity and will you be able to squeeze it in once back at work?
Having a lovely warm bath is good for the joints and good for the soul! Thankfully continuing this seems achievable.
One last question: fitness for ever?
I hope so! Teaching my daughter about healthy living by example is a great incentive for me.
Thank you Jeanna,
Jo