Did you know that our newborn sessions are often 2-3 hours long in the studio?  When we’re posing a baby for a studio session, it takes lots of extra time to get them settled “just so” into a pose on the beanbag or in a basket, so that means I get to spend plenty of time chatting with the new mom & dad.  I always love the extra opportunity to get to know these new families better, and oftentimes we make amazing connections that go beyond the session that day!

When Samantha Boulay came to the studio for her daughter’s newborn session this winter, I learned that she is a fitness trainer and all-around healthy living motivator in Boston.  We talked a lot about her pregnancy, and she told me about her fitness routine and her quick 21 MINUTE delivery!  

I had followed her on Instagram before the session and saw her 38-week pregnant photos teaching workout classes in Boston, and I was amazed by her determination and strength even at the end of her pregnancy!  I knew that she’d be the perfect guest blogger to share more about a healthy pregnancy and postpartum experience, and to give a little bit of encouragement to other moms who are looking to take care of themselves while also taking the very best care they can of their babies.  

With our guest bloggers, I love to break away from just the photography-related posts and also share helpful little tidbits written by local moms, for local moms.  I hope you enjoy Samantha’s feature on the blog today!  

Be sure to check out her website, and you can follow her on social media on her Facebook page and Instagram, too!  

Tell us a little about you, your baby, and your family.

My name is Samantha Boulay (Burke) and I am a certified Group Fitness Instructor & Trainer and owner/founder of “B Fit with Samantha.” In addition to teaching, I am also a wife & new mommy to a beautiful baby girl, Blake Vivian (and I can’t forget my four legged kids – Sammie & KC – 2 adorable Springer Spaniels). I’ve lived in Southie for just about 8 years & have been teaching at several of the top gyms in and around the Boston area for a little over 6 years. 

 

Tell us about your work and how you encourage others to live a healthy lifestyle.

Teaching and training is my “job,” but I am extremely fortunate to love what I do so much, that it never feels like “work.” As a fitness instructor, I strive to motivate people to work out and be their best self. My goal is to teach my students and clients how to change their outlook on fitness, how to achieve goals, get results, and most importantly have fun! 

If you can find a workout that you like, that is fun, and fits your lifestyle, then working out will no longer be a “chore,” but it will become something you look forward to. I believe in challenging yourself & stepping outside of your comfort zone – it’s the only way to see change! Big or small, whatever your goal is, you CAN do it. 

 

What was your workout routine like before you were pregnant?  How did that change when you were pregnant?

I’m a pretty competitive person! I grew up playing sports, so I think I’ve always had that competitive edge. I’m kind of “go big or go home” with my workouts! I like a challenge. When I workout, I like to sweat (the dripping down your face kind of sweat). You can find me in any Bootcamp, Spin, Boxing, or HIIT class. 

Once I found out I was pregnant, I definitely had to slow down a bit & listen to my body. I worked out & taught my classes through the 8th month of my pregnancy, but made modifications along the way. Everybody is different & every pregnancy is different.  I was fortunate enough that I felt pretty healthy and was able to continue my workouts throughout my pregnancy. It wasn’t until the last month of my pregnancy that I had to really slow down. Just listening to my body was super important  to me – if doing burpees one day felt good, I did them, and if the next day they didn’t feel good, I modified them or did something else. I also incorporated yoga & pilates into my workout routine. Slowing things down, stretching, and clearing my mind was super important to me and helped prepare me for the big day!

 

How do you believe your workout routine helped you in the last weeks of your pregnancy and during your delivery? 

I believe staying physically active helped me in a lot of ways – both mentally & physically. Working out and teaching is my happy place, so it helped me to feel good about myself, kept me focussed, and connected to my body. I wanted to be as healthy as I could be not only for myself, but for my baby girl! This might be TMI, but my delivery time was only 21 minutes, and I think it’s safe to say a lot of that came from staying active and strong throughout my pregnancy.  

 

Do you have any tips for fitting in a fitness routine with a baby at home?  

This is where it gets challenging! Any new mom can tell you theres not enough time in the day to get things done! Coupled with the fact that you are probably running on zero sleep, can make finding time to get a workout in pretty tricky! Here are a few tricks to help you stay focused & squeeze in your workout either at home or at the gym: 

1. Write down your workout in your “to do” list & check it off when you are done. Something about checking things off your “to do” list is so satisfying and makes you feel accomplished!
2. Squeeze in your workout when your little one naps. Even if your sweet angel only naps for 20 minutes, get up off the couch and get your heart rate up. 
3. Keep it simple & realistic. If you can’t get to the gym and don’t have equipment at home (which most people don’t), keep your workouts simple. Give yourself some time to heal after having a baby, so start small & slow (i.e. basic squats), and when you are feeling better & cleared by your doctor, step it up (i.e. add a jump to those squats). 
4. Get outside. I know winter in Boston isn’t ideal, but when there is that rare 50-60 degree day, get outside with your little one and go enjoy a nice long walk. Summer is almost here so once it’s nice out, throw on those sneakers and shades and enjoy the sunshine! 
5. Try a mommy and baby class. There a lots of mommy and baby classes in and around the city. Go online or talk to your gym about classes they might offer. It’s a great way to bond with your little one, stay healthy and active, and meet other new moms who are in the same boat as you are! 

Before having a baby, I use to just get up & go to the gym whenever I wanted. If I saw a class I wanted to go to, I just walked out the door and went. Now my life is scripted and I have to schedule my workouts & plan around child care.

Make sure to schedule your workouts into your week. Work out a schedule with your husband, your mother, a babysitter, or whoever you have to help with your little one. It’s extremely important, both mentally and physically, to take time for yourself (even if it’s only 30 min a few times a week). If you’re happy, your husband is happy & your baby is happy! 

What advice do you have for new & expecting moms regarding taking care of themselves during and after their pregnancy? 

As I mentioned before, every pregnancy is different & every woman’s body is different. My advice for every expecting mom is continue to do what feels right for you & stick to the plan that you & your doctor have discussed.  If you like running & your doctor gives you the green light to continue running, then go girl! If you feel run down, tired, and/or sick throughout your pregnancy then dial it back, maybe keep to a brisk walk or lots of stretching & yoga a few times a week. 

To all the new moms out there, you rock!!!! Having a baby is a lot of work & stress on the body, so give yourself time to heal & please remember to be patient – that’s the hardest part! Losing the baby weight is hard & can be very challenging. I was in such great shape before my pregnancy & stayed active during my pregnancy, and everyone told me “oh, the weight will just fall off of you” or, “you will bounce right back.” Well, I’ll be honest it’s tough – tougher than I thought. A lot of people think you can just bounce back to your old self, and for some woman that’s true (thanks Gisele), but for most women (including myself), it takes time and hard work.

Look at it this way, it takes 9 months to make a baby, so give your body about the same time to get back to where you want it to be. Get your workouts in where & when you can, eat a balanced diet, and have patience!!! You can do it, I promise. Be kind to yourself and just take care of yourself & your beautiful new baby 🙂