Girl Next Door turned Vegas performer Holly Madison is seven months pregnant (and a super adorable mom-to-be!). She talked with us about everything from pregnancy symptoms to when she plans to marry her beau (and yes, she does!) to her biggest labor and delivery fears. Pregnancy changes every mama-to-be. Holly explains how it’s made her do a total 180.
The Bump: What surprised you most about dressing your pregnant body? And how did you handle it?
Holly Madison: I’m surprised how every bra hurts my back! I have been experiencing a lot of back pain and visit a chiropractor twice a week, but its still next to impossible for me to find a comfortable bra while pregnant.
TB: You’re really into Disney and princesses. Have you bought any Disney baby gear or do you plan to?
HM: I bought a really cute Disney princess baby bath tub! I’m also planning on decorating one of the nurseries in an Alice in Wonderland theme.
TB: Tell us about the severe morning sickness you went through — you had to be hospitalized! How are you feeling now?
HM: Most of the pregnancy books said morning sickness is over by the second trimester but my morning sickness started in my second trimester and took me completely by surprise. It kind of freaked me out at first, but luckily it didn’t last very long and now I feel completely normal.
TB: You’ve said that pregnancy has changed you. How so?
HM: Truthfully, being pregnant is changing me as a person. Each day is part of this amazing journey that has completely shifted the focus of my life and made me reevaluate my personal and professional goals. I think what I am trying to say is I look at my choices now though my future daughter’s eyes. Being pregnant has made me much more conscious of my decision making, particularly in my career choices. I want my daughter to be proud of me and look up to me. I think early on in my pregnancy I realized that to be the mom I want to be, I had to change my life, and that’s what I’m doing.
TB: What do you and [your boyfriend] Pasquale like to do for date night? And have you gone on a babymoon?
HM: We love chill date nights, since Pasquale works in nightlife. We normally go to our favorite restaurants or see a movie. I guess you could say we already went on our babymoon — after I quit working, right before my third trimester, we went on trips to Disney World and Hawaii.
TB: What do you think will change in your relationship when the baby comes? Are you seeing wedding bells?
HM: I know we’re in for some major changes as soon as the baby comes. I’m not sure what those changes will be yet, but definitely less sleep for both of us! I do see wedding bells in our future. We would like to get married next summer.
TB: Are you nervous for labor and delivery? What’s your biggest fear? (We all have them!)
HM: I still can’t even decide on a labor plan. There are so many factors to consider! Have you ever heard the horror story about women who push their bladder out of their vagina during labor? I don’t know how common or true that is, but that’s my biggest fear! [Laughs.] TB: Do you still keep in touch with Heff, Kendra and Bridget from The Girls Next Door? Is it hard to be around party crowds while you’re pregnant?
HM: Bridget and I are still friends, but I don’t talk to anyone else. I moved on from the whole Playboy thing five years ago and really never looked back. I’m not one of those girls who goes back to all the parties and things.
As far as being around crowds, it’s definitely difficult! I can’t go to nightclubs because I’m too worried some drunk chick might trip and elbow me in the belly or something — it gets so crowded in those places. Also, I don’t want to be around smoke, and there are always people sneaking a smoke in the clubs, especially in LA. Even when I go to my boyfriend’s festivals I’m mainly lurking around the peripherals. I don’t mingle too much.
TB: We’re excited to see what you do next career-wise. What do you think it will be?!
HM: I want to work on projects that I feel passionate about and do things that are fun and challenging. I would love to do a live musical. Lately, I’ve been [taking more] singing lessons. I’m not interested in doing the same thing over and over or the fame and exposure that comes with it. When people keep doing that, they just end up doing the same dumb stuff again and again. I plan to continue singing lessons and look for new opportunities and explore projects that interest me, challenge me and show a new side of me.
TB: What celebrity do you think is a fabulous mom and why?
HM: I don’t really know anything about anyone’s parenting skills, but I think Jennifer Garner’s kids are so adorable!
TB: What kind of mom do you want to be?
HM: Tough question! Time will tell but I know I will be an incredibly loving, supportive and involved mom. My hope is I can help my kids find their passions and give them — within reason — what they will need to follow their dreams! I will try to accomplish this by being the kind of mom who builds a strong and solid family life and support system.
I want my kids to feel comfortable coming to me with any problem big or small and I will listen and help sort it out, offering advice from my own experience but not be preachy and teach them, early on, the importance of a strong work ethic and the value of a dollar — I’ll try to not spoil them!
I’ll stress life lessons like treating others as you would like to be treated. I want to put them on the right path and allow them to live their own life, make their own decisions and mistakes and be the kind of mom that has given them all the necessary tools to make good decisions and live a happy life.
Mamas-to-be, how has pregnancy changed you?
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