Laila Ali On Her Pregnancy, Delivery, and Parenthood
Although she’ll hit 40 weeks the first week of September, former boxer Laila Ali says she isn’t concerned about exactly when her son makes his debut. "I don’t put a due date on the baby," she tells Pregnancy in their September issue. "Whenever he’s ready to come out."
When Curtis Muhammad is ready to be born, Laila is hoping she’s made the journey easy for him. Although the athlete and Dancing With the Stars alum has continued to work out four days a week, its been with her delivery in mind. "I do an hour of cardio on the elliptical, and then light weight-lifting, just upper body," Laila explains. "I don’t do lower body because you want your lower body to loosen up to make room for the baby to come through."
The American Gladiators host admits that she’s been pleasantly surprised at her body’s physical response to the pregnancy, saying, "I always thought I was going to gain a lot of weight because I’m a big girl naturally. I walk around at 175 lbs, I’m 5′11", and I love to eat," Laila reveals. "I thought, ‘Oh God, I’m going to be like 250 lbs and huge.’ I know a lot of women have that fear. But because I’m already a big girl, I was just imagining myself to be a giant."
More from the interview — plus additional images — when you click ‘Continue Reading.’
In discussing her decision to plan a home birth with her little boy, Laila again credits The Business of Being Born with opening her mind, saying, "I think all women kind of like to be in control, but I want to really experience [the birth]."
"Society tells you, ‘You get pregnant, you go to the hospital,’ and that was just naturally what I was going to do, but once I saw that there was another option, it just fit me," she explains. "I want to be fully present. I don’t want any medications. I just want to be in control of the situation — as much as I can be anyway."
Laila admits, "It’s not for everybody. So you have to do your research and at least be informed. Even if you don’t decide to do a home birth or work with a midwife, you can at least be aware of the fact that you have a voice at the hospital. And pick a good doctor."
As for any concerns about the actual delivery process, Laila is her usual outspoken self, laughing, "Now if I was the first woman in the world having a baby, I’d be scared to death!" However, she says she’s feeling optimistic about the situation. "I have never experienced it for myself, but I see all of these other women that I know are nowhere near as strong as I am, physically, emotionally, mentally. So if they can do it, so can I."
"There’s going to be pain," the 30-year-old says realistically. "My thing is learning the ways to reduce that pain, and be in control of yourself so you’re not making it worse and working against yourself. I feel like I have an advantage just with my mind-set and with my experiences as an athlete and knowing my body."
Laila plans to nurse Curtis Jr., although she says, "I’m not going to be … breastfeeding my 3 year old." However, she’s "definitely breastfeeding. God gave us this gift. Our bodies are made a certain way to nurture our children."
As far as what she’s been eating, Laila admits, "I’ve always had a sweet tooth and that hasn’t changed!" She does stress that it’s important not to have too much sugar, "because that’s how you end up with a big baby — so that’s a struggle for me. I’ve been told that in my third trimester it’s really important, so I’m there and I’m really trying."
Her husband Curtis Conway is already a father of three — 13-year-old twin sons Cameron and Kelton and 9-year-old daughter Leilani — but Laila will be a first-time parent with the birth of her son. So what kind of mom will she be? "Hopefully I won’t be too strict, because that’s something I could see myself doing — being too protective and strict," Laila reveals. "I hope to be patient and fair and just a good example to my kids — and consistent. I think it’s important to teach kids values and morals, how to love themselves, and how to be a leader, not a follower."
As far as the baby carrying on the boxing tradition, Laila won’t allow it! "I just don’t want my child wanting to fight, that’s all," explains the former champion boxer and daughter of Muhammad Ali. "Hopefully the boxing ends with me in this family. If he’s going to play sports, he’ll play something else. No boxing!"
Lastly, when asked by Pregnancy if there’s anything she learned from her parents that she’d like to avoid or emulate, Laila admits, "I have a lot of things I want to avoid! Some people loved everything about their parents, but I don’t know many."
Thinking back to her childhood, Laila explains that her famous father has taught her more than a few things she’d like to pass on. The great boxer "always taught us never to step on people to get ahead. He treated people with love and respect no matter what their position in life was — I learned that from him."
The final lesson she’s learned? Laila shares, "Both my parents, regardless of their faults, are good-hearted people, and that’s what’s important to me."
Source: Pregnancy, September issue. Images courtesy Pregnancy.
Laila wears Isabella Oliver’s Scoop Top in Colbalt Blue ($75).
She also wears Joe’s Jean Socialite in Dark Kennedy with Secret Fit Belly ($210).
She also wears the Isabelle Oliver’s Wrap Cardigan in Ivory ($175).
Laila wears Lauren Kiyomi’s Kimono Top in Ivory ($60).
- Posted on Aug 21, 08 at 3:00PM
- Permalink
- 30 Comments
August 21st, 2008 at 4:27 pm
She looks GREAT!!!!
Kudos to her for admitting her weight! I love that her weight is ‘normal’ lol
August 21st, 2008 at 4:34 pm
She looks beautiful!
August 21st, 2008 at 4:48 pm
She looks beatiful, espcially in the 2nd and 3rd pictures!!!
August 21st, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Do women “attempt” a hospital birth? Why not say that she is “planning” a home birth?
August 21st, 2008 at 4:54 pm
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS POST BUT GWEN STEFANI HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO A BABY CALLED ZUMA!!! (according to E!)
August 21st, 2008 at 5:26 pm
She looks absolutely beautiful! It seems like she has been pregnant forever (just like Gwen Stefani).
)
August 21st, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Let me retract part of my statement as I just read that Gwen has delivered…ha ha!
August 21st, 2008 at 5:54 pm
She’s gorgeous. And I just love her outlook on pregnancy and delivery. She doesn’t present her view as the only way, just explains why she made the decisions she has. I hope she has an uncomplicated, natural homebirth just like she wants!
August 21st, 2008 at 6:19 pm
You appear to be doing all the right things. I have 5 children and I wish you the best of luck with your deliveries.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:35 pm
cool read. My option for delivery: PLENTY OF DRUGS!!! I don’t care to feel a thing LOL!!
Good luck Laila
August 21st, 2008 at 6:57 pm
She’s so beautiful! I just love her maternity style…haven’t seen an outfit yet that I didn’t like!
August 21st, 2008 at 7:01 pm
She looks great and seems pretty level-headed and ready for what may come. I only wish I could seem that calm when my time comes!
But, no surprise, she’s just gorgeous in the photos! I really love the one of her in the long gray sweater. She seems to glow there, as she does in each photo, but especially there. I can’t pinpoint why, but she does to me.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:10 pm
She looks great! I think she’ll make a great mama!
August 21st, 2008 at 7:15 pm
She is stunning! I hope that her plan for a home birth works out for her.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:27 pm
She is looking awesome. So happy for her
August 21st, 2008 at 7:42 pm
WOW! She looks beautiful!
August 21st, 2008 at 8:52 pm
She may not want to put a due date on the baby, but if he’s early, or he’s late, that can be dangerous. I’m sure her midwife is keeping an eye on the due date, even if she’s not. I hope everything works out the way she wants.
August 21st, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Sounds like you may have bought the Ob version of birth there Pencil. Babies come when they are ready. Of course if they are born before 36 weeks they may need a little assistance but babies dont really come late
They come when they are ready. There is almost never a need to induce babies from 10 days post “due date”. In fact that can be a dangerous exercise and sadly contributes to the ridiculously high c section rates we have in the western world 
Good on you Laila! I hope your birth is joyous and empowering
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:46 am
well said, K. i really admire laila & i love seeing a healthy woman in the public eye. i’ve always thought she was gorgeous & now she is gorgeous AND glowing! good luck, laila! happy birthing!
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:09 am
She is one of the most gorgeous and stunning persons I know.
She beats almost everyone i hollywood with her look, she is beautiful
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:37 am
She was a McDonald’s “PATIENT”?
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 am
I hope she has a wonderful delivery – I didn’t have meds myself, but it wasn’t by choice…just got to the hospital too late! I wish I had just stayed home like Laila will, since I was there all of 15 minutes before delivering anyway. She’ll be fine, it feels so empowering to see your body give birth naturally. Painful yes, but that’s the way I’m having the rest of my children.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
She’s very stunning in those pictures. I like the cover shot. I love the blue shirt. I know when I have my baby (Feb 09), I will be in the hospital with lots and lots of meds. LOL!!! i’m not that brave to have a home birth. LOL!!!
She is so happy and glowing. Congrats to her and her hubby.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Unsurprisingly, she looks just beautiful. And I’m sure she is in very good shape, so hopefully her delivery will go exactly as desired because what a WONDERFUL experience it would be to have the baby naturally, at home! Wow!
I think what Pencils was trying to say is that if the baby is too big there can also sometimes be problems. And it’s true. But Laila is a big girl, so I really doubt that will happen. I’d bet money that she will just pop that little guy out effortlessly!
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I love her. Celebs like this do a lot for the home birthing and breastfeeding movements.
Good for her.
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
so she won’t be nursing a three-year-old??? HA! let’s revisit that in three yrs…LOL i said the same thing both times! ds2 was nursed FIVE yrs!!!
betcha beautiful laila turns out to be a mom that grows in crunchiness as the baby grows.
August 23rd, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I haven’t “bought into” anything, K. After 40 weeks, the placenta begins to deteriorate. The baby gets larger and larger–which could definitely be a problem for someone like Laila, who is big to begin with (as I am.) Babies are more likely to release meconium after 40 weeks. There are a lot of reasons why you shouldn’t wait indefinitely beyond 40 weeks–I’m not saying you should induce after 40 weeks and one day, but an overdue woman should be closely monitored. What’s more important here, a healthy baby and mother, or being “natural?” Personally, as a woman who is 36 weeks pregnant, I’m more interested in a safe delivery.
I think Laila has a great outlook–however, if anything does go wrong, I hope she’s not setting herself up for unnecessary disappointment, because she sounds so sure. She can’t know that she’s definitely going to breast feed, she only knows that she’s going to do her best. As I said, I hope everything works out for her the way she wants.
August 24th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
She looks great!
August 25th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
first off she looks gorgeous and sooo lovely..secondly my second baby is a week old and he was 9 days overdue but what was alarming was that he hadnt any amniotic fluid left and the placenta was showing signs of deterioration so after a failed induction i had to do an emerg c-section ..i was in labour for 28hrs before we decided to just do the c-sect as baby was in distress. I think that women shld understand we are all different and i hope laila has a wonderful smooth birth.
August 28th, 2008 at 5:53 am
i just love her. for a boxer to even think of having a child. i am really proud of her. Go laila