Jenna Dewan gave birth to her son, Callum, in March right before the world went into lockdown.
Now the 39-year-old dancer and actress has told People about the struggles she has faced as a new mom during a pandemic.
Though Dewan also has a seven-year-old daughter, Everly with ex Channing Tatum, 40, the Flirty Dancing host has had to find new ways to balance motherhood and herself during an unprecedented time with her 44-year-old fiance Steve Kazee.
Balancing act: Jenna Dewan, 39 gave birth to her second child Callum one week before the world shut down. The actress got candid with People about trying to balance herself, her kids and her fiance in an unprecedented time
Night out: Prior to their engagement or family plans, Jenna and Steve are pictured at the premier of WWE Friday Night Smackdown in October, 2019
In her candid conversation with People, Dewan talked about this pivotal adjustment period in her life. The Gracefully You author has written a whole book on finding ‘beauty and balance in the everyday’ but sometimes even she needs a reminder to care for herself as mother of two.
‘I had to remember that I needed to look after myself too, during this whole process’.
She continued, ‘I’ve been trying to find time for centering and balance with meditation. That’s been hugely important after having a baby. You kind of come back into yourself and take some me time.’
Like most new mothers in this time Dewan is trying to find ways to spend time with her two young kids and fiance, while also focusing on the things that heal her body and soul need like pilates and meditation.
Bouncing back: Dewan discusses the aftermath of getting a C-section to give birth to son Callum w
Since the entertainment industry shut down, Dewan has really tried to reconnect with the things that make her feel at home in her body and skin, though at times managing it all can be tough.
‘I feel powerful from dancing, Pilates, strength training, hiking — it’s really about getting my body moving and feeling the strength come back, because when I am a little too sedentary and not moving my body as much, I definitely notice that it affects my mind, it affects my willpower, my emotional state’ she says.
The Step Up actress added that she constantly aims to find things that ‘remind her to keep a strong body’, especially being a woman who made a whole career out of her passion for dancing and movement.
Keep it moving: Jenna says she feels ‘powerful from dancing, Pilates, strength training and hiking’ and opts to move at times when she feels like she has been a bit to sedentary
Jenna goes on to discuss her recovery after having Callum, five months, in a C-section and how specific products from her partnership with Renew Life – a supplement and probiotic brand – helped her re-achieve optimal gut health.
She credits their products for helping her attain a speedy recovery after giving birth, both in her body and mind saying that she noticed she was less bloated, had clearer skin and also lost the baby ‘brain fog’ after taking the product.
She also added that the product has helped her feel less restricted diet wise for those times when she wants to ‘enjoy life.’
‘I try to eat healthy, make good choices and do my green smoothies 80 percent of the time. And then I give myself 20 percent of the time to splurge and eat what I want to eat and have my nachos and French fries and enjoy a little bit, have a glass of wine’ she said.
Enjoy life: Jenna says she gives herself some breaks when it comes to eating healthy saying she splurges on things like nachos and wine when she wants to ‘enjoy life’; August 2019
Dad on duty: Jenna’s fiance Steve Kazee won a Tony award in 2012 for his performance in the musical Once. Callum is their first child together and the couple got engaged in February
Jenna ends her heartfelt conversation, talking about how the state of the world was perhaps her biggest challenge she faced after having her son.
Finding a silver lining in all of this, she adds ‘it’s been an incredible family bonding time for all of us. We’ve been in the house without anything else distracting us, so that’s been a blessing.’
Though Jenna has not announced any upcoming acting projects, she has been really savoring the moments she has been able to spend at home with her beautiful family.