MISSION STATEMENT

ANNA GETTY WANTS MOMS-TO-BE TO FEEL EMPOWERED BY AND IN THEIR JOURNEY
TO MOTHERHOOD AND BEYOND. HERE, SHE TELLS THE FAMILY GROOVE ABOUT
PREGNANCY AWARENESS MONTH, WHY IT'S EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO BE GREEN,
AND HOW PLANS AND NEW BABIES JUST DON'T MIX.

Four Parts of PAM After creating a successful line of pre- and postnatal
yoga DVDs, Anna Getty felt the urge to do more to help
women through the amazing experience that is pregnancy.
As the creator of PureStyle Living, Getty's online answer to
helping people find physical, spiritual and emotional balance in their lives, she is aiming to reach millions of moms nationwide with her newest campaign: Pregnancy Awareness Month (PAM). May 2010 marks the third year of Getty's effort to nurture women before, during and after pregnancy.

THE FAMILY GROOVE: What inspired you to create Pregnancy Awareness Month?
ANNA GETTY: I want to encourage women to step into their powers as a mom-to-be. It can be an exciting time, but also a scary time. I want to help women navigate through the confusion. The campaign consists of four parts: nutrition, education, pampering and exercise. I definitely want women to get information and take it through the rest of pregnancy to birth to motherhood. Even if they get that one little nugget of information that they take with them, I’m fine with that—sometimes that’s all it takes.

TFG: With regard to the four parts of PAM (nutrition, exercise, pampering and education), what will women learn each week? That is, what do you want to see women take away from each component?
AG: I don’t want women to be overwhelmed. But for a basic idea, we’re thinking the nutrition component would give women tips on how to improve how they eat. For example, it’s good to eat leafy greens during pregnancy, but if the woman doesn’t like the taste, we can offer tips on how to blend spinach into a fruit smoothie. For the education component, it’s really a broad area: What kind of birth do you envision? How do you get toxins out of your home? The nurturing component will be to remind women to do something for themselves once a week and continue that into early motherhood and beyond. Our children learn how to take care of themselves by watching us. The part on exercise will help women find a gentle exercise for their own pregnancy.

TFG: What kind of role do you expect the partner to take with regard to Pregnancy Awareness Month?
AG: I truly believe birth is a woman’s business. I was very fortunate to have a wonderful husband who supported me during my labor and afterward with raising our child. I hope all women have a support system. But while Pregnancy Awareness Month is all-inclusive, it is primarily for the women to learn and get more information about all the wonderful changes taking place in their lives.

TFG: What’s one piece of advice you would give to moms-to-be, something that you wish you had known before you became a mom?
AG: Go with the flow. That’s something I took to heart when other moms and my mentors would tell me that. Ultimately, no matter what you do, the baby is going to do what the baby is going to do. You have to just accept what is, and then be open to it. “My way or the highway” isn’t going to work. A lot of new mothers drive themselves crazy because they all want to plan things so perfectly—and that’s not going to happen.

TFG: On a different but related note, your website touts the importance of being eco-conscious. What’s one thing a busy mom can do to contribute to making this earth a greener place?
AG: The easiest thing to do is just recycle. It amazes me how many people don’t actually recycle—just doing that makes a huge difference. Also, use cloth bags. I never go anywhere without mine. I keep them in the car to make it easier. That sets such a great example for our kids. My daughter doesn’t have a concept of what a plastic bag is. If more and more children experience that, it’s easier for them when they grow up to be more conscious.

For more from Anna Getty and to learn more about Pregnancy Awareness Month, visit www.purestyleliving.com and www.pregnancyawarenessmonth.com.

Anna and her daughter Inda
Photo by Ron Hama

—Tara Pringle Jefferson

Tara Pringle Jefferson is a freelance writer living in Cleveland, Ohio.

MISSION STATEMENT

ANNA GETTY WANTS MOMS-TO-BE TO FEEL EMPOWERED BY AND IN THEIR JOURNEY TO MOTHERHOOD AND BEYOND. HERE, SHE TELLS THE FAMILY GROOVE ABOUT PREGNANCY AWARENESS MONTH, WHY IT'S EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO BE GREEN, AND HOW PLANS AND NEW BABIES JUST DON'T MIX.

ANNA GETTY WANTS MOMS-TO-BE TO FEEL EMPOWERED BY AND IN THEIR JOURNEY
TO MOTHERHOOD AND BEYOND. HERE, SHE TELLS THE FAMILY GROOVE ABOUT
PREGNANCY AWARENESS MONTH, WHY IT'S EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO BE GREEN,
AND HOW PLANS AND NEW BABIES JUST DON'T MIX.