usy Philipps, the actress from television’s Dawson’s Creek and the new movie Made of Honor, is about to get even busier. Due in August, she and husband, writer Marc Silverstein, will welcome a new little girl into their lives.
We had a chance to chat with her about all things baby...
The Cradle: What inspired your parents to name you Busy, and do you plan on naming your child a name that is different or unique?
Busy: My given name was Elizabeth. Busy was a nickname that was perfect for when I was a baby. But, by the time I was 6 months old, my mom stopped referring to me as Elizabeth at all and it was just Busy. It was an immediate nickname.
We’re at an impasse on the name thing as far as our baby is concerned. We don’t know. We have a list, and I think we’re just going to take the list to the hospital and choose when she’s born.
The Cradle: Are you thinking of names that are unusual or traditional?
Busy: A little bit of both. We had the name if it were a boy... but with a girl, we’re having real issues with it! It’s hard. It’s a lot of responsibility. And I feel like the name has the tendency to dictate the kind of person that you become. I think I’m definitely a “Busy”!
So it’s a big responsibility. Plus, my husband is a writer. I think we’re over-thinking it at this point.
The Cradle: Since you’re an actress, how has it been for you sharing your pregnancy with the public?
Busy: Well, it’s been surprising because I never think that anyone cares about me at all. And it turns out they care more about you when you’re pregnant, so it’s been a little shocking that people are very interested. I think it’s because it’s such a positive thing and everyone loves babies and the public wants to see how actors and actresses deal with it or how they go through it.
But getting ready for the Made of Honor premiere was a little stressful just because you want to look good at the premiere of your movie and you have 30 extra pounds on you. So it was a little nerve-racking finding the right dress.
The Cradle: What have been your biggest pregnancy cravings?
Busy: I feel like I’m past the craving stage, but I am drinking a lot of milk... I’m having a lot of dairy. And I eat peanut butter toast almost every day. I’m down with the peanut butter!
The Cradle: Did you have to give up any of your favorite foods?
Busy: None of the giving-up stuff has been difficult for me. It seems like such a small sacrifice for the health and safety of my baby that it doesn’t even seem like an issue for me that I can’t have a glass of wine or eat sushi or have soft, unpasteurized cheeses. I’m not doing deli meats and early on in my pregnancy all I really wanted was turkey sandwiches. But alas, no turkey sandwiches for me.
The Cradle: What have been some of your pregnancy essentials?
Busy: I have one of those giant, huge U-shaped body pillows and I love it. In fact, we were traveling for a couple of weeks for the Made of Honor premiere and I was in New York. I didn’t have my pillow with me and it was hard to sleep without it.
And I’ve been using this stretch mark cream from Israel that my friend gave me. I don’t even know what it’s called because it’s all in Hebrew, but she swears by it and I haven’t gotten any stretch marks yet. She bought a bunch of it and gives it to all her pregnant friends.
The Cradle: How would you describe your pregnancy style?
Busy: It’s been hard for me because I’m one of those people who loves to dress up and wear something different every time I go out. And I have an extensive wardrobe that I haven’t been able to wear, so I’ve been trying to be as creative as possible. I’ve been shopping at places like H&M, Forever 21, and Urban Outfitters so I can get bigger sizes [of] cool clothes that are kind of cheap. But the splurges for me have been the designer jeans, and I love those belly bands.
The Cradle: Tell us about your upcoming acting work.
Busy: I’m playing a pregnant woman – it’s a recurring part – on the television show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I start filming the first or second week of June and they’re going to tape three to four episodes before I have the baby. So it’ll take me up until the middle to end of July, and then my baby is due in August.
But I am so excited to be able to work while I’m pregnant – it’s going to be a blast!
The Cradle: After your baby arrives, how will you balance your work life and your life as a new mom?
Busy: I think you have to have a play-it-by-ear attitude. But I plan on breastfeeding, so if I do go back to work right away, the baby will visit me with the nanny and hang out so I can feed the baby, or I’ll be pumping. But, you know, it depends. If I go back to work while the baby is really little, I think I’d rather have the baby and the nanny come to work with me. But we’ll just have to wait and see.
The Cradle: Will you have a baby nurse at the beginning?
Busy: Yes. I talked to a lot of people [about this]... some didn’t have baby nurses, some had daytime doulas, and some swear by a baby nurse. So I think that if I am going back to work while the baby is little, having those first few weeks getting some rest and being able to have someone to help me figure out how to do this will be incredibly helpful.
The Cradle: Is there a parenting style that you want to adopt?
Busy: Well, we’re not co-sleeping. I’m all for what people want to do in their home, but I need my bed. I’m a terrible sleeper... I toss and turn and flip, and it would just be a disaster if there were a baby there. And I think it’s important for a kid to have their own space. So we’re not co-sleeping, not doing the family bed.
And I think we’re going to aim for some sleep training. In my experience, my friends who have babies who sleep are generally happier and it makes things easier. So I think that’s what our goal is going to be.
The Cradle: Are there women in your life that you look up to as moms, and if so, what are some of the qualities that you admire?
Busy: I have so many friends who are mothers. I’m incredibly lucky to be surrounded by amazing women who are fantastic mothers, and I think I’ve learned something from watching each of them. And one thing I’ve learned is that it’s all going to be okay and to relax a little bit. The baby is going to be okay. And listening to your kid and taking them seriously is really important. Although it’s hard not to laugh when they do bad things! I have a feeling that Marc and I are going to struggle with that.
The Cradle: What’s the best advice you’ve received about pregnancy or new parenthood?
Busy: The thing that everyone says is get The Happiest Baby on the Block. That is the one thing that all of my friends swear by – the 5 S’s.
The Cradle: What kind of birth experience are you hoping for?
Busy: I’m not going to do an epidural. I’m going to do natural childbirth. We did a HypnoBirthing class, so I’ve been practicing that. I’ve had several friends that have had great success with HypnoBirthing and the techniques.
And I don’t know how to explain it, but I’ve also always known since I was young that I wasn’t going to have pain medication when I gave birth. I believe that it’s a very personal choice, but I really believe that this is something our bodies are able to do naturally, and we should get out of our body’s way and let [it] do it. So while we are going to have a hospital birth, we’re also planning on spending a lot of our labor in our home, which is where our midwife is going to be, and then she’s coming to the hospital with us too.
I’ve been doing a lot of reading, and I feel really prepared. Yet, that being said, if something were to happen, I really trust my doctor. So if the baby needs to be born another way that I can’t be in control of, then that’s the way the baby is going to be born.
I feel incredibly prepared for the kind of birth that I want to have, but half of it is up to the baby and what she wants to do. We’ll see what kind of birth she has planned!
usy Philipps, the actress from television’s Dawson’s Creek and the new movie Made of Honor, is about to get even busier. Due in August, she and husband, writer Marc Silverstein, will welcome a new little girl into their lives.
We had a chance to chat with her about all things baby...
