Ana Ortiz first pregnancy interview
Despite a few normal nerves about baby naming, that little even called childbirth, and the ins and outs of breastfeeding- Ugly Betty’s Ana Ortiz loves being pregnant. She even slowed down for a few minutes to tell us exactly why…
Photographed by Samantha Berg
Styled by Robert Verdi
What has surprised you the most about being pregnant?
How great it’s been! I was sort of nervous about the whole thing— just working and them not writing it into the show; I was just nervous about a whole slew of things. But I’ve just loved, loved the whole experience.
What is your least favorite thing?
The morning sickness was pretty miserable. Being nauseous for three months was horrible. I got lucky that I didn’t have to throw up.
Have you had any cravings?
This baby has definitely given me a sweet tooth. There is absolutely no way I can have dinner without dessert. It’s just really physically impossible for me. But food aversions? Not really— food has been my friend.
Any foods you can’t stand while pregnant?
At the beginning of my pregnancy everything smelled absolutely disgusting. Things that I would normally think would smell great, like onions and garlic sauteing in olive oil, absolutely turned my stomach. Normally that’s the best smell in the world for me.
How did you tell your husband you were pregnant?
I was so nauseous for a couple weeks. I just did not think I was pregnant because— maybe this is too much information— but I never get my period very regularly. So I just thought it was my body just tripping out on me in some way.
So I [said to my husband], “You know what? Can you go and get some pregnancy tests so that I can connect my mind and my body, and my body will know and I can get my period.”
He did, and in 10 minutes I was supposed to leave for work. I came out and I was like, “Babe I’m pregnant.” Then literally five minutes later I had to leave to go to work. So the two of us were completely alone soft of in a daze until we got to see each other that night.
What qualities of your husband do you hope your baby will have?
Besides his fabulous looks and his height and his slimness…I hope that the child gets his patience, because I have none and he has an infinite amount. I hope that this child gets his sense of humor because he is the funniest person I know. He’s so L.A. and I’m from New York, so I’m super hyped up running around, loud, impatient; and my husband is mellow, peaceful, patient— a nature boy. And I hope the kid gets his curly locks.
What qualities of yours do you hope the baby gets and doesn’t get?
Oh, I hope the baby gets my sense of family— my devotion and love to the family and that closeness that we all have. I hope my kid gets my rhythm and dancing abilities and not my husband’s. My husband’s a terrible dancer. And I hope she doesn’t get my temper, because I have a short fuse.
Have you picked out a name?
We’ve got a short list that we’ll probably just take to the hospital and see what she looks like. I’m so nervous about the name thing, I really am.
Do you have any fear about having the baby or the labor?
I am, I’m nervous about labor. To me, it is just so unknown; I mean I have been a birthing partner for two of my girlfriends. It was incredible and that actually helped a lot! So I think the experience became a little less scary for me.
It’s still such a different experience being on the other side of it. But you know, [my friend] is going to be there with me and my mom and my husband are going to be there, so I guess it’s going to be OK.
You know what I’m really nervous about is breastfeeding, actually. I’ve heard so many incredibly difficult stories, and its something that I really want to do, but I’m just so nervous about it.
Do you have a birth plan?
Epidural, I’m pretty sure. My girlfriend was really trying for natural and we went as far as she could. I am telling you, I felt like Shirley MacLaine in Terms of Endearment because as soon as she was like, “I think I need the epidural.” I was running in the hallway: “Get my daughter the meds! Get her the epidural!” It was just very animal, it wasn’t horrible, and it was just an incredible intense, intense thing. It’s hard to see someone you love in that kind of state.
What kind of mom was your mother?
My mother will qualify for sainthood. I don’t even know where to begin; my childhood was really incredible thanks to her. Between she and my grandmother, the women in my family are so powerful, and I just feel really lucky that I’m having a little girl to continue that.
What kind of mom do you hope to be?
I hope to be creative and patient and loving and hopeful. My mom had so much [creativity]. We were so broke growing up and I would have never known.
What’s been your favorite thing about being pregnant?
Going through this experience with my husband and his reaction to it all. It has brought us so close. He has been more incredible than I could of even possibly have imagined. I don’t think there’s been a day that has gone by that he hasn’t been like, “You are so beautiful. You look amazing. You look beautiful.” And it’s not placating to make me feel better. It’s just so genuine and for me that has been a real eye-opening and beautiful part of the whole thing.
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