As a first-time mom over 40, these sneakers were my best companions every step of the way
I’ll be honest: I’m not great with exercise. I grew up in the city, so walking everywhere comes naturally. And truthfully, it’s pretty much my only form of exercise. But when I found out I was pregnant, I had no idea how much those daily walks (and my sneakers) would come to mean to me.
I worked from home throughout my entire pregnancy, so my daily walks with my dog Tofu became my little ritual. It was my moment to disconnect, breathe, and move. Later, during my second trimester, I started prenatal pelvic floor therapy to help prepare my body for labor, but walking stayed my go-to form of movement.
We have two dogs. Luna, our rescue from Alabama who came to us from Texas, is sweet but very anxious. She likes to army crawl and jump whenever she sees another dog or person. So my husband walks her, and Tofu and I enjoy our peaceful city walks together.
Since I was walking so much and carrying extra pregnancy weight, I needed really comfortable shoes. I’d heard amazing things about Hoka and also considered On Cloud, but after visiting the Hoka flagship store in the Flatiron District, I was sold. I tried on a few pairs and went with the Bondi 9, which offers the best cushioning and support for walking. (I’m not sure if they’re good for running, but that wasn’t exactly my plan anyway, ha!)
I wore those white sneakers with everything. Dresses, wide-leg pants, leggings. You name it. I wore them so much they went from white to gray. Eventually, I got the same pair in black because, let’s be real, I wasn’t going to spend my weekends trying to scrub them clean.
And it wasn’t just the sneakers. I lived in my white baseball cap — the same one I wore to the hospital on delivery day — but that’s a story for another time.
Looking back, I realize how much those sneakers carried me through my pregnancy: my walks with Tofu and my doctor appointments. Sometimes, comfort really is found in the simplest things.
If you’re pregnant, postpartum, or just walking your own path, find the shoes that carry you. Comfort can be chic, and sometimes that’s all we need to keep going.
You can now read this blog in Spanish at Soy Nueva Mama!