Jen Affleck, nine weeks after giving birth to her third child, told the New York Post she prioritized rest, a pregnancy pillow and Bio-Oil during pregnancy and has new household rules for husband Zac now that their daughter Penelope — nicknamed Penny — has arrived.
Affleck, who is preparing for a Dancing With the Stars debut while recovering from childbirth, described self-care as her top must-have and said she has deliberately eased her workload. "Taking time for myself," she said, "also working less and not feeling bad about that, because I think it’s so important to listen to your body." She added that pregnancy is "one of the hardest things you’ll ever do" and that rest is crucial both for mothers and their children.
Affleck, 26, listed five pregnancy must-haves: prioritizing self-care, a pregnancy pillow, Bio-Oil, dancing and moderation. She said she "could not live without" a pregnancy pillow to get comfortable at night and that she used Bio-Oil morning and night through all her pregnancies. Affleck is starring in a new campaign for Bio-Oil and said the product helped hydrate her skin and likely helped prevent stretch marks.
Dancing is a recurring theme in Affleck’s routine; she said moving with her children keeps her happy and is part of the reason she signed on to the televised dance competition. She also emphasized balance, saying she tries not to "obsess over specific things, whether it is work or what I look like or diet."
Affleck acknowledged a change in her professional schedule during pregnancy: she pulled out of filming The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives partway through Season 2 to prioritize health and family. The season and her participation were disrupted as she adjusted to pregnancy and, later, to caring for three young children.
Home life shifted after Penny’s July 2 birth. Affleck said that because Zac Affleck is not in school this time, he takes the morning shift with the children so she can rest after nighttime feedings. With their first two children, Nora and Lucas, she said he was in school and she handled most early-morning duties; the new arrangement gives her an opportunity to reclaim some sleep during the day, though she added that the children still wake her on some mornings.
Affleck’s comments come as she balances postpartum recovery, family life with three children under three and commitments to both a branded campaign and a high-profile television competition. She framed her decisions in practical terms, urging other mothers to listen to their bodies and to allow work and personal expectations to shift during pregnancy and after childbirth.
