Rhythm City’sNiki tells us about her newborn baby and juggling motherhood and a demanding TV career.
In the storyline Niki is currently missing and Suffocate will stop at nothing to find her. But in real life 26-year-old Nolo Phiri has just welcomed her first baby! Nolo, who hails from Musina in Limpopo, recently gave birth to a baby boy and is still on maternity leave. We chat to her about how her life has changed.
Congratulations on the birth of your baby! Tell us about the new addition to your family.
Thanks a lot! About a month ago I gave birth to my first child – a boy. I had a natural birth because I wanted to experience the natural passage of motherhood. My partner and I named him Leruo, which means wealth.
Is there any special reason behind the name you chose?
Yes, personally I wanted a name that had a cultural meaning for both my partner and I. The name Leruo encompasses all of those aspects since it’s about wealth and heritage and lineage.
What’s a typical day like for you now?
My day usually starts around 6AM. I spend the better part of my morning feeding Leruo and giving him attention. Between 12 and 1PM I head to the gym for a workout. I’m trying to lose the weight I gained during pregnancy. I have a helper at home who looks after Leruo while I’m away. After gym, I head back home to more breastfeeding. My son hasn’t grasped the idea of sleeping at night and does this during the day! So in the late afternoon, I get time to cook and attend to my emails. At night I get about five hours of sleep since Leruo wants to eat and play. I usually have to wake up two to three times to check up on him.
Are you missing work, or are you enjoying your time at home?
I miss being productive and being out there. When you’re pregnant I believe there is a part of you that detaches from everything. I’m getting used to this; however I still miss the energy from my work. But, getting back into shape has been keeping me busy. I believe to feel great, I need to look great.
Your fans want to know when you’re returning to Rhythm City.
I’m going back to work next month. My shoots commence in June, but because shoots are done months in advance, my fans should expect to see me around August or September. With regards to what they can expect, all I can say is - a dramatic comeback for a bigger and better Niki!
How are you planning on juggling a demanding career and the demands of being a mother?
I don’t a have a run-down plan, but juggling the two has been done by other women and I believe I can too. I have the support of my partner, friends, family and my colleagues from Rhythm City. I am fairly young and I have energy. I am very confident that I will cope.
Catch Rhythm City Monday to Friday at 6.30PM.
