REBECCA LIM

As actor Rebecca Lim prepares to embrace the most demanding role of her life motherhood - she reflects on the profound changes and self-realisations that this transformative period has brought forth.

This is a love story. Though not in the conventional sense. This is a tale of self-love and self-discovery, one that's unfolded over Rebecca Lim's pregnancy journey.

"Pregnancy has taught me a lot of things," says the 37-year-old actor. Our conversation takes place when she's in her last stretch of pregnancy, at 38 weeks.

Throughout her pregnancy term, Rebecca has engaged in events, and done a couple of shoots for media features. Yet, it has been some time since she has had the opportunity to be in front of the camera for such an extended period, especially considering she hasn't filmed a new show since the start of her pregnancy.

During the cover shoot, there's a subtle wistfulness in her expression as she reviews the shots - it seems that in the past few months, her life has changed so much that even a regular work moment brings her a sense of joy she might have forgotten.

How has everything been so far, given that this is her first child? "Actually, this is my second - I have a secret child," she says with a smile, before breaking out into laughter.

Though we're speaking just after our lengthy six-hour cover shoot, her spirits remain high despite her gruelling day in front of the camera. Her playful demeanour, marked by jokes and frequent smiles that punctuate her sentences, manifests throughout our conversation.

"Kidding! I'm just kidding! Well, everything has been very good for me so far in this trimester. No complaints, just the usual low energy and some lethargy," she says.

While Rebecca didn't have severe morning sickness, her first trimester required ample bed rest due to instances of instability in the pregnancy, causing pain and bleeding. She notes that her age might have contributed to the challenges during those initial months. Changes were also expected, she says. "Physically, definitely. You feel it, you see it. Everyone sees it."