Exclusive: Pregnant Lea Michele Reveals When She Feels Most ‘Empowered’ as a Mom — & How She Maximizes 5 Minutes of Me-Time

Nobody would accuse Lea Michele of being insecure. She didn’t belt out “Don’t Rain on my Parade” on Glee — and later, on Broadway in Funny Girl — because she doubted herself. However, the 37-year-old singer and actor is still human, after all, which means she isn’t perfectly self-assured all the time. In fact, one area that she worries about is something all too relatable: motherhood! Michele opened up about parenting her son Ever Leo, who turns 4 next month, and managing a second pregnancy with husband Zandy Reich, in a new interview with SheKnows. She even revealed what makes her feel the most “empowered” while momming, and we’re taking notes.

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Michele’s secret to parenting self-confidence is actually really simple: always being prepared. “I’m preparing as much as I can for baby number two,” she tells SheKnows , adding that this is a trick she mastered with Ever. “What I learned from being a first-time mom is that all we can do is be as prepared as possible.”

It’s good advice! And one that Michele has modeled during difficult parenting experiences, like when Ever had to go to the hospital for a “scary health issue” last year. Now she does her best to keep her son healthy and safe.

“As a mother, I do everything I can to prevent sickness from entering our household — whether it’s washing our hands, eating well, or taking our vitamins,” Michele, who is partnering with Children’s Tylenol , says. “However, it’s always good to be prepared to deal with any sickness that does sneak in, so you feel empowered as a parent.”

In addition to helping you feel empowered, keeping all the essentials on hand will also help you to “stay calm.” “Knowing you have the right products on hand to alleviate any pain or discomfort your child may have helps provide some comfort,” she explains. As a mom of three, I’m all too familiar with this. Like on a recent summer vacation, when my 2-year-old spiked a high fever, and I had to go out in the middle of the night to pick up some Tylenol to bring down his temperature. No mom likes seeing their little one in pain!

Michele says she’s “excited” to partner with Children’s Tylenol, which is the #1 pediatrician-recommended pain and fever brand. “When I was pregnant with my son, our pediatrician recommended we fill our first aid cabinets with all the necessary products,” she recalls. “When our son had his first ear infection or fever, I was so happy we already had our first aid cabinets filled with the things we needed like Children’s Tylenol Dye-Free Cherry Liquid.”

“I’m applying that to my second pregnancy and filling all our cabinets as well as checking expiration dates to be as prepared as we possibly can be,” she adds.

The Scream Queens star also makes sure to take care of herself. (It’s the whole put-your-oxygen-mask-on-first philosophy.) And even though she has an “incredible support system,” Michele is still very busy. So she maximizes her self-care time, even if it’s just a few minutes.

“Self-care for me is so important!” Michele says. “As a mom, it is sometimes hard to find the time, so when I have an extra 5-10 minutes, I try to squeeze in as much self-care time as I can, whether it be a little meditation or taking an extra-long shower.” She even takes “everything showers,” complete with luxe products and a hydrating belly mask!

“Just finding the time to do the things that make me feel good I’ve found to be very helpful,” she says.

Especially because life is a lot more hectic this time around, now that she is pregnant and raising a toddler. “Pregnancy is much different than when I was pregnant with my first,” she reveals. “During my first pregnancy, I was living in California, and it was during the pandemic, and I was at home a lot. Now I’m in New York on the busy streets chasing after a 4-year-old.” Talk about exhausting!

Luckily, she’s handling it all with ease, and we aren’t surprised at all. “I’m feeling really good and strong as I enter the end of my pregnancy,” she reveals. And she’s not the only one feeling good. Her toddler is “so excited!” to have a baby sister. Michele continues, “He’s been really sweet and is looking forward to becoming a big brother.” Aww!

“Motherhood certainly has its ups and downs,” Michele adds. “But at the end of the day, to have the gift of your children, is just the greatest blessing one can ask for.”

Before you go, check out the most jaw-dropping celebrity baby showers .