36th week nearly over! It’s getting close 🙂 I can’t wait to hold our little angel in my arms… In this week’s post I would like to share with you my HypnoBirthing experience. Cause I really do think every pregnant woman should at least know that HypnoBirthing exists. Enjoy xxx
The symptoms I am supposed to have in weeks 35 & 36 (and how I am really feeling)
Little Miss M
Last Saturday, we had a “rendez-vous” with our little Miss M – and the good news is that she turned again! 😀 I couldn’t be happier! While my pregnancy app tells me that our little angel is now about the size of a honeydew melon, my doctor told me that she was quite “petite” (but totally fine and healthy) with her 2.5kg. Well, honestly, I am glad that she is not on the 4kg+ side as I am not super tall myself haha!
My doula explained that Miss M’s head might be starting to engage now in readiness for the start of the labor. However, this is more likely to happen this early for a first pregnancy. She still suggested to measure the height of my belly regularly to see if there is a change. So far, nothing…
However, I can feel that Miss M’s movements have changed as she is probably having less room. Last week I was pretty close to heading to Al Zahra as I didn’t feel her much during one entire day! I called Dr. Anni instead who told me to drink something very cold and sweet to see how our little lady would react to this. I did this immediately – and ate some chocolate just to make sure the sugar level is high enough (any excuse to eat chocolate is welcome, right haha?!). She did move a bit after that but she only really responded when my husband placed his hand on my belly in the evening. Pfff. Already daddy’s girl 😉 Well, apparently, towards the end of the pregnancy, a baby can have periods when she is moving less. However, there should always be some strong kicks every day.
This week’s topic
I have to say that I am feeling quite calm and relaxed considering the fact that Miss M’s expected due date is only a few weeks away now. And this is not because I am a generally calm and relaxed person, believe me. I love things to be planned and organized and, well, birth is unfortunately (fortunately?!) nothing you can really plan. You can prepare yourself but you will never really know when (and how!) labor will start (except if you have a planned C-section, of course). Yep, there’s this thing about labor: it will always remain unpredictable to a certain extent. And unpredictable things usually tend to freak me out a bit…
So, if I am rather calm and relaxed this time that’s mainly because I am surrounded by amazing people this time: My husband, of course. Cause I know that he will be there for me when labor starts (if he is physically in Dubai that is…). Our nanny. Because she has succeeded in creating a real bond with little L after only some weeks and because I know that I won’t need to worry about Luca when I will need to go to the hospital. My gynecologist, Dr. Anni, simply because she is not only very skilled, especially when it comes to VBACs but also very calm and reassuring. I trust her completely. My doula, which I know since we have arrived in Dubai, a long time before I got pregnant with Miss M. Knowing that she will be here for me during these last pregnancy weeks and on my side during labor means a lot to me. And finally, my / our HypnoBirthing teacher Elizabeth (you can read more about her on her website).
I won’t be able to share my husband or nanny with you, nor should I probably recommend one particular doula or gynecologist as this is a very personal choice (but I can tell you that IF you want a natural birth and especially if you want a VBAC, Dr. Anni is the right person for you 😉 ). But I can definitely tell you one thing: Give HypnoBirthing a Go!
I should add that I am about to write about one particular HypnoBirthing program: The WiseHippo Birthing Program (don’t question the name, there is an explanation for it 😉 ). I am also talking about one particular teacher: Elizabeth. And one particular kind of method: Elizabeth came to see my husband and me at home on five evenings. I have to admit that 8-11pm may not be the best timing but we had no nanny and therefore nobody to look after little L when we started the sessions. So, for us, these one-to-one evening sessions were the perfect solution. Some couples may prefer to share a class with other couples (and this is totally possible) but I personally prefer to be in my pajamas when it comes to birth preparation sessions 😉
While I was honestly a bit skeptical when we met Elizabeth for the first time (and I am not even talking about my husband here haha), I am now more than convinced that learning more about HypnoBirthing was the best idea I’ve had in a long time. I wonder why there are so few mums-to-be who know about the benefits of HypnoBirthing. I wish I had known about it when I was pregnant with little L. This would have made a huge difference. Probably, I would never have agreed to induce labor two weeks before little L’s due date. And maybe I would never have had a C-section. But that’s another story.
5 important things HypnoBirthing taught me:
(NB: I copy-paste however the following note taken from my HypnoBirthing book as this seems quite important to mention: “[The HypnoBirthing] program is NOT an alternative to medical advice. Should you have any concerns at any point during your pregnancy please consult with your medical professional.”)
I am not trying to say that every woman should do HypnoBirthing. But it might be worth getting some information on it. It might be just the right thing for you. It certainly is for me! It is like the first gift I am offering Miss M. Something I am doing for the both of us. It’s also some private time with my little baby girl.
NB: There are several people teaching HypnoBirthing in Dubai. Elizabeth was the right choice for us but you might want to have a look at Jasmine’s HypnoBirthing classes as well about which I have heard good things.
Must haves for Miss M
When little L was born we faced one problem we didn’t think about at all when I was pregnant: the ceiling light in his room was super bright – really aggressive at night when we needed to change Luca’s nappy (for both him and us, by the way). We needed to change the bulbs but even that wasn’t enough… So, this time, I want to make sure Miss M’s room would be nice and cosy at night, when we would need to change her nappies and nurse her (I don’t like to nurse in bed). Of course, there are numerous possibilities to achieve this. But some are, let’s say, “trendier” and more fun than others 😉
When looking for a nice little lamp for Miss M’s room I came across the lightboxes of A Little Lovely Company. Gorgeous! You have three options:
– a lightbox in A5 format
– one in A4 format
– and a poster lightbox
While the poster lightbox gives you the possibility to display and illuminate a nice selection of posters (themes are for example Little Girl, Little Boy, Love etc.), the A4 and A5 lightboxes have three and two rows respectively to light up any quotes or messages you want to see written on your nursery wall (or on a shelf). I love this idea!
You can order them on the A Little Lovely Company website and ask them to ship the lightboxes to Dubai or, if you want to get them to your home as rapidly as possible, you can find them at the Caramel and Sun store in Mercato Mall. The poster lightbox can also be ordered online on www.thebowerycompany.com.
IG: @alittlelovelycompany, @caramelandsun, @thebowerycompany
xxx
Tani
Hi there! I’m Tani De Gregorio. The one behind this little blog. ‘Our big Dubai adventure’ started about three years ago when I quit my job in a multinational in Switzerland to follow my husband to sunny Dubai where we are living now with our two little munchkins, Luca (3) and Maëva (nearly 2).
This blog is not about the glamorous life of an expat wife. There’s just too many baby wipes and too few high heels in my life for that.
Instead, it’s about our daily adventures in the sandpit. About motherhood away from home. It’s about the kids. About fun things for them to do. Things you might not have heard of otherwise. It’s about workshops. And cool places to explore. In this amazing city we call home. At least for a little while…
1
Confessions of a newly appointed mummy of 2
1
Nursery? Here's a little update
1
LEAVE A REPLY
This is such a wonderful and helpful post. I went to marina medical center for my pregnancy check ups and its doing pretty well but i wanna try this as well.
Thanks a lot, Nicole
I am very happy if the post was helpful for you! Congratulations on your pregnancy and all the best 
Thank you for posting this wonderful blog post about pregnancy! Definitely very helpful for me as I am also an expecting mom and I go to Marina Medical Centre for check ups. I cant wait to deliver this pretty boy! Good luck with your pregnancy too!
Thanks so much, Mona
Wish you all the best for your pregnancy! I’m very happy if my posts could help you. I am still waiting for our baby girl to arrive. Hopefully, I will be able to meet her soon 
Thank for for this very informative post. And all the best, Tani!