Weeks 28-29: My Birth Plan

11 February 201630 March 2016Leave a comment

Wow… Just like that I am in the third pregnancy trimester already! Suddenly, everything is going quite fast! Next week, we will start the HypnoBirthing classes and I am starting to think more and more about the D-Day… So, this post will be about delivery and birth. And about why I think I will write a birth plan this time😉

The symptoms I am supposed to have in weeks 28 and 29 (and how I am really feeling)

Breathlessness: In the last trimester, the baby pushes more and more up and squashes the mum’s lungs. This can cause breathlessness and, even though I am only at the beginning of the third trimester, I can confirm this. Well, I am not the sportiest person on earth, I have to admit. And I gained quite some weight during this pregnancy already (well, actually less then in my first pregnancy but it feels so much more!!). So, when I climb stairs or run after little L, I become out of breath quite quickly…
Restless legs syndrome (RLS): Honestly, I had never heard of this before. Not even during my first pregnancy. Apparently, pregnant woman can get an uncomfortable crawly sensation in their lower legs towards the end of their pregnancy. This sensation appears when you’re resting and only goes away when you move your legs. Lack of iron is one of the main causes of RLS; too much caffeine can make it worse. My legs do feel heavy and I sometimes (rarely) have some cramps at night but, thankfully, no sign of RLS for now.
Insomnia: Yes. Unfortunately. Is it due to the bizarre dreams that make me wake up every second night or so? Or rather little L and his lovely 18-months sleep regression? Or maybe my hurting hips (guess this comes from changing my sleeping position… I try to sleep on the side as this is suggested during pregnancy but all the weight that is put on my right leg and hip make them hurt a lot! Maybe I should start using the nursing cushion at night…)? I don’t know really. But fact is that I am up quite often at night these days…
Return of tiredness: Well. What can I say? See point “insomnia” above haha. Yes, there is definitely a return of tiredness. There are days when I don’t feel like doing anything. Like, anything at all. I’m glad I have little L who keeps me busy and makes me forget my tiredness. But it is eventually coming back at 8pm when Luca is in bed… I hardly make it through one film or TV show without falling asleep on the sofa…

Little Miss M
Last Saturday, I had my 28 weeks scan. Oh, and the glucose tolerance test. How could I forget about this… I didn’t do the so-called oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) back in Switzerland when I was pregnant with little L as my gynecologist didn’t see the need to do so (THANK YOU, Dr. S!). Here in Dubai, it is however advised to do the OGTT (or even required by some hospitals if I got Dr. Anni right). The latter is used to detect gestational diabetes, which can be hard to diagnose sometimes and can represent a risk for pregnant women and their babies. So, on Saturday, I went to the doctor without having eaten anything (I never, really NEVER, go out of the house without having had breakfast… So, you can imagine my mood haha…). At the doctor’s, the nurse took a first blood sample to measure the level of sugar in my blood and gave me a sweet, sugary mixture to drink. Well, the least I can say is that it tasted disgusting… I felt drowsy during the next two hours when I was waiting for the other blood samples to be taken (still no food or water at this point)… Miss M on the other hand was moving around in my belly “like a headless chicken” after all the sugar she got to swallow… poor her. A second blood test one hour and a third blood test two hours later and I was finally done. Then the result after 48h that everything was ok But back to the 28 weeks scan. Miss M now weights a bit over 1.2kg and has already turned head down! This is much earlier than it was the case for Luca… Not sure if I should be happy or worried about it. Especially as my doctor told me to calm down a bit. Hmmm, we’ll see. Otherwise, Miss M seems to be perfectly fine – and that’s the good news She was hiding her face though, meaning that we didn’t really see much of her. I also learned that, at this stage in pregnancy, Miss M starts to sleep and wake at regular intervals. This sleep-wake cycle is actually quite similar to the one she will have in the first weeks after birth. So, I guess I will start writing down when she is awake to be able to prepare myself mentally😉

This week’s topic

Why I will have a birth plan this time
I didn’t have a birth plan for my first delivery back in Switzerland. I didn’t even know there was such thing as a birth plan. Funny enough cause the idea of having a “plan” for the “birth” of your child couldn’t sound more German or Swiss😉 But no, I had never heard of it before coming to Dubai.

Of course, I know that writing down a birth plan will not give me the power to control what will actually happen on the D-Day. I can hope and wish for a natural, easy, quick and painless delivery as much as I want (and, man, trust me, I do haha), if there are complications or if Miss M doesn’t want to show up at all, what can you do… But at least, I can write down my wishes and make them clear to my doctor, my doula and maybe even the midwives at Al Zahra Hospital.

Cause I think I was extremely lucky last time, when I had little L. No, not because I had the easy and painless delivery I wished for back then (this was not the case… read the whole birth story here). After the medical induction of labor failed to work, Luca was born by C-section. But I was still very lucky, I feel. Because I had an amazing midwife on my side during the operation. One who strongly believed in the positive effects of immediate skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding after birth. Not only did she make sure that little L stayed with me for a while after he was born (even though I was still in the operating room), she also arranged that my husband could hold him until I was brought to the recovery room where I started nursing Luca. She even took pictures of the whole operation and of the moment when Luca was born. Well, that’s another story but I cannot thank her enough for having suggested doing this for us. I wouldn’t even have thought of it and it is such a feeling thing to look at these pictures now. Especially when you had a C-section and felt a bit “left out” of the whole birthing process.

If we have had a different midwife or if the induction had actually worked and I have had a natural delivery, oh my, it probably would have been a different story all together.

I had never thought about the benefits of immediate skin-to-skin contact or breastfeeding before having little L. I had no clue about my preferences during labor neither. Nobody, not my doctor, nor my husband or the midwives, not even myself knew if I preferred to lay down or walk around during the first stage of labor. Nobody knew which methods of pain relief I was considering, if I wanted an episiotomy and if we wanted to stay with our baby for a while before the medical exam and procedures were given. Nobody knew if we were ok with formula or a pacifier. And honestly, I cannot imagine that I would have been able to give a response to all these questions immediately before or during labor…

It’s very unlike me not to have thought about all this. But it was our first child. We were clueless. And nobody had told us all the points we should think about. Not even the midwives during the antenatal “crash course” that we attended some weeks before the birth because we had no time to attend the regular classes. (Well, maybe I should have read the last chapter of the dozens of books on birth I had bought but I never got to the last chapter haha).

This time though, I know much better what I want. I still believe that you cannot “plan” anything when it comes to giving birth. There is something unpredictable about labor that forces you to remain flexible. But I certainly know what kind of labor I am wishing for. And I know my preferences. So, I will make sure my doctor and doula do know them as well this time.

That’s the reason why I will write down a birth plan this time. “An outline of how you would like things to go during your baby’s birth”. Sounds simple. But it is not that easy. I had a look at different examples and one of the most comprehensive ones I’ve found is the one suggested by TheBump.com. Of course, Al Zahra hospital might not “allow” or offer all the options included in this plan BUT reading them made me think about my preferences and raised some questions, which I will need to discuss with my gynecologist and doula next time I see them. It’s important to talk through all questions. For example, I was quite keen on a water birth. But my gynecologist told me that this sadly was no option for a VBAC.

I also like the idea of writing down some open questions and trying to answer them for myself, such as:

What would be the idea birth environment for me? For example, do I like to listen to music or do I prefer a quiet environment? If music, which kind of music? And so on.

What exercises and labor positions do I think I will feel comfortable with? Do I like to get a massage or do I prefer not to be “touched”?

What does my partner feel comfortable with? (It might actually be a good thing to discuss this with my husband at one point cause, even though we briefly discussed things before Luca’s birth, we never really talked about his “role” during labor… Does he want to cut the umbilical cord or even “catch the baby”??).

There are also more complex questions that might be worth talking about, such as the question of stem cell collection. Or placenta encapsulation. I won’t discuss these questions in detail now but they are certainly worth thinking about.

It’s funny how unprepared and anxious I still feel for the delivery of my second child and how much better prepared I feel at the same time. Sounds weird, I know. And, probably, this doesn’t make any sense. It’s just that you think of so many more things and know so much better what you want for your second delivery. But, at the same time, every birth is different. It will be a completely new and unpredictable experience this time. Just like Miss M will be a completely different person than little L…

So, writing a birth plan is not that much about planning the D-Day. I think it’s more about knowing what you want and what you feel comfortable with – for you, your partner and your baby. It’s about making sure that everyone is working as a team. You, your partner, your doc and doula, and the midwives. It’s about communicating and making things easier.

That’s why I will write a birth plan this time.

Facebook groups
At this point, I would like to share some Facebook groups with you, which I find quite useful as a pregnant mummy here in Dubai:

Must haves for Miss M:
Shoes… I know what you think. Babies don’t need shoes. I agree. They don’t. I bought quite a few pairs of shoes for little L when he was a tiny little baby. And he rarely (never?!) wore them. But that doesn’t keep me from checking out baby shoes for Miss M. And she’s a girl after all. Girls do need nice shoes. And there will be her Christening coming up. And little L’s second birthday… Well, a lot of good reasons to check out shoes, I would say haha. And they are simply so damn cute. So, here are two of my favorite brands for baby shoes:

Moxilicious
Not only do I love the trendy design of Moxilicious’ soft sole moccs, they are also made out of genuine leather and super comfortable! Plus, I really like the ladies who created the brand. Enough reasons for me to be in the starting blocks already to buy Miss M her first pair of Moxilicious😉 Two of my favorite models for my little princess are definitely the bow moccs and the ballerinas with Swarovski stones. Another advantage: the moccs are made here in Dubai, meaning that you can order online and get them immediately. If you want to meet the fabulous ladies who create them, head to the Ripe Market that takes place in Zabeel Park every Friday!

Website: www.moxilicious.com
IG: @moxiliciousdxb

Wren’s Nest Creations
I came across this IG account quite recently and all I can say is that I immediately fell in love with the beautiful handmade soft-soled shoes this mum creates! They are lined with organic cotton and even have a padded insole for extra comfort. I am sure Miss M will love that😉 Also good to know: the smaller sizes have elastic over the arch so that the shoes don’t slip off our little princess’ tiny feet. Only thing to consider: you need to wait patiently until these little beauties, which are made to order in the US, arrive here in Dubai.

Website: www.wrensnestcreations.com
IG: @wrensnestcreations

Week 24: Important Contacts when Pregnant in Dubai

8 January 201630 March 20164 Comments

The first week of 2016 is over – time for my first post in the new year! And time to start thinking about how we can get some support and advice in the next weeks – for the time before, during and after Miss M’s birth. As my husband is travelling from time to time and the second baby often comes a bit earlier than expected, my husband really wanted us to think already now about the help we might need in some weeks. So, that’s what we’ve done the last days😉 I’ll share some of the results of our reflections in this post: the good news is that there are a lot of companies, classes and people that can help mums-to-be and new parents here in Dubai

The symptoms I might experience in week 24 (and how I am really feeling)

Anemia: The symptoms of mild anemia (which is quite common in pregnancy) are that you feel tired and breathless and that you look pale. This is caused by a low level of haemoglobin and the fact that the little human inside you uses quite a lot of your iron stores. It can also be due to a lack of folic acid and vitamin B12. Difficult to say if I experience mild anemia or not but, at least, my gynecologist has not advised me to take any iron supplement yet. I also eat quite a lot of green leafy veggies and wholegrain cereals. Should help, I guess😉
Back pain: Hmm, maybe a bit more than before, indeed. Apparently, backache is very common, especially in the second and third trimesters due to the increasing weight of the baby and the softening joints and ligaments (which then provide less support for the back). Of course, I try not to lift too many heavy objects (is little L a heavy object though??!) and avoid standing for too long. But sometimes, it just cannot be avoided…
Linea nigra: Oh, yes, I remember this dark line that appeared on my belly quite early in my first pregnancy. But this time: nothing. Or rather: nothing so far. Let’s see when and if the line appears this time😉 Linea nigra is caused by a hormone that can darkens the skin around the nipples and can make appear a dark vertical line of pigmentation down the middle of a woman’s baby bump. Few women even get some brown patches on their face (called “mask of pregnancy”). Color changes during pregnancy usually fade once the baby is born.
Leg cramps: So far, I’ve been woken up just once by a cramp and, honestly – man, it does hurt! During pregnancy, leg muscles may seize up and cause this horrible pain of cramp, especially during the second trimester and third trimester. These cramps could be due to a shortage of nutrients and salts (calcium, magnesium). Therefore, doctors sometimes prescribe supplements. I hope that I will have no more cramps at night but, in case it happens again, here is what I am supposed to do: to make the pain gradually go away, you need to straighten your leg and then flex your ankles and toes (even though this can be very painful at first). You can also massage the muscle or walk around for a few minutes (easier said then done!!). Persistent muscle pain should however be mentioned when talking to a doctor as it might be be the consequence of a more serious problem.

Little Miss M
This week is a very important week for our little miss as week 24 is considered “the legal age of viability for a baby”! This means that, from this week onwards, doctors legally have the duty to do everything they can to give Miss M life-saving treatment in case she was born early (before this week, an early delivery would have been considered as a miscarriage). Evidently, I don’t want her to be born now! Mummy’s (huge!!) belly is a much better place to be for the coming weeks and even months😉 Babies that are born this prematurely have a huge risk of complications and need to stay in a neonatal intensive care unit… But it is reassuring to know that Miss M could survive if she was born now.

This week’s topic

Getting some advice and support (before, during and after delivery)
Yes, I know what you might think: it’s my second pregnancy. I’ve all done it already. It must be much easier the second time around. Right? Well, yes and no. Yes, it’s not the “big unknown” anymore. There are many things I worry less about this time. But I still have no clue about how the actual delivery will be. Will I be able to have a natural delivery? Will I be able to breastfeed Miss M? Will she be quite easy to handle, just like her older brother ?

Last time, nothing really went according to plan (and trust me, I love plans…!). I know that this is the case for most mums. There is no point in actually “planning” how a delivery will be. I think you can just plan to try your very best to stay relaxed and go with it, no matter how it will be. And even that is easier said than done. When we very getting closer and closer to little L’s due date, my gynecologist in Switzerland told me that it might be advisable to consider a C-section or, if I wanted a natural delivery, to induce labor earlier than the calculated due date. Apparently, Luca seemed quite big already and my doctor wanted to avoid complications. I opted for a natural delivery and, thus, for a medical induction of labor… which didn’t work out. We went to the clinic two weeks before little L was supposed to be born. I remember that we started the whole process in the evening. I was really positive about it and believed in it. But after some hours, the nurse told me that Luca didn’t react very well to the medical induction. His heartbeat was consistently high – abnormally high. I therefore needed to remain under supervision – with two monitors strapped to my tummy, one to monitor little L’s heart rate and the other to measure the strength and frequency of my contractions – for hours. First, everything seemed to get better: little L calmed down a bit and, in the morning, I started to have some promising contractions. I decided to walk around the hospital as soon as there was a possibility, going up and down the staircase. But the contractions simply wouldn’t get strong enough. In the evening, my gynecologist came to the clinic and suggested to start another medical induction of labor using a different drug – or to consider a C-section. I remember that I completely freaked out at that moment, as I didn’t want any of these solutions. I was too tired and too scared of another induction process (especially as little L didn’t support the first one very well) and I definitely didn’t want a C-section. Thankfully both my husband and my gynecologist stayed amazingly (surprisingly??) calm and gave me the time to discuss all pro and cons of either way. Finally (after two hours or so…), we opted for the C-section. It was scheduled for the next day. Any guess what: I was super happy with our decision after all :-) Once I had accepted the idea of a C-section I was actually pleasantly surprised by how quick and easy it all was. Plus, we had such lovely and supporting nurses who immediately brought Luca to me (even while they were still “working” on me😉 ). They also immediately placed him first on my husband’s and then on my chest, which made nursing so much easier! It also turned out that little L had the umbilical cord around his neck. Thus, a natural delivery might have ended in a C-section anyways…

Well, long story to tell you that, while I was first freaking out about a C-section, I am now quite comfortable with this idea but a bit more worried about a natural delivery as I don’t know what to expect… I still want to try it though. I think. Well, not sure… I still have some weeks to decide😉 But, if so, I will definitely need some advice. And it doesn’t matter that it is my second pregnancy haha

So, I’ve talked to other mums who have delivered their babies here in Dubai, had a look on different websites and found some interesting classes, people, services that I thought I’d share with you😉

Before the actual delivery:

HypnoBirthing classes
I exactly remember my husband’s look when I told him that we should maybe attend some HypnoBirthing classes together before the delivery of our little baby girl (I deliberately suggested that “we” attend these classes as a couple as partners are supposed to accompany the future mums-to-be). That look. The one he is always giving me when he is not saying anything but actually wants to tell me “What’s that sh… all about again?” (sorry to be that precise but I know that this is exactly what he was thinking haha). He had no clue what I was talking about. And I have to admit that the first time I heard the word “HypnoBirthing” I had no idea what it was all about neither. I thought of some hypnosis stuff. In relation to giving birth. That’s all.

But once you read about HypnoBirthing classes you will quickly find out that HypnoBirthing has nothing to do with swinging pendulums or so. It’s much more about relaxation and letting go fear. It’s a way of preparing women for childbirth, a technique for achieving a gentle and calm birthing experience as well as a way of giving them confidence in their bodies.

One of the key aims is to teach you to release all negative programming about birth and to get rid of all harmful emotions and fear.

I am not saying that I believe that I will just attend some HypnoBirthing classes and, all of a sudden, I will become super cool (instead of super stressed) towards the end of my pregnancy. Or that I will decide not to have an epidural. But I certainly want to give it a go. It is said that “HypnoBirthing mums” require fewer drugs and that it helps achieve a shorter and more comfortable birth. The classes also give dads some tips on how to keep the mums (and themselves) calm and relaxed during birth. This alone makes me curious.

If you want to get further information, have a look at the website www.hypnobirthing.com as well as on .

There are two classes or rather two people that have highly been recommended to me with regards to HypnoBirthing:

Jasmine Collin:

Jasmine is a trained doula and a fully certified, Dubai-based HypnoBirthing teacher (The Mongan Method) and the co-founder of Love Parenting UAE. She accompanies parents and offers guidance through pregnancy, birth and beyond (as she also qualified as a BabyCalm and ToddlerCalm teacher).

You can find out more about Jasmine’s HypnoBirthing classes on her website.

The next set of 5 classes is starting on Friday, January 15 already (9.30am to 12.30pm). Should you prefer evening classes, another set is starting on Tuesday, February 23 from 7pm to 10pm.

To book or to find out more about the schedule uptil summer, simply send Jasmine an email [email protected] or call .

Elizabeth Bain:

Elizabeth is a UK Qualified Midwife & Health visitor as well as a certified birth doula and certified HypnoBirthing Practitioner.

To find out more about her profile and her “Wise Hippo birthing programme” visit her website or contact her directly (email: [email protected], mobile: ).

During delivery:

Find a doctor you trust as well as a hospital that makes you feel safe and comfortable!

It took me quite a while to find a gynecologist I felt comfortable with here in Dubai. Especially as I had an excellent one in Switzerland… But I think that Dr. Anni Engberg Faelling in Drs. Nicolas & ASP might just be the one😉 I have heard a lot of positive things about Dr. Anni and I know that she will help me achieve the natural and positive birth I am hoping for. And she is completely fine with a VBAC as well, which is not always the case. I have to say that, with each visit, I appreciate her more as she really listens to my concerns and is always available in case of questions (I absolutely love the fact that you can send your doctors WhatsApp messages here in Dubai! This is something I had never heard of before moving here!!). Regarding the hospital, I have chosen Al Zahra Private Hospital. Not only because it is easy to access from Marina (but this is definitely a big plus) but also because I really feel I’m in good hands there. And trust me, after having spent two late evenings in their emergency section already, I know what I am talking about😉 (read more on my hospital choice in one of my previous posts).

Oh, and I will definitely have my doula on my side when I will give birth to Miss M (if it will be possible to have a natural birth that is and I really hope it will be). I truly believe that having a doula you trust and appreciate with you throughout labour, who is encouraging and reassuring you and helping you calm your fears, can make a huge difference. This emotional support just seems so important to me. I don’t want to recommend any particular doula in Dubai cause I think that every woman should make her own choice and find a doula she feels one hundred percent comfortable with. But I would definitely recommend “working” with a doula😉

After delivery:

Julie Mallon’s post-natal programme
Julie is a UK Qualified Midwife and Health Visitor as well as a certified birth doula and sleep consultant. I’ve already written about the excellent help she has given us when little L had stopped sleeping through the night at about five months (see my previous post). By the way, you should check out her website www.nurturetosleep.com in case you would like to learn how to improve your little one’s sleep pattern. Julie is an angel who can really do miracles! But this is not what I wanted to talk about.

In Switzerland, a nurse is checking on you and your baby once you return home after delivery. Every woman can benefit from ten visits or even sixteen in case of a first child, C-section, multiple birth or disabled child. These visits include all kind of support, including weight control of the baby, advice on breastfeeding etc. I know that I will horribly miss this support here in Dubai where this service is not automatically provided.

So, Julie has designed a 6-week post-natal programme that covers several topics: she checks on the baby’s health, weighs him/her, gives some advice on sleep management, feeding and on when to call a doctor. She also answers all kind of questions you might be concerned about. Not only is Julie coming to your home, you can also contact her by email or on her mobile between the sessions if you have any urgent questions.

For more information about her post-natal programme, you can send Julie an email ([email protected]) or give her a call ().

Other post-natal services
I have heard about two other companies offering post-natal home visits:

Babies & Beyond

Babies & Beyond provides different in-home services including newborn care, child development and care, babysitting, breastfeeding support as well as post-natal home visits. Their team includes European-trained nurses, health visitors as well as public health and parenting specialists. During the post-natal home visits, the Babies & Beyond team can give you guidance on feeding your newborn. I find it very interesting that they also offer help regarding family relationships, meaning that they actually help siblings to adjust to their new family member. Of course, they also check on your health (including maternal emotional health issues such as postnatal depression) as well as the health and development of your baby (length, weight, vital statistics).

For further information, visit their website or contact them directly. Email: [email protected]; phone: 04 278 9832

Malaak

Malaak is a newborn baby care and maternity agency licensed by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in the UAE. Their qualified maternity nurses (who have nursing degrees as well as first aid and CPR certification) help parents not only with newborn baby care but also offer other services: babysitting, breastfeeding support, baby weaning, sleep routines and child development. Malaak also has night nurses who can, for example, help a family who already has children take care of the older ones during the night (if needed) while the mum can focus on the newborn if she is breastfeeding. Or she can simply allow parents to get a good night sleep from time to time. Hmm, interesting.

For more details, you can visit their website, send an email to [email protected] or call them on 04 453 8164/ .

Well, these are just some interesting companies and people that can help me (and you😉 ) before, during and after delivery – and I am sure there are more!

Up to me now to make the right choices for myself and our little family.

Must haves for Miss M:
Slowly but surely, it is time to start furnishing Miss M’s future room. Ok, to be honest, we still have plenty of time – but I have seen that there are some great sales on at the moment. So, I think I will need to convince my husband to have a look already now hehe😉

One of the nicest and most original pieces of furniture for a baby room I’ve seen must be the multifunctional storage cabinets (called “Amsterdam collection”) from This is Dutch. So beautiful! They have designed cabinets that are inspired by the architecture of Amsterdam canal houses from the seventeenth century. They are available in different colors but I love the pastel blue ones (and who says there can’t be a bit of blue in a girl’s room?!).

The This is Dutch products are available at the Caramel & Sun store in Mercato Mall.

Tag: baby N° 2

Weeks 28-29: My Birth Plan

Week 24: Important Contacts when Pregnant in Dubai

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