You had the baby you’d always dreamt of, you got through the pregnancy, birth and hospital discharge. Now, you’re back home, your husband is at work and you’re feeling a little down. It’s normal: You’re tired, your hormones are playing havoc with your emotions and you feel lonely.
I too have just had a baby girl, and while I’m on cloud nine and so in love with her, I also miss my independence. Luckily, in Dubai, there are many ways to beat the baby blues. So, as a newly-exhausted mum, I’ve pepped myself up with coffee and made a handy list for you fellow new mums. Here are your ‘essentials’ for now:
1 Ok, let’s start with the team talk: Stop worrying about being perfect and be proud of what you’re doing. It’s so hard to cope sometimes, especially if you constantly strive to be a ‘supermum’, but believe me, everybody worries, panics and even the calmest and most collected of mums have their moments. Accept that you’re amazing and pat yourself on the back.
2 Shop, shop, shop. Here’s where the smartphone, and online shopping, come in to soothe your retail needs and ensure an easier life. I’ve spent many a happy hour, at 4.30 am, feeding with one hand and online shopping with the other.
‘BONDS’ have a sale on sleep suits? Click. I needed that cool new doll with the white noise? Click. Diapers? Click. You get the idea. It’s totally fine and justified, especially if you’re the one who’s awake: “I am multi-tasking, darling,” I told my husband when he saw the credit card bill.
3 Time for the spa! Dubai is a hot house (literally) of spas and salons, with plenty of offers and savings for those middle-of-the-day/week, slots. So, scoop up babba and head down to get a quick blow dry; babies love the white noise of hairdryers and ‘should’ sleep.
4 Coffee cake or coffee and cake? Dubai has some lovely family-friendly cafes. My husband reckons maternity leave seems to solely involve eating; he says I go from coffee morning and lunch date to afternoon-tea meeting. Yes, it’s true: I’m fuelling up while caring for our new child.
5 Social media: Oh, Instagram and Facebook, thank you for being there for me through this time, encouraging me throughout the journey of new motherhood.
This story is from the July 2017 edition of Mother, Baby & Child.
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This story is from the July 2017 edition of Mother, Baby & Child.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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