When my mum passed away when I was 21, I always knew that when it came to having my own baby, I wouldn’t have the person I needed the most to guide me.
The idea of not having my mum there to watch he or she while I shower, tell me I am doing a good job when the baby cries, and hold me in her arms during the biggest change in my life always scared me, it’s been a quiet fear I have carried as I didn’t know who would help me (like only your mother can).
It’s been something my husband and I have spoken about throughout our pregnancy journey and when we found Blissful Beginnings, at first I dismissed the idea of checking into a post-natal retreat, thinking the idea was over the top.
Can you blame me? Leaving the hospital to check into a five-star hotel? It sounded like something a celeb would do.
He reassured me we needed support, help and guidance as we enter this new chapter in life, just like many expats living in the UAE without “a village”, and that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but strength.
After reading about what Blissful Beginnings offered, I became keen on the idea – daytime baby care, feeding consultants, emotional support and care for new mummies and daddies. I knew this would be the best push present I could get and not an indulgence, but everything my mum would have given me if she could.
I checked into Park Hyatt, Dubai Creek to be greeted by a nanny with a maternal vibe, I breathed a sigh of relief as I knew this wouldn’t be awkward, but what I needed.
It was a safe haven, our little cocoon with soft baby blankets, and essentials such as a changing table, nappies, swaddles and even thoughtful touches and pampering essentials such as snacks and bathing items.
During my stay, my husband and I gained confidence in looking after our new addition and got expert advice on breastfeeding and sleeping.
In a time where your life becomes about caring for a newborn, it made me realise that I had to be cared for too, and there is no shame in that. The practitioners explained to me how looking after me ensured I was stronger, steadier and able to be the best version of myself for my baby.
The shame and worry of not being able to get on with it without support melted away, and the old cliché “that you can’t pour from an empty cup” never felt truer.
When it came to checking out, I felt confident to take my new baby home and be the best version of myself to keep them alive (and thriving). The support did not end there with us locking in 4 home visit sessions where the team would come to see us in our home environment once we settled into life with our baby.
If you’re about to give birth or know someone who is living in the UAE without their family, this is a push present they need more than a handbag or jewellery. Blissful Beginnings is a non-judgmental space, a sanctuary for women in a time that can be tough and challenging as they navigate motherhood. It’s a way of embarking on the new chapter gently instead of in survival mode.
Just getting through those few days isn’t a badge of honour, you deserve to be held, healed and loved and as my mum isn’t here to do this for me, Blissful Beginnings did.