Dubai: I have a bun in the oven. But there’s also a fruit bun running around the house – my three-and-a-half-year-old ball of energy. And while it can be difficult to manage just these two commitments – that of a pregnancy and that of a toddler – I also have a full-time job in a newsroom, which has its own demands. .
So… how do I cope, you ask? Let’s just say “staying the course” is all I’m looking to do. And honestly, that’s no small feat.
When you know you’re going to have to deal with fluctuating energy levels, regular doctor appointments, and your center of gravity literally shifts every month, it’s important to have a realistic understanding of yourself as well as of your priorities.
That’s why when we found out we were having another child, it was important for me to cut out the noise and prioritize myself. Because, let’s face it, if I’m not healthy, physically and mentally, I really won’t be the best mother, wife or employee. Thus, social commitments, overloaded schedules or night journeys have disappeared. My day is already packed with the essentials – the toddler going to preschool in the morning, getting ready for work, spending the day at the office, then navigating evening traffic to get home. Once home, I usually have a good three hours in which to have dinner and quality time with my daughter and my husband, before going to bed. So step 1 was to dedicate the weekends and the thing I need most in life: good sleep.
It was important for me to cut out the noise and prioritize myself. Because, let’s face it, if I’m not healthy, physically and mentally, I really won’t be the best mother, wife or employee.
– Huda Tabrez, Writer Living in the United Arab Emirates
Importance of sleep
Sleeping…it’s my Achilles heel. Don’t feed me and I’ll be fine, but deprive me of sleep and I won’t be able to function as a human being. However, even for people who aren’t so easily discouraged by the effects of sleep deprivation, pregnancy can really interfere with your regular sleep cycle. With your body turning into a life support system for the baby, sleeping well can be a challenge. Let’s start with how you should ideally sleep only on your left. Then you also tend to take more frequent bathroom breaks during the night. Add to that the funniest and most random syndrome — called restless leg syndrome — that many women can go through during pregnancy, and getting a good night’s sleep can be a tall order.
restless leg syndrome
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, usually because of an uncomfortable sensation. It usually happens in the evening or at night when you are sitting or lying down. Moving temporarily alleviates the unpleasant sensation.
Source: Mayo Clinic
The arithmetic of lying to your left
Why sleep on the left pregnant? This is the position recommended by doctors, especially during the second and third trimesters. Sleeping on your back means that you would rest all the weight of the uterus and growing baby on your back, your intestines and your vena cava, the main vein that brings blood back to the heart from your lower body. Sleeping on your stomach isn’t an option either, for obvious reasons. Lying to your right? This means that the uterus will press on your liver, which is also not ideal. So, lying on your left, that’s it! This position improves circulation, giving nutrient-rich blood an easier path from your heart to the placenta to feed your baby. But really…do it straight for months and it will make you a little pissed off, to say the least.
Not getting enough sleep can also have serious health consequences for both mother and baby. So what helps is having a consistent sleep routine. For me, that means having dinner on time so you don’t have nighttime cravings, no gadgets at least half an hour before bed, and giving the toddler his nightly massage, which usually means he’s sleeping better too. Plus, buying a pregnancy pillow can make a big difference!
Pregnancy or maternity pillows come in different shapes – with a noodle-shaped, C-shaped or U-shaped pillow. The idea, however, is the same – to provide extra support and cushioning in all the places most affected by the evolution of your body. I chose to go with a U-shaped pillow, which provides some support for your stomach as well as your back, while adding padding between your legs.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
Priority #2 – the toddler
So, with weekends dedicated to rest and recuperation, I knew I would feel guilty for not taking the time to take my daughter to the beach or the zoo or the latest kiddie attraction in town, what weekends were usually used for. . So I decided to make the most of the time I had with my daughter.
If I could take part in a swimming lesson or a fireworks display during the Dubai Shopping Festival, or if I had time to do shadow puppets during a work break for a little Jungle Book musical later in the night, of course, I would take the opportunity. But mostly, all I was trying to do was be there for her. No accessories or event management needed. So we spent more time talking to her about what had happened at school that day, or getting excited about a new word she had added to the vocabulary, or just long tickling sessions.
One of the few days I had the time or the energy, I spent time doing shadow puppets, combining his love for animals with his love of “playing with shadows.” She had fun creating her own stories and realizing that the animals would get bigger the closer she brought the puppets to the flashlight! Quick Science Lesson – Check!
Image Credit: Supplied
Sometimes, as parents, we manage to catch those special moments – the little one thoroughly enjoying the fireworks during the Dubai Shopping Festival.
Image Credit: Supplied
It’s not that I don’t feel guilty now that I don’t have enough energy to do all I can to help him grow and have new experiences. I just balance that feeling of guilt with knowing that when I have time to spend with her, it’s focused on her alone.
Find your support system
Additionally, you might be the best at time management and task prioritization, but if you don’t have a good support system in place, that can make juggling all the more difficult.
So while I’m doing everything I can to “stay on course,” the truth is, I wouldn’t even be able to do that if I didn’t have a partner who’s both managing a home or managing a family. to be a parent. Or a sister who steps in whenever I need her (which is often the case), to be the “third parent”. Or a nanny, who has been a blessing to our family considering how well she takes care of all of our daughter’s needs. So if you find yourself in a similar position, with one bun in the oven and another running around, remember to breathe, take care of yourself, and ask for help whenever you are. you need.
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