Redacteur's Dagboek
My weekend was quite pregnancy proof: on Saturday the long-awaited course was scheduled at Mom & co and on Sunday a photoshoot with my friend Joyce. At the beginning of my pregnancy, I wasn't really looking forward to either, but now, almost at the end, I secretly thought it was a very good idea. By the way, that course wasn't one where my boyfriend had to sit behind me on a yoga mat, and together we puffed through the day. It consisted of delicious snacks, drinks where all phases of childbirth were discussed interactively, but we also received tips on different positions, pressure points, and massages that you can apply during the moment supreme. We got a realistic picture from a midwife who has been in the profession for years. Sunday was the photoshoot at my home; just relaxed and no fuss. We were actually chatting more than I was really posing for the camera, and I'm very happy about that because often you get the best shots that way.
On Monday, we were supposed to head back to the editorial office, I thought. Until I arrived at the office and it was suspiciously quiet. Everyone had gathered in the kitchen, completely silent, behind a beautifully decorated table with balloons, confetti, candles, and delicious sweet treats (pimped by May): SURPRISE! Totally unexpectedly, they had organized a baby shower for me. Besides a beautiful joint gift (a thousand thanks), May had an extra present flown in all the way from America: the book ‘Urban Babies Wear Black’. I had announced my pregnancy through a video in which I held a small black onesie, so this book really fits me perfectly.
Packages are usually delivered here only at the end of the day, so no matter how happy I can be if that long-awaited order finally arrives today, I still have to wait patiently all day. However, on Tuesday, it already happened in the morning: GLS was at the door early while I hadn't ordered anything. UNIIN had sent a super soft, black velvet baby carrier with a subtle gold glitter to celebrate that I am pregnant. There is even a matching bag that you can attach to the strap so you don't have to take an extra handbag for your card, mobile, and lip gloss. Quite handy, right? And it really makes my often black outfit a bit cozier, especially during the holidays that are coming up soon, this baby carrier is really an eye-catcher.
Wednesday was a warm (indoor temperature: 27 degrees) work-from-home day, and if there's one thing that makes me unhappy, it's this heat. My boyfriend's father was putting the finishing touches on the nursery, and in the afternoon we were going to discuss the birth plan with the midwife. It's very good that this is happening, really, but I don't necessarily need it. Or maybe we should call it something else, a plan sounds so definitive: birth expectations it is. What do I expect? Pain, but pain that eventually goes away and then you have a baby in your arms. Ideally, I would like to give birth at OLVG East (where I was also born), but I'm open to anything that feels best for me and the little one at that moment. By the way, I'm very curious about the expectations and tips from the pregnant readers among you; could you send me an email?
On Thursday afternoon, a sports class was scheduled at one o'clock at K/C Move on the Rozengracht. There was also the launch of the Elvie Trainer: a device in the shape of a sort of egg. Since I saw the documentary by Eva Jinek on Videoland and an episode discussed the ‘pelvic floor muscle problem’, a bell started ringing for me. I actually knew so little about this, and it turns out: one in three (!) women suffers from, among other things, incontinence (urine loss) because the pelvic floor muscle does not recover properly after childbirth. Even if you haven't had children, you can still experience this from around your 45th. In the Netherlands, we do (still) very little about this, in Belgium you automatically get six sessions with a pelvic floor therapist after childbirth to train the area down under. The Elvie Trainer was developed by a whole group of specialists and has already won more than twelve awards. What does it do? You insert the egg into your vagina, connect it to a personal app, and through sixteen different workouts at four different levels, you train that muscle that is actually so unknown. It also measures (which is unique) how strong your muscle is, and from there it is determined at what level you are. You do this for about five minutes, three days a week. So it doesn't have to be very complicated, but unfortunately, there is a taboo surrounding this topic, and that's such a shame. It doesn't have to be a problem or a daily burden at all, but with the right help, guidance, and possibly training, you can overcome it or even prevent it.
It's already Friday. Just one more day and then the PilotStudio party is scheduled with a super fun program, but you'll read more about that next week. Today is also the last day of our design intern Britte, which is always a very sad moment, saying goodbye, but unfortunately, it comes with the territory. Her spot will be free, and of course, we would love to see someone at the desk again. So if you think design is the most fun thing there is, click here quickly and hopefully I'll see you after my leave in November.
