South African Luxury Destination Wedding – KC
31 October 2024
Ovayo’s 30th Luxury Birthday Celebration
27 February 2025We kicked off 2025 with my very own baby shower—an exclusive and intimate affair shared with my closest and dearest friends and family. The surprise of my life came last year when I found out I was pregnant after a whole 12 years. While we were overjoyed by the news of this incredible blessing, it also brought its own set of challenges, especially given the 12-year gap during which I had built a successful business and thoroughly enjoyed my uninterrupted eight hours of sleep every night amongst other freedom that comes with having tweens!
Nevertheless, this baby is nothing short of a miracle and a blessing from God, and we cherish her every day. My older children are beyond thrilled to welcome a baby into our home—a wish they had prayed for. Clearly, their prayers were answered in the most special way.
This pregnancy, however, wasn’t without its hurdles. I battled nasal congestion for the entire duration of the pregnancy, right up until delivery. No medication that was deemed safe for the baby helped me. Additionally, I experienced intense anxiety that led to months of sleepless nights. Nighttime became a dreaded part of the day as I often wandered through the house like a restless ghost.
One of the highlights of my pregnancy was planning my own baby shower—an event I envisioned as an Outlandish experience, right in my backyard, for a handpicked group of loved ones. My daughter and I meticulously planned every detail for months, and despite the obstacles, the day turned out to be absolutely magical. The event was an exclusive celebration, reserved only for those nearest and dearest to us.
Mother Nature, however, had her own plans. The rain forced us to postpone the event, adding an unexpected layer of stress to the experience. As someone who is used to planning events for others, it was both nerve-wrecking and overwhelming to be constantly monitoring weather forecasts and worrying about my own event. The unpredictability of the weather had me on edge, and I truly sympathized with the concerns my clients often face when nature doesn’t cooperate. I also understand why clients prefer to hire an event planner as I felt that I also needed to hire someone else to plan this event for me and do all the running around that was required to pull this baby shower off.
Despite the challenges, the baby shower finally came to life with a breathtaking design with the most gorgeous color palette. We selected the mocha mousse tones with hints of blush and soft pink long before the official Pantone 2025 announcement. I didn’t want an overload of pink, and this combination struck the perfect balance.
The multi-level layout of our backyard was transformed into a dreamy celebration. Guests were welcomed with personalized mini cheese boards and treated to a selection of delightful mocktails and freshly brewed coffees from the bars. No Outlandish event is complete without balloons and florals—and we had both in abundance.
Blush velvet couches were arranged beneath a draped pergola, leading up to the upper level where a high-tea setup awaited. The area was adorned with chandeliers, more balloons, and elegant cream chairs surrounding a stunning tablescape.
Guests indulged in a decadent high tea menu featuring Roasted Vegetables & Cottage Cheese Bruschetta Slices, Panko Prawns with Sweet Chilli Dip, Chicken Skewers with Peri-Peri Sauce, Beef Kebab & Pita with Tzatziki amongst other delectable delights. For dessert, we had a stunning chocolate-dipped strawberry tower, a croquembouche tower, a macaron tower, and the most exquisite cake, all designed in our mocha mousse and blush pink color palette.
While I’m not typically a fan of traditional baby shower games, I wanted to create a fun and interactive memory for my guests. We set up a sip-and-paint station where everyone had the opportunity to decorate onesies for the baby. It was such a hit! Laughter filled the air as we created keepsakes together, and the event extended well into the night, evolving into a late-night braai.
The days following the shower, however, were a rollercoaster. On Monday morning, after yet another sleepless night, I woke up feeling completely drained and defeated. I assumed the exhaustion was simply from all the fun we’d had over the weekend. I managed to take a short nap at 9 AM but woke up shortly after with the right side of my face noticeably swollen. I dismissed it as a side effect of crying earlier that morning. My feet were swollen as well, but again, I attributed it to pregnancy.
Hoping a change of scenery might help, my husband took me out for lunch. Yet, throughout the day, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The swelling lingered in the back of my mind, and by 7 PM, I decided to Google my symptoms. “Abnormal swollen feet” appeared as a potential sign of pre-eclampsia. I glanced down at my feet and, for the first time, noticed how unnaturally swollen they were.
Panic set in when I checked my blood pressure: 212/118. We rushed to the hospital, knowing I was dangerously close to having a heart attack. It was a terrifying end to what had been an unforgettable, joyful celebration with my cherished circle.
We rushed to Garden City Hospital without expecting much of their service. My gynae, Dr. Yasmeen Naghmana, rushed to the hospital, fearing pre-eclampsia. I was immediately admitted to the labor ward and given a private room. The nurses and doctors were nothing short of amazing—they did everything in their power to ensure I was well taken care of. Everyone in the ward was shocked that I was still alive with such a high BP reading. I was under constant monitoring and received an abundance of medication to bring my blood pressure down. The silver lining was that I finally had a full night’s sleep after months of insomnia, thanks to the heavy sedation. Can you imagine going months without proper sleep?
My gynae was deeply concerned about delivering the baby, given that I was only 34 weeks pregnant. That meant the baby would likely spend weeks in ICU, adding more stress and anxiety to an already overwhelming situation. Dr. Yasmeen monitored me closely throughout the week, but my condition wasn’t improving. It became a life-or-death situation—a terrifying realization, especially when I considered the thought of leaving my two children without their mother.
One night, the pressure in my chest grew unbearable and traveled up to my throat. In that moment, I genuinely believed I wouldn’t survive to see another sunrise. The medical team worked tirelessly, administering medications in hopes that I’d reach 35 weeks for a safer delivery. But by Thursday, after a particularly rough night of fluctuating blood pressure, Dr. Yasmeen confirmed the diagnosis: severe pre-eclampsia. She made the critical decision to deliver the baby immediately, as waiting even another day could have cost me my life. The baby was expected to be fine, but I was teetering on the edge.
The fear of the unknown, the thought of not being there for my family, was overwhelming. But by God’s grace, our baby girl was born healthy and strong. She spent just four days in ICU and was discharged before me. My battle with blood pressure fluctuations persisted, and the doctors hesitated to release me. After much deliberation, considering my anxiety and the fact that I needed to be home to care for my newborn, they finally discharged me with strict instructions to monitor my BP and adhere to my medication regimen.
Walking into my home after a week of uncertainty was a moment of immense relief. I am incredibly grateful to report that my health has since stabilized, and we are savoring every precious moment with our newest blessing. Yes, I’m moaning about the sleepless nights, but after what we’ve been through, I know this phase will pass—hopefully within a year or so!
With that, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to my husband who was constantly in between taking care of me and the kids, my mom and dad, my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law for taking such incredible care of me, my sister in law packed the baby’s cupboard and bag while I laid in hospital, ensuring everything was perfect and neat. You all went the extra mile to ensure our kids were looked after, that we had enough food to keep us going, and for being my rock during such a challenging time. I am endlessly grateful for your love and support.
To Willie, John, Rina, Hilton, Uncle Shiraz, Amanda, Ruan, Louise , Eleni , Zaki , Faeeza, Chantelle , Crissy, Courtney , Bonang, Ryno, Daniella, Mandy, Essy and my right hand Jeki, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to you all for coming together and spoiling me with such an extraordinary baby shower. It wouldn’t have been the magical, memorable event it was without each and every one of you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this special celebration.
