As she prepares to welcome her first child, Arabella Chi opens up about her journey into motherhood, from self-care essentials to nursery plans (or lack thereof!). In an exclusive interview, the model and influencer shares her close bond with her mum, her thoughts on labour, and why she’s keeping her baby’s name a secret for now. Plus, she reveals the one jewellery piece she’d gift her mum from our new Mother’s Day Jewellery Collection, a meaningful keepsake celebrating the special bond between mothers and daughters.
Who was the first person you told about your pregnancy?
I told my mum. Yeah, she's always the first person I tell everything to.
Any self-care tips now you're pregnant?
My Aura by Chai beauty serum. I've definitely started using that on my bump now because I literally can't get any stretch marks. Yeah, I've literally been slathering that on all the time.
What's the best part of getting ready now you're pregnant?
Not getting ready and just chilling.
Are you prepared for the babies arrival?
I think so many people asked me this question, what is that actually to get ready? I'm like, the baby sleeps with you. I mean, obviously, you need to get the essentials, but I'm not one of these people that's gonna, I mean, first of all, we've only got a one bedroom flat, so I'm not getting a nursery ready, but we're just gonna go with the flow. Like, yeah. So, no, not really.
How do you think Astro will handle the new arrival?
So fun fact, Astro actually doesn't like children. So this is gonna be quite an interesting one because he is like my absolute baby. So I'm interested, but I think a lot of people say the first thing that you should do, the advice that I've got is like you just put them down and let the dog sniff the baby when you first get them from the hospital and bring them home. So yeah, that's what we're gonna be doing when we bring her home.
What is your favourite pregnancy product to use?
My favourite product to use now....I would say a good hair oil because my hair has just gone like actually a good hair mask because my hair has just gone awful since I've been pregnant. We are buff on the couch in Arizona. The most important question, have you got some baby name?
So the most important question...have you got some baby names?
So we have finally come to the decision of the baby name. Obviously I'm not releasing it yet. Everyone always asks me this question, but we're both really, really happy with the name. And honestly, yeah, it's the cutest name ever. I'm so excited. And I'm obviously calling her that already. That's so cute.
Have you packed your hospital bag?
No, do you know what? I haven't even started really shopping yet. I've obviously been sending loads of things for the baby but I feel like around my baby shower time, which is going to be in March, that's when I'll think, right, do you know what? This is like getting real now. So that's when I'll start to like getting things for her.
Are you going to be pink or are you going to be neutral?
I actually think I'm going to go more neutrals because I think I love aesthetically pleasing things and it's like I just don't want a house full of pink. I mean I know there is going to have to be some pink in there but I'd like to go more neutrals.
Have you started nesting yet?
Yeah, like honestly I think the weather doesn't help but I am in full swing nesting mode. My boyfriend's like please can we go out tonight?
What's your relationship like with your mum?
So me and my mum are so close, I see her as like the best friend and I'm hoping that's what my little girl is going to see me as.
If you could pick one piece from the month's safe collection for your mum, what would it be?
It would definitely be this gorgeous mummy necklace, as that's what I call my mum.
And are you scared or nervous for the labor?
Well, do you know what? I've always said that labor is probably the scariest thing a woman ever has to go through and I've always been one of these people that's like, I have to have an epidural, but I'm trying to be a bit more open-minded now. I'm trying to think, do you know what? Every woman, well not every woman, but the majority of women have a baby. But that's what we're made to do, so. It's, yeah, I mean, I'm not, I couldn't say I'm gonna look forward to it, but I know I'm gonna get her out, and the more she's growing, the more I'm freaking out, being like, okay, we're gonna try to stop growing now.
