Pregnancy Diaries: Week 37

Full term and ready to go, well almost! Technically everything is all set and baby is fully developed so I could go into labour at any time now. However, despite being uncomfortable at times, I would be quite happy to go right up to my due date. I am conscious of spending quality time with my two children as I know it will be a case of trial and error getting the balance right in looking after three kids,  making sure no one feels left out so I want to make the most of the time I have left as a mother of two. 

Source: Kaitlyn Hibbs Via Pinterest

As it is the school holidays, any kind of exercise, walking or otherwise has gone out of the window and I am starting to think about how my body will be after the birth. The common theme I have noticed with mothers, new and old, is the battle many face to loose their 'mummy tummy' after having a child/children, although this isn't the only area I find affected by pregnancy. As well as the boobs, the bum can go south too and I would like to start tackling this area again now even although I will be giving birth shortly, and what better way to do this than with a good old fashioned squat. The way I see it is, if I begin this squat challenge now, I will be a good portion of the way through it by the time the baby arrives. This way it might not seem so daunting starting from scratch with my whole body in a few weeks time, assuming I have a safe, natural delivery. The great thing about this exercise is that I can brake it up to into two or three sessions to be done during the day once I get further along in the challenge. This means I have no excuse to not complete it as I don't believe anyone can honestly say they don't have five minutes to spare once,twice or three times a day, even if this means squatting whilst waiting for the kettle to boil, dinner to finish cooking or just before bed. At least, even if my tummy doesn't go back to normal, I will have a great looking, perky butt!

My baby changing bag arrived the other day and I absolutely love it so please keep an eye out for a review of that along with some other videos I have planned. 

I shall leave it there and end with my bump pic at 37 weeks. I will hopefully be writing another pregnancy blog next week and not giving birth quite yet. Can you tell I'm stalling?!

xxx

Pregnancy Diaries: Week 36

Let the insomnia begin. At this point I am well and truly knackered. Night after night now I find myself lying awake thinking of things I need to do, followed by a couple of trips to the fridge, to feed the baby of course! The most frustrating part is knowing that I should be getting as much sleep as possible right now as in a months time I'll have a beautiful but hungry/dirty/windy/restless bundle of joy keeping me up all hours. On the plus side, the complete silence I get at 3am has allowed me to get more organised for the baby's arrival with the help of my many, handy lists I have created. I love a good old list, don't you?

I have left a lot of things to the last minute but am not stressing as everything will get done although I think I may be taking for granted, the fact my other two arrived around their due date and am assuming this baby will too. That's not always the case and I did have a scare a few days ago when I thought I was in labour, even convincing the husband with my bouncing away on the pilates ball. Thank goodness it was a false alarm and was so relieved when everything calmed down before bed and the bonus is I now have hospital bags packed!

Here is where the magic almost happened :/

As the kids are on their school holidays for the summer, we all marched in one by one for my check-up with the midwife to see if the baby was playing ball and I am happy to report that it is no longer breech. However, the head is not engaged yet which means there is a chance is could still move back so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it stays put. Please, please, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With the weather getting warmer, I am feeling the need for new clothes but I can hardly justify going on a shopping spree for the time I have left although I did buy a couple of dresses in the H&M sale to get me through. I am now focusing my sights on all the things I'll be able to wear in a few weeks. Yay. Topshop, River Island and eBay, watch out.

The belly at 36 weeks

That's about it for this week but keep an eye out for some videos coming up with my baby purchases from the last few weeks.

xxx

Pregnancy Diaries: Week 32

What a yucky week this has been, hence me not doing any vlogs or other blog posts. My morning sickness returned for over a week which took me right back to the beginning of my pregnancy where you feel helpless and just want to get on with things but can't. This along with feeling faint at times was not fun but have been told it's normal at this point in pregnancy so long as I don't experience other symptoms such as swelling of the hands, feet or face.

On the upside, I went to see a dermatologist about my skin, given the eczema I have had during this pregnancy. As I have blogged about previously, with trying numerous prescribed creams which failed to work, I began to give up hope. Slightly reassuring, was a nurse telling me that in other cases of pregnancy related eczema, brought on by hormones, she has seen women recover from it within 1-2 weeks of giving birth. Thinking that I would only get relief from the pain, itching and redness after the birth, I am over the moon to find the latest, stronger cream prescribed to me has worked and I now feel more like myself again. I hadn't noticed just how much my confidence was knocked until my skin improved. I am back!

The bump at 32 weeks

At the stage in the game, the end isn't too far off however when I had 24 hours of contraction, pains and tightenings, I had started to wonder if this baby was coming sooner rather than later but it all died down eventually and we are on track for the 8 week countdown!

Talking of counting down, I have been so laid back about the baby's arrival that I'm still not fully prepared just yet. I have most of the necessary items but still have a couple of things to buy so that I have all the basics covered. I'm not panicked yet and the great thing is that this is another of life's problems that can easily be rectified by hitting the shops!

xxx

Pregnancy Diaries: Week 31 Moisturising

So this has been another slow week in terms of progress however I have noticed my belly is getting bigger, at a faster rate now. 

31 Weeks

For this reason I have increased my moisturising routine to help fend off the those dreaded stretchmarks! I had started moisturising my tummy regularly at around 17 weeks when I felt my waistline was starting to expand and would do this twice a day, applying something in the morning and before I go to bed at night. Fast forward to 31 weeks where my tummy seems to be stretching more and more each day and I have begun slapping on the nearest lotion or potion to hand during the day as well, just to make sure my skin doesn't have a chance to become the slightest bit dry. Even if I am exhausted and can't bring myself to remove my make-up before hitting the pillow, I always make sure to tackle my tummy.

It is thought that stretch marks are hereditary and that if you are going to get them then there isn't much you can do about it. This is where I guess I take after my mum, as she didn't get them with her two pregnancies, there fore I have been more or less lucky, other than a couple of tiny purple slivers on my side/back that one one else would even notice. That being said, I do think (in my case at least) that constantly moisturising has helped, as I do have other stretch marks on my thighs where I gained weight quickly in my late teens when moisturing was at the bottom of my list to do list. So I would say regardless of how your skin is behaving in pregnancy it is important to pamper the belly whilst you have it.

These are some of the products I have been using depending how my skin has been on any given day. My favourite would have to be the Palmers Cocoa Butter as I love the smell of it. Whilst the Johnson's Baby Oil, is nothing special, I do like to lather it on just before I get out of the shower to lock moisture into my skin before I get dry and apply a moisturiser afterwards.

Sweet Almond Oil * Aveeno Moisturiser * Palmers Cocoa Butter * Johnson's Baby Oil * Garnier Intensive

If I am wanting something a bit lighter, I use a combination of the oils below to make sure the job gets done, also making sure to do my sides, back and not forgetting the boobs, bum and thighs as the bump isn't the only part that grows in pregnancy!

Sweet Almond Oil * Extra Virgin Olive Oil * Jojoba Oil

Now some of you may be thinking 'but olive oil is for cooking with', and I thought the same thing when people were first telling me to use it on my daughters afro hair. Since then, I have been surprised to learn about different kinds of products that we assume are for one thing only, when in fact they have a lot of other benefits too.

I like to mix them together in equal parts in a bottle which makes for easy application. I find the smell of the Sweet Almond Oil and Jojoba Oils counteract the smell of the Oilve Oil, however you can add a drop or two of Lavender Oil if the smell is bothering you.

I don't know that there is one moisturiser, oil or concoction that has the ability to work better than any other so it really is a case of seeing what works best for you. And I truly believe that an expensive lotion will work no better than a cheaper one as long you are lubricating your skin. If stretch marks are going to rear their ugly head, they will do so regardless of how pretty the packaging or how much you have spent.

xxx

Pregnancy Diaries: Week 30 (Prenatal Listening System Review)

There has been no real changes to report this week so I thought I would review the Prenatal Listening System which my mum kindly bought for me. It is not something I would have purchased myself as it isn't a necessity in pregnancy however, since I was given it, I thought it would be fun to try out with the kids as a way of including them in their new siblings journey. 

The instructions suggest using it from 28 weeks to ensure there is a strong enough heartbeat, so as not to panic a mum to be who may not hear something in the earlier weeks of pregnancy.

It comes with two sets of ear phones and a band which you fix the monitor onto so it can be strapped to your tummy. It is pretty self explanatory when it comes to working the device.

Was it as good as I expected it to be? Disappointingly, no.

I thought it would sound similar to what I hear when the midwife listens for the baby's heartbeat at my regular check ups. However instead it sounds like a very faint drum beat which I can just about make out and I can tell the kids can barely make sense of what they are hearing, if at all. That being said, they still ask if they can listen in on the baby every couple of days so I think the idea of hearing the baby is exciting enough for them and makes them feel like they are part of what is going on in mummy's tummy.

Would I buy it myself? Quite simply, the answer is no.

Having read other reviews on it only reiterates the problem of poor sound quality, which some mothers may find distressing if they think they can't find their baby's heartbeat. Depending where you buy, it retails at around £24.99 (£12.99 in TK MAXX), it hardly breaks the bank although I think the money could be better spent on something else.

Has anyone else tried using one of these? What were your thoughts on the device? I would love to know. 

xxx

Pregnancy Diaries: Week 27

This week I have been experiencing the start of braxton hicks contractions. At 27 weeks these are happening a little earlier than I expected. The feeling is hard to describe if you haven't had them before but I would say they feel a bit like someone is tightening a belt around the middle of your stomach and it goes hard. To look at,  it's like the baby has curled into a ball and everything is more compact. I have found myself breathing through the braxton hicks, which does feel a bit silly considering it's not as if I'm in full labour with the pain taking it's toll. However they can be uncomfortable and the deep, controlled breathing gives me something else to focus on instead of thinking about the tightening's. These have been happening most days so I'm hoping they don't get more intense just yet. With the baby only being the size of a cauliflower, 14.5 inches long and weighing around 2 lbs, there is still some cooking left to be done in there!

In the last few days I have also noticed a feeling like the babies foot coming out! Obviously this is not the case but sometimes when I'm standing, there is the sensation of this little one lying low as if something is going to appear. I did have this in my last pregnancy so I know there is nothing wrong, it just feels really weird *pulls strange face*.

I initially thought this was the first week of my third trimester but turns out that's not until next week, oops, so as this is the LAST week of my SECOND trimester I have put together some pictures of my growing bump side by side to compare the weeks. A lot can change in 27 weeks.

Week 5 * Week 17 * Week 23

Week 25 * Week 26 * Week 27

Pregnancy Diaries: Week 26

This hasn't been my best week with no real reason other than hormones to blame I guess. I have been feeling extremely tired and rather emotional. I could cry about nothing and everything, and have found myself waking up on the wrong side of bed which has only served to make the days more frustrating. One day I even got upset because I felt so uncomfortable with baby taking up all the space, that there was no room left for dinner. FYI - I love my food!
My red and inflamed skin hasn't helped. Despite my taking anti-histamines, the itchiness has returned resulting in me spending a couple of nights lying awake scratching, applying cream then repeating the process until I could no longer keep my eyes open. It is really taking it's toll one me now as it affects every aspect of my day from showering, the clothes I wear, being in the kitchen to something as simple as my holding my children's hands. As I have said previously, I am I prone to mild eczema on occasion generally and is apparently common for it to become worse when pregnant although have never experienced the condition to this severe extent.  I swear I could open up a pharmacy with the creams I have collected during this pregnancy but to no avail.

As I get closer to my due date, there is a part of me beginning to feel sad I will never carry another baby, feeling a kick and sharing special moments between my baby and I that no one else gets to encounter. On the other hand, I can't help but think of the day when hopefully my hormones revert back to normal and I don't need to live in constant pain. The things we do for our children huh?!

Pregnancy Diaries: Week 25

A number of pregnancy sites state that nesting (the urge to clean, tidy and organise excessively in pregnancy) tends to begin just before a woman goes into labour, however at 25 weeks I have taken a notion to do those things already. Now anyone who knows me would be quick to point out this is not my normal behaviour so I can only put it down to nesting. While cleaning has been high on the agenda, I have also been looking at what extra storage we will need and working out where everything is going to go once baby arrives. My pre-pregnancy clothes have been put away in a suitcase to create more space in my wardrobe for any new purchases in the next 3 and a half months.

I had in excess of 20 pairs of jeans in different colours, sizes and styles so took this as an opportunity get rid of some items all together whilst the rest are stored away until I regain my pre-pregnancy size.

All apparent nesting aside, I have been experiencing some discomfort at the top of my bump which feels like my skin pulling rather than cramps or braxton hicks. I think this is due to everything stretching as the baby grows bigger and am definitely more aware of it third time round. Unfortunately there is nothing I know of to relieve this feeling, it is simply another symptom of pregnancy which means I am another step closer to the end.

xxx

Pregnancy Diaries: Catch Up Week 20 Half Way There!

The best part of getting to week 20 was having our second scan. We took the kids along with us so they could be part of the experience, which I was super excited about. However, whilst they understood that what they were seeing on the screen was the baby, I think they found it hard to make out what was what. Other than the heart and feet, it was all a bit of a blur to them but to be fair, the hospital was short staffed and it did feel like the sonographer whizzed through everything. The main thing though, is that the baby is healthy and growing as it should.

We decided not to find out the sex, unlike with our last two, as I would like to have a surprise at the end, even though my husband is to keen to know. I just feel that this is the last time we are going to do this and want to make the most of every moment. I would like to know what it feels like to be in labour and have the excitement of wondering whether we are going to be handed a boy or girl and thankfully my darling better half was happy to go along with my preference.

Having had two children already, means that I know what items we need straight away and what things can wait a couple of weeks or months after the baby arrives. So whilst I do want to go down the route of dressing or co-ordinating colours to suit the gender, I know that I don't necessarily need to have everything the baby will use in it's first six months of life, before it is born. This makes my decision for a surprise less stressful however I do understand why people feel they need to know so they can be more organised before the kaos begins.
Having said all of this, it hasn't stopped myself or everyone else trying to have guess at what we may be having. The majority say it's a boy, guess we'll find out in 20 weeks time!

Pregnancy: Catch Up Weeks 18 & 19

Week 18

This has been a fun week in terms of the babies progress. I felt the odd kick last week, maybe once every couple of days, however now I can feel kicks and movement every day which is more reassuring that everything is going as it should. Even though this is my third child, I still worry about some of the same things I did with my first so these small things make all the difference. The kids are also getting more excited now as my tummy is more obvious so there is something for them to see. However unfortunately whenever I try to let them feel the baby moving, it seems to stop. I swear I have seen my tummy doing small ripples but whenever I go to show someone, everything goes still. I think this little one likes a game of hide and seek.

Week 19

Well the day finally came this week when I had to admit defeat with my favourite pair of jeans *sad face*. Whilst I have had to employ the loop the hair bobble through my jeans to continue wearing my pre-pregnancy jeans, so far I had manged to fit my butt into my usual clothes. That was until now when I got my jeans up to my thighs and even with some pulling, jumping and lunging they would not budge. In fact my efforts to get them up were so impressive that I could not get them off without the help of my daughter pulling them at the legs whilst I lay flat on the bed! My epic fail was made all the worse with the kids laughing whilst shouting that mummy has a fat bottom. Don't you just love children?

Pregnancy Diaries: Catch Up Weeks 16 &17

Week 16

These last couple of weeks I have noticed the exhaustion returning. I did suffer from fatigue in the very beginning of this pregnancy and maybe the sickness then made me less aware of the tiredness but recently I've felt floored again. Everybody has been saying how they had so much energy in their second trimester, well I'm still waiting!

16wks + 7days

On the up side though my bump is slowly starting to appear. It starts off small in the morning and doubles in size by the evening. I'm used to having a strong abdomen so the strangest part for me is losing my centre of balance. My husband laughs at me struggling to go from lying down to sitting up as he reminds me I still have a long way to go and am only going to get bigger. Oh the joys :)

Week 17

I am ashamed to say that this week I have conformed to such an obvious stereotype in pregnancy, a craving for gherkins. I saw them on television one night and went to buy them the following day. Thinking a small jar would be sufficient was a mistake as they were gone in one sitting. They were followed by subsequent large jars which I have munched on in an evening to stop me from reaching for things from the naughty cupboard.

Cravings aside, I made the decision to slot in some kind of workout into daily life again. Walking has been a great way for me to feel active and listening to up tempo music helps me to keep to a pace that is fast enough to get my heart rate up whilst not being too vigorous at the same time. There are also a couple of channels on Sky TV that airs numerous workout programs that I have recorded and done when I felt like doing something different. This is a great way to workout in the privacy of the living room with variety rather than buying one of the many workout dvd's on the market which I would be likely to do once or twice before getting bored. However it is important that certain movements are adapted to suit the different stages of pregnancy so if anyone is thinking of doing this make sure you know what is safe for you before starting a workout.

xxx

Pregnancy: Catch Up Weeks 14 & 15

Week 14

I have been feeling a lot more human these last few days which is a relief, I'm only feeling dodgy in the evenings now and as a result, I can't stop eating! I am thinking about food constantly and am having something every hour or less. At my 12 week scan they took my height and weight and found I had lost half a stone so all this munching away will have me back to my usual weight in no time. I have changed my diet slightly since my appetite has increased as when I was struggling to eat I made sure to have higher calorie foods so am making a conscious effort to eat better. It's simple things like going back to brown bread, pasta and rice which I ate before my morning sickness began and eating meat again as I had more or less gone of it unless I was eating out. My diet is by no means perfect but at least now I'm consuming the good with the bad, whereas before (other than grapes) I felt I was eating mostly rubbish just to survive.

Week 15

Things are slightly expanding this week and have bought my first pair of maternity jeans from Zara. I wasn't expecting to get anything, however they had a sale on so I picked up the jeans, two longer jumpers and tops for just under £50 (I love a bargain!). The only down side to the jeans is that they don't have an adjustable waist band so I am having to wear a belt with them until my tummy fills out some more but for £12.99 I can't really complain too much. For the top half  I either went up one size or chose box cut tops which allow plenty of room for a growing belly. If you notice I have a thing for black and grey but have promised myself I will introduce colour when we get some sun.

All from Zara excluding the grey striped tee from Topshop

xxx

Pregnancy Diaries: Catch Up Weeks 12 &13

Week 12

My appetite has improved slightly this week and my main cravings are still red grapes along with Mc Donald's cheese burgers as the latest addition. At this point, as I am not able to eat much, I will eat what ever my body is able to handle even if it may not be the healthiest thing.
We had our scan this week which was surreal. I think the combination of me not having a bump so far and the reality of having a third child not hitting home yet meant that it has't felt real so getting to see the baby up on screen made it all come to life. As the first scan is a dating one,  I was desperately hoping to find out that I would at least be as far along as I had thought and not behind, just so the sickness would be over sooner rather than later. It turns out that I gained a day and was bang on 12 weeks so I was over the moon. After finding about that everything looked as it should at this point, my husband and I have decided that we will keep the news to ourselves just a little longer.

Here is a picture of baby :)

Week 13

Well the secret didn't last very long! Two days after the scan a couple of people had guessed, due to me being so sick. We were worried that the kids might hear our news from someone else, we wanted to be able to tell them ourselves and see the look on their faces. So we sat down as I showed them the scan and told them it was a picture of the baby in mummies tummy.

Naima was so happy and Camron asked if we would be having any more after that, the answer was a firm no, haha. Since then I have been bombarded with questions from them and get nightly kisses on the tummy for baby which is sweet.

My mum was surprised given that in previous pregnancies, she had been told almost as soon as I found out however was happy that I was further along as she wont have to wait as long for baby to appear. It has definitely been a relief to be able to tell people who have been asking if I'm all right but at the same time we are not broadcasting the news just yet until we have had the 20 week scan, which is when more health issues can be picked up. I am officially in the second trimester now so let the weeks roll in on quickly from now on.

xxx