Pregnancy Fashion & The Next Chapter

So it's been two months since I had Jude and already it feels like I was never pregnant. Anyone who has read my weekly pregnancy blogs or watched my YouTube updates, will remember that I was not someone who enjoyed the whole human growing process despite how much I love the little bundle I got in the end. Hence why it comes as a surprise that I look back at my baby bump pictures with fond memories and think to myself that I would quite happily do it all over again. This is proof that pictures can be misleading and don't always reflect the reality of life!

One of the reasons I blogged throughout my pregnancy, other than to have something nice to look back on, was because I wanted to have the realities my what I went through in black and white. Something to remind myself that I SHOULD NOT and most definitely WILL NOT have any more babies in the near or distant future, regardless of any kind of broodiness that washes over me.

Before I became pregnant, I had already planned how I was going to style myself during a pregnancy and had grand ideas of how, the third time round, I would make a concerted effort to look and feel fabulous from the beginning right through to the delivery. This however went completely out of the window when reality, along with morning sickness and pregnancy related eczema, hit hard. At the beginning, a good day meant I was wearing something, anything, other than pyjamas. In the middle, it was if my were hands not weeping from scratching them through to the flesh. Looking glamorous was far from my mind when just managing to conceal the angry red patches on my face felt like a feat. I was thankful for the the latter stages in my pregnancy, once these symptoms disappeared, that I felt like myself. I had a grace period of about 4 or 5 weeks where I was able to put on a face of make-up, dress up and feel good about myself.

It is pictures from this time that make me think that, for a moment, maybe I do enjoy carrying a baby. There is something so amazing about growing a mini-me in the belly and being able to nurture and protect them from the world they will enter. There is also that empowering feeling of knowing that your mind and body are strong enough to get through a labour and delivery and come out the other side alive!

Being pregnant is such a special time in a woman's life and I am so grateful it is something I got to experience. So whilst I look back at my baby bump pictures with fondness, I know it's not all sunshine and rainbows. I am in fact happy with my lot and am ready for the next chapter, what ever that may be.

I will finish with pictures of my style during pregnancy taken from my Instagram.

Just pregnant  *  12 weeks

Top to Bottom L-R: 

17 weeks   *   23 weeks

25 weeks   *   28 weeks

28 weeks   *   29 weeks

34 weeks   *   34 weeks

37 weeks   *   38 weeks   *   38 weeks

39 weeks

xxx

Pregnancy Diaries: Week 38

We are on the home stretch and the end is in sight! Any time now, baby number 3 is going to make an appearance and the excitement is beginning to take over the fear of the birth. I am becoming aware of all the 'lasts' that I am doing now. The last time I will go swimming, the last time I walk down a certain being pregnant, even purchasing my last tub of Cocoa Butter to stop any sneaky stretch marks. Sad I know.

Talking of Cocoa Butter, I must say, I don't think I could have done without my trusted body butter. Having done a previous blog post on moisturising and the different products I have used in this pregnancy, this is my favourite and has definitely worked in preventing stretch marks. (I hope I haven't just jinxed myself). It's so thick and luxurious for the skin that my tummy has never really had the opportunity to become dry. I really would recommend this to any pregnant ladies out there.

I had my 38 week check up the other day and the babies head is still down and is FINALLY engaged! The only thing that wasn't quite as expected was my bump only measuring 35 weeks, which is the first time I have the mention of it being small. It was a different midwife from the one I have had most of my pregnancy so I'm not sure if it's a simple case of different people working slightly differently or the fact that the head is now engaged that makes it appear smaller. She didn't seem concerned though and the baby is still kicking away so hopefully there is nothing to worry about.

Here are couple of bump pictures for this week. I can't believe the belly will be gone soon, despite all my  complaining, I think I may actually miss it (well, a bit anyway).

Hat: PRIMARK

Shirt: RIVER ISLAND

Jeans: ZARA MATERNITY

Boots: ASOS

Bag: TK MAXX

xxx

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 Weeks 21 & 22

Week 21

Since the scan last week, I have been constantly thinking about the sex of the baby. I was so proud of myself for resisting the urge to find out the gender, knowing I would regret it afterwards as I am set on having a surprise this time. However now it seems like the birth is so far away and I have all this time to wonder if it's a boy or girl. I am forever browsing the baby clothes when shopping and don't know whether I should be looking at the pink or blue section which means I can't buy anything unless it's white or cream. This also makes the naming process more difficult as we can't even narrow down the names and concentrate on one gender. It is proving to be a problem as hubby and I  have a few girls names we like but can't agree on a boys name which panics me a little as this convinces me it's going to be a boy! I also don't feel quite as connected to this baby as with my other two (I knew their sex in pregnancy) with not being able to say him or her, which makes me worry how I will feel when it arrives.

On the flip side, I am aware there is no need to buy an obscene amount of pick or blue items before the birth as long as I have a few plain baby grows for the first few days. We will have six weeks to name the baby once its here which gives us plenty of time with only one gender related list to chose from. And I will have all the time in the world to gain a close bond with what is currently known as 'the bump' when I am holding my latest bundle of joy in my arms.

I think as women we want everything to be planned, organised and ready for lift off as this gives us peace of mind but sometimes it's nice to go with the flow and see what happens.

Weeks 22

I am definitely finding it to hard to get into any of my pre-pregnancy jeans without a wrestling match so went out and got a couple of things to make getting dressed in the morning less of a challenge. The one thing I have been mindful of is not spending a fortune on maternity clothes when I will only get 4 months wear out them so am going for items which I will be able to use post pregnancy as well. I will obviously still need to wear some of my pregnancy wardrobe for a bit once the baby comes and I think personally I will feel better if those clothes don't have the name 'maternity' attached to them.

I don't want to go down the route of wearing black leggings with everything as we are coming into nicer weather so I picked up blue and grey leggings from River Island which imitate the look of jeans. They also come in other colours and materials for different looks and the waist band is perfect for expanding tummies which doesn't dig in like some other leggings I have.

Here are the grey ones I got along with some other colours. These range in cost from £15 to £22.