Quick rave - YSL Shocking Mascara

So I just wanted to do a really quick blog post on this as I think my one major paranoia during pregnancy is becoming more of a slummy mummy then a yummy mummy. I also have to admit that during the tired days I could go for three or four days without putting any make up - pretty disgraceful. Anyway as my energy levels have slowly begun to return I have decided to start making a lot more of an effort and started with going and buying a new mascara yesterday.

I've always been a huge fan of YSL's range and although I've tried tons of different brands I always, always come back to their False Lash Effect. It's slightly annoying because it's not cheap and doesn't last very long - it tends to go all clumpy and dry after about three months.

Anyway I popped into John Lewis yesterday and decided to go a little crazy and try their Shocking version of the mascara and it's AMAZING!!! After just one coat my lashes were super thick and super long and it's lasted all day without flaking onto my face.

So for any mum's out there who intend to stay yummy I'd definitely recommend popping down to your nearest YSL counter and spending £23 on a very worthy investment.

Find your perfect baby record book

I'm at the stage now where I just want to start documenting everything so I've been shopping around to find a record book I like. Here are some of my findings:

Baby Animals Pregnancy Planner

£9.50 Paperchase

If you’re a fan of the paperchase style and you’re on a limited budget then this maybe the perfect planner for you. I really loved their wedding planner folder’s when I was preparing my wedding and I have one of the recipe books filled to the brim at home. It’s really colourful inside, sex neutral and there’s lot’s of room to add notes but not quite as classy looking as some of the other’s I’ve listed below.

http://www.paperchase.co.uk/recipe-+amp-social-books/baby-animals-pregnancy-planner/invt/00490618/

Smythson Panama Baby Notes Book

I absolutely love this little book and I keep hinting at Mr W in the hope he might buy it for me as a present. It’s the perfect notebook to keep in your handbag for when you have those random thoughts, or a friend gives you a piece of advice you don’t want to forget. Also because of the quality it should last for years so you can keep coming back to your feelings and thoughts at this special time.

£45 Smythson

http://www.smythson.com/stationery/books/panama-baby-notes-2.html

Millie and Boris Record Book

I love this book because it’s got lot’s of little pockets and envelopes for you to put things in like a lock of their hair or their hospital bracelet. It’s also so designed in keeping with the Millie and Boris interiors range if that’s what you’ve already got planned for the nursery.

£18.00 Mamas and Papas

http://www.mamasandpapas.com/product-millie-boris-record-book/484245310/type-i/

Deva Baby Record Book

£25 John Lewis

When I popped into John Lewis earlier today I was actually surprised that this seemed to be the only record book on offer. Thankfully it’s really cute and the pages inside give you loads of room for personalizing it. The only part that’s frustrating is that the two options are pink and blue and if you don’t know the sex it’s quite difficult to choose.

http://www.johnlewis.com/231576680/Product.aspx

Week 15 - the revival begins

Wow considering how I felt just 10 days ago I can't begin to explain the difference to now. I feel like a whole new person. In fairness I don't feel as amazing as everyone keeps telling me I'm going to feel but I definitely feel alive and inspired to actually move my bum off the sofa. I can't tell you how happy that makes Mr W feel, not having a big lump for a wife. 

So here's a quick summary of how's it been for baby and I: 

The baby

At week 15 according to The Baby Centre little muffin is the size of an apple. I really couldn't tell you if that's a golden delicious or a pink lady but it's about 10cm of crown to rump. 

This week's key developments include being able to sense light even though their eyelids are fused shut. Taste buds are beginning to form so it won't be a long before I start getting reactions based on my rather varied eating habits. All the limbs are continuing to grow and his legs should be longer then his arms (otherwise he'll be walking around like a monkey when he pops out).

His or her little face has eyelashes and eyebrows. Its backbone is strong enough for its neck to straighten out and he's moving around more than ever particularly with little hiccups beginning to start. 

If I were to have an ultrasound now we might even be able to tell the sex but unfortunately with my care plan I'm going to have to wait until 20 weeks for that information. Also and most excitingly of all, from anytime going forward I might be able to feel little muffin kicking, Eek!!! 

Me

Well as I said I feel like a whole new person this week. The biggest change of all I think is the nesting instinct kicking in. I actually spent over four hours cleaning the other day which for me, even though I know it's disgraceful, is like an alien taking over my form. I've just suddenly found that I absolutely can not bear mess and dirt. I have to sort it out straight away or I won't be able to relax. 

The fact that I even want to get off the sofa is also a pretty big deal. There have been days in the last four months when I would literally be happy to just staying in bed or not moving off the sofa. As someone who is self employed I can't begin to explain what a challenge that has been. It's also definitely been felt on the old finances. 

I'm still being sick though unfortunately. I very rarely feel nauseous but occassionaly there is still a meal that doesn't want to stay down, which is frustrating as I only get about a 10 second warning. Luckily it hasn't happened when I've been out and about. Phew!! 

The bump is also really beginning to grow and all my clothes are getting tighter. I tried to put on a pair of maternity jeans the other day but they're still a little on the big side. I think this must be the most frustrating time because it is really difficult to wear anything that fits unless you invest in clothing that's one or two sizes bigger then your norm but that just seems like a waste to me as you'll only be in them for a month. 

I also attended my first antenatal class at the hospital where I'll be giving birth which was exciting. It was all about staying healthy in pregnancy and the habits you need to be learning now to stop yourself getting into difficulties later. For example, how to sleep with a pillow between your legs, how to get in and out of bed and all your tummy and pelvic floor muscles. I'll probably do a fuller post on this later on. The other thing I discovered is that you can get help through the NHS with physiotherapy if you do have an great discomfort. As I unfortunately have a curved spine I've already been in quite a lot of pain so I'm going to start with them in the next couple of weeks. Who knew there was positives to the NHS??

Anyway I have to say this is definitely been the best week so far and I'm really starting to feel excited about the coming months. Particuarly as we now have a real bump to comment on. 

Top sleeping tips during pregnancy

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve found that I’ve really been struggling to get to sleep, which I’m a little worried about considering this is supposed to be the time when it’s supposed to be easiest.

So, I’ve been doing some research and picking up tips to help which I thought I might share in case anyone else in having the same issues:

1. Try to cut down on your fluid intake in the evening so you don’t wake up with a full bladder
2. Apparently eggs, milk, tuna and turkey contain goodness that encourages the production of serotonin, that has a calming effect and aids sleep
3. Chamomile and lavender are known to help with sleep so why not try Mum & Me’s Sleep Mist. I found it in the baby section of Boots for £4.99 and it really helps
4. The breathing techniques they teach you in yoga are great for helping you relax
5. Try and sleep on your left hand side, as it’s best for baby. Lying on your back after 16 weeks should definitely be avoided as it could be restricting your blood flow
6. Pregnancy pillows or just an extra pillow that you can put between your legs can help relieve pressure on your hips later on in pregnancy when your bump is bigger
7. If you’re waking up hungry eat foods at meal times that contain slow releasing carbs (wholemeal bread and pasta) or that are high in protein (plain yoghurt with honey)
8. Try and get into a relaxing routine before bed that signals to your brain its bedtime. Have a relaxing bath, some hot milk and read a book. Definitely no TV – one of my terrible habits.
9. Finally, I personally find it really relaxing when Mr W strokes my head. It just helps me forget all my worries and regulate my breathing. 

Week 14 - Wohoo the start of the second trimester

So I’m sure I read somewhere that at this point I’m supposed to stop feeling sick, have tons of energy and that mystical glow everyone keeps going on about… Well in my case I’ve been sorely disappointed.

What’s happening with baby this week…

Well it turns out my little muffin is a lemon this week measuring at approx. 10.1cm (4in). Although it apparently starts getting harder to predict their exact size from this point onwards as all babies now start developing at different speeds but apparently I should think of it as a lemon.

Muffin’s ears are also now developed to start hearing and in particular mine and hubby’s voices, which is pretty cool. They also love being sung to but unfortunately for my little one I think I’ll save them from my voice unless they want their ears damaged before they’ve even begun.

Other cool facts include: they’re arms should have grown long enough to place his hands together in front of his face, the spinal cord is now fully formed and nerves are leaving between every vertebra, and she can even squint, frown, grimace, pee and possibly suck her thumb!!

What’s happening with me this week…

I wish I could tell you that I’m feeling amazing and all the tiredness and nausea had gone away but unfortunately not.  Although it has definitely begun to improve as the days have gone by.

I was lucky enough to start the week in Portugal as Mr W and I had managed to escape the horrific weather here for a week of sunshine and relaxation. Although I was still pretty exhausted in the afternoons and pretty much comatosed by 10pm a week of fresh fruit and fish was definitely paying dividends.

However we did return back to earth on Tuesday with a bit of a bump as my morning sickness returned with a vengeance following a delicious meal cooked by my mum. As a result I now seemed to have formed quite a significant food aversion to anything too vinegary e.g. salad dressing.

Since then I’m still struggling with nausea particularly if I’m a little hungry but on the positive side I’m really starting to get my energy back. I’m still exhausted early evening and around mid afternoon but I feel a lot better in the mornings. I’m finally getting an urge to actually do things other then hide on my sofa and I’m definitely nesting. I spent over four hours this morning cleaning our spare room something that is virtually on heard of for me!  

I think the most exciting part of this week has definitely been my growing bump – I finally have one! People actually have something to comment on and I don’t just look like I’ve eaten all the pies. I even tried on a pair of maternity jeans the other day but there still on the big side so I’m just living in tracksuit bottoms until they do fit but I’m sure it won’t be long.

Other then that everything else has been pretty much normal. My boobs are still pretty sore and sensitive and I’m a little gassy.

I’m also starting to get really excited now about the next stage as anytime from next week I could start to feel little muffins movements. I’m also only 4.5 weeks away from my next scan when I can find out the sex and finally we can start really planning! 

The first trimester

So I know this isn’t strictly a weekly diary but as I started this blog in my second trimester I thought it was worth giving a quick recap of how it went…

Breasts

These started off as being a little tender, no more so then at the beginning of your period, but then one morning during week 6 I woke up with them feeling like they'd been through ten rounds with Mike Tyson. Shortly afterwards they REALLY started to increase in size!! I know for most women this is one of the signs of pregnancy they really look forward to but for me it really wasn’t. Mainly because I have already been blessed with rather large ones so I actually started to grow out of all my clothes by week 8, not because of a bump but because I’d started looking like a porn star. L

They also feel really different now, before they were really soft but now they’ve really started to harden as the milk ducts form and my nipples and areola are quite a bit darker and larger. 

Going to the loo

I'm told one of the most common early signs is a need to urinate every five minutes and whilst it wasn’t quite that often I’m still in week 14 not managing to sleep through the night. Apparently this occurs to begin with because whilst the baby sits in your pelvis it’s literally on top of your bladder. All I know is my baby is now definitely further up and I still need to go to the loo at some point in the middle of the night.

My advice on this one is just to try and cut down your fluids as much as possible in the evening. This was a hard one for me as I just couldn’t get enough liquids in the first trimester. I literally couldn’t ever quench my thirst it was really bizarre. However I tried really hard to make sure I only sipped a glass of water at least an hour before bed. That seemed to cut the trips down to just one around 3.30am every morning.

Exhaustion

This has been the most prevalent symptom for me so far. It's strange though because I wake up really early every morning (around 6.30am) with loads of energy but by about 3pm I'm literally asleep wherever it is I might be. I need a good hours nap every afternoon so that I can last through the evening and I don't mean a doze I mean an actual full on hour's deep sleep. I've never experienced anything I like it and I'm finding it really strange. The other day I went to watch my husband in a go-kart race but missed the whole thing because I fell asleep in my car in the car park for about 90mins before he came and found me, much to everyone's amusement. So now I'm just learning a new routine, much like I will have to when the baby arrives I guess, where I get up and get all my work done in the mornings and early evenings but make sure I don't arrange to attend any meetings in the afternoons which so far I've found perfectly manageable.

Morning sickness

I think this is the one I’m still struggling with most. I was quite lucky in that it didn’t really hit until week 8 when I was on a girl’s holiday in Portugal but ever since then I’ve been sick quite regularly. I find it’s usually worse if I literally don’t eat as soon as I wake up or if I start the day on anything acidic e.g. an apple. The other thing I’d recommend if you’re also suffering are the sickness bands you can get from chemists for travel sickness. They didn’t make the symptoms completely disappear but they really took the edge off which made a huge difference when I needed to behave professionally in meetings.

Sense of smell

See when everyone talked about this one I assumed they meant that all smells around you are heightened but apparently not. I'm just finding that my nose seems to be particularly sensitive to certain smells, e.g. when my mother got in my car with a tray full of starbucks coffee the smell was really overwhelming. I wouldn't necessarily say that it made me feel sick it just made me want to get away from it. The other one I really struggled with was Red Bull; someone opened a can of it the other day about two metres away from me but I could smell it as though the can was right under my nose. Also, unsurprisingly cigarette smoke has been a real nightmare. As a (not proud) ex-smoker myself I still have a lot of friends who indulge in the habit and whilst they’re great at trying their best not to do it near me, I can smell it a mile off. In fact it was the smell that sparked my first vomiting experience.

Although on the positive side I have to say that this all beginning to dull down a bit in the second trimester which is a relief.

Fears

After the joyous news of my pregnancy started to settle the fears also began to appear. The main one being miscarriage which I know is completely down to nature but you can't help but worry none stop about it. I always felt that if I’d say something about how excited I was about the baby or how Xmas will be interesting, I’d have to qualify it with a statement along the lines of 'provided everything is ok and we get through the next couple of months' just so that I didn’t jinx it. After I told my parents we were expecting (we decided to tell our closest family before the 12 weeks because lets face it most women want their own mummy at a time like this) I was totally convinced I was going to lose it.

Then at 10 weeks we had a proper scare where after a trip to the loo I noticed some spotting and following a phone call to my GP we ended it up in our local A&E. Thankfully everything was absolutely fine and we managed to get an early scan out of the experience but I can’t tell you how terrifying it was. I was totally convinced I’d done something to harm it. Even now we’ve had the second 12 week scan I still worry from time to time that something will go wrong. On holiday last week I accidentally did a belly flop into the pool and I was so scared I’d harmed it. It took an urgent phone call to my mum to convince me everything was fine. Maybe when I can actually feel him or her moving around I’ll be able to relax a bit more…