An Elective C-Section - Erin's Birth Story

When I fell pregnant last year, I soon started thinking about giving birth and how I planned to do it. In my first pregnancy with Elliot, he was 2 weeks overdue and I ended up being induced with not much success. He was far too happy in my tummy and in no rush to come out so I eventually had an emergency c-section. ( Good job too because he was enormous at 10lb 13oz!)

This time round I knew immediately that I would be having another c-section. I know alot of ladies go onto have successful VBAC's but in my mind I had visions of having another unsuccessful induction and the whole thing being dragged out over a few days again. I liked the idea of knowing exactly when the baby would arrive - this meant we could arrange childcare for Elliot and not be rushing around like headless chickens! 

A few days before my c-section date my husband and I went along to the hospital for a pre-op meeting. I had no idea what to expect but there were several other couples there who were all booked in for the same day. We were given lots of information on what to expect on the day and the all important consent forms to sign. They took some bloods from me and I was given some anti-sickness tablets to take on the evening and morning before the op. 

I didn't get alot of sleep on the night before my c-section, other than needing to wee about 50 times I just felt really nervous and kept waking up! We arrived at the hospital for 730am and were greeted by the lovely midwives that we'd met at the pre-op meeting. We were taken to the ward and straight away we were given gowns and scrubs to change into - eek, things were moving fast! Standard obs were done - blood pressure, pulse etc and I was given some sexy compression stockings for after the operation.

We were the second couple to go down to theatre and we got called in just after 10am. I'm not sure what I expected but it was all very relaxed! The radio was on and all the staff were chatting away and cracking jokes. I was feeling petrified but the atmosphere did calm my nerves a little!

I was told to sit on the operating table with my legs dangling down - I had to kind of arch my back and push my chin down onto my chest so that the anaesthetist could find the right spot in my back for the spinal. Paul tells me the needle was ginormous but I didn't really feel it go in, the worst part was feeling the anaesthetist pushing onto my spine - this really bloody hurt!! It's also really tricky to keep your back in the correct position and they had to keep telling me to " keep your shoulders down, don't move!". Eventually they told me the spinal was in and that I would feel my body go warm - immediately my lower body went all numb and it did indeed feel all warm. They helped me swing my legs round and onto the table and I was told to lie down as fast as I could. It was a really peculiar feeling, I literally couldn't feel a thing!

It felt a bit strange to be lying on the operating table as it was slightly tilted - I had no idea why at the time but apparently its so the weight of the womb doesn't reduce the blood supply to the lungs, causing blood pressure to drop. All I know is, it felt a bit odd to not be lying completely flat!

Up went the screen and the midwives were constantly monitoring me while Paul sat up the top end near my head. They sprayed a cold spray up my body so they could check the spinal was working - it was, thankfully! It's a very strange feeling having a c-section because you know the Drs are working away down there but you just feel a bit of tugging.

Within about 10 minutes we heard a baby's cry and Erin was lifted up for us to see! I couldn't believe how quickly it all happened. She was cleaned and wrapped in a blanket and was given to Paul to hold. My first thought was wow, she looks just like Elliot! He sat with me while I was sewn back together and this part is a bit vague as I suddenly felt really sleepy and couldn't keep my eyes open. I just remember hearing Justin Timberlake's Can't Stop the Feeling being on the radio!

We were wheeled down to the recovery room and I was given oxygen as my blood oxygen levels were low - this is why I had felt so sleepy after Erin was born. It was a bit of a pain, the mask kept getting in the way when I was finally allowed to hold her but I was told I needed to keep it on for a few hours until they were happy with my levels. Erin was weighed and we found at that she was 9lbs - not quite as large as her big brother but a pretty decent size!

After around an hour of being prodded and poked in the recovery room, we were taken to one of the post-op rooms where we spent the rest of the day. Slowly I started to regain feeling in my toes but I felt pretty groggy otherwise, the room was baking hot so I think I just drifted off to sleep on and off while Paul sat with Erin and the midwives came and went. One of the stranger things I experienced was itching! Apparently this is a common side effect of the spinal but my tummy and chest was so itchy, uncomfortably so!

Towards the end of the afternoon my oxygen levels had increased and I was allowed to finally take the mask off. I was also encouraged to stand up and walk around a little once they had removed the catheter. I managed to hobble to the toilet - it wasn't overly painful but I made sure I said yes to all the drugs they offered! I was also able to eat for the first time in hours but it was probably a bad idea choosing fish from the hospital menu - one bite and I puked all over the floor and my clean top which I had only just put on! I was sick a few times through out the rest of the day and I didn't really get my appetite back until the following morning. Nausea is quite common after c-sections.

My parents brought Elliot in to visit that evening and I was glad I was able to be up and about and not in the hospital bed, I didn't want to overwhelm him too much and I know he'd get a bit freaked out if he saw me looking poorly in bed!

Later that evening I was taken up to the postnatal ward and my husband went home for the night. I noticed that the other ladies had their husbands staying with them but I didn't mind Paul going home, it had been a long day so I knew he probably needed a good nights sleep, something he wouldn't get on the wooden hospital chairs!

Erin actually slept pretty well on the first night - unlike the other babies on the ward! I'd forgotten how noisy it can be on the postnatal ward, not to mention being woken up early to have observations done. I did enjoy a breakfast of white toast and butter though - it's something I've not had in absolutely ages due to the gestational diabetes so toast has never tasted so good! (not to mention that I was starving having not eaten anything the day before!)

I was itching to get home but I ended up staying another night in hospital and I was finally discharged on the Thursday morning. It was all rather fast, the midwife came round after breakfast and said she was happy for me to go home and that was it...half an hour later I was packing my bag and waiting for my husband to collect me!

It was so lovely to get home and be able to relax in our own surroundings. It was nice for Elliot to be able to have proper cuddles with Erin too, he was certainly pleased we were home!

The first week went by in a blur and I did feel quite sore. It didn't help that I had a cough too so every time I coughed, it bloody hurt. I also ended up sleeping on the sofa for the first few nights too as it was more comfortable to be sleeping upright and not flat in a bed...the hubby didn't mind this as it meant he couldn't hear the baby crying downstairs ;)

It's been 4 weeks now and I feel about 90% back to my normal self. My c-section wound seems to be healing well and I'm not really getting any pain. I drove for the first time yesterday too which was amazing, I've missed driving so much! Fortunately my husband has been able to work from home since Erin was born so he's been around to help with lifts, housework and the pre-school run. I think he'll be glad when I'm able to do the hoovering again though!

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Pregnancy Update ~ Introducing Baby Erin :)

You may have seen my little announcement on social media last week but baby Erin finally made her appearance into the world! She was born via elective c-section on 24th January at 11.02am and weighed in at 9lbs...not quite as large as her big brother ;)

I might try and write up my c-section experience but for now, here's some photos of Erin looking rather cute!

I think my husband's phone has some amazing filters because I know for a fact I looked a lot worse than this!!

I love this photo of Elliot and his Grandad (my Dad) holding Erin

Pregnancy Update ~ Second Baby (Week 39 - FINAL UPDATE WOOHOO!)

Well (finally) I have almost reached the end of my pregnancy - woohoo! As of today I am 39 weeks pregnant and booked in for my c-section at some point next week....although only a few people know the exact date. Got to have a bit of mystery haven't we ;)

Despite the majority of my pregnancy flying by, this past week has just been SO slow. I did originally try not to make too many plans and attempt to take it easy but that plan didn't work, I've been out and about pretty much every day - anything to pass the time!

I had my last clinic at the hospital last week so I don't have to see the dietitian regarding Gestational Diabetes again - which is good because I cannot tell you how much time I have wasted sat in the waiting room waiting for my appointments!! I spent over 3 hours at the hospital last week and my appointment lasted about 30 seconds...grrr. Still, that's done with now. I'm still testing my blood sugars 4 times a day and taking medication to control my levels but the hospital are very happy with my numbers...phew!

My final appointment is my pre-op meeting. I didn't have one of these last time as I ended up having an emergency c-section but I've been told that they will just take some bloods, get me to sign consent forms and go through what will happen on the day. Exciting/scary stuff!

I've been feeling quite tired this week but apart from that, really well. I'm sure by this point in Elliot's pregnancy I was in hibernation mode and really suffering from a bad back. I stopped driving a few weeks before he was born too as a) it was uncomfortable with a big bump and b) my Nan said I shouldn't be driving whilst so pregnant hah! But I suppose with a second pregnancy, life has to go on and there's another person to think about already! Elliot still needs to get to his swimming/sports classes/parties so I'm still driving......sorry Nan ;)

I've been fending off the inevitable messages this week from friends enquiring if I've had the baby yet - I know they mean well but I have to be honest, it does drive me up the wall! I've even started to purposely check myself into places on Facebook when I go out so people know I'm not in labour yet and jump to conclusions! #noImnotinlabouryet

We're out! I'm not in labour!

The supermarkets all seem to have baby events at the moment so I stocked up some more nappies and wipes this week. I also picked up some items such as bath toys, sudocrem, back seat mirror and a really lovely play mat. I think I have everything I need now but my theory is the shops are open 24/7 so if we're desperate, we'll be ok! My kitchen is starting to look like a shrine to Tommee Tippee - we were lucky enough to be sent a big box of items to test out such as an electric steriliser so look out for some reviews coming over the next few weeks once baby is here and we find our feet :) (And read the instructions...)

So that's it, my final update - this time next week we should be a family of four! I'm so excited to start the next chapter and looking forward to blogging my way through the baby years. I'm just hoping we manage to get some sleep!

The Annoying Things People Say & Do When You're Pregnant!

I'm not sure what it is about pregnancy but sometimes it feels like this gives people a free pass to make silly comments, ask ridiculous questions or encroach your personal space! I've noticed this more and more recently and it seems I'm not alone - I had an overwhelming response when I reached out to fellow parent bloggers about the annoying things people had said. Are us pregnant ladies just overly sensitive?! 

Here's a selection of some of the most annoying things that have been said or done to a pregnant lady.....

- "Wow you're huge, are you sure there's only one in there?" - Yes I'm quite sure thanks, I think they might have spotted twins on the very first scan! And thanks for that vote of confidence..

- "Hello tubs!" - grrr, yes I am overweight and no I wouldn't expect you to say that to me normally so why do you think being pregnant makes it any different?! It's still bloody rude! 

- Bump touching. Just no!! 

- "Are you allowed to eat that?" - Oh I'm not sure, you're obviously the expert, you tell me!

- Checked in on Facebook to my hairdressers - within a few minutes somebody had commented and asked if this meant I was in labour. Erm, yep, this is top of my priorities when my waters break!

- The weeks leading up to the birth when you get a barrage of text messages asking if you've had the baby yet....trust me, I will tell you once the baby arrives! You don't need to keep asking!! 

'You'd better catch up on your sleep now, you won't be getting any for a while...' - was my pet peeve comment while pregnant. Yes, because I have a sleeping bank I can simply store up for months down the line - also, I have to pee every 40 minutes, and can sleep in one position and one position only, how much sleep can I really get? Kirsty @ Life With Boys

"Wow, you're bump has got bigger since the last time I saw you" when you haven't seen someone for a few months....well, yes that is the ideal plan with pregnancy. It's just the shock from some people that you have grown, I'm not really sure what else they expect (although I'll admit, I do this now with my pregnant friends ha!) Abi @ Something About Baby

Mine was always the opposite 'Arent you small!' heard it constantly when pregnant with Charlotte and I think people expected me to be huge simply because I was carrying a baby! Emma @ Me, The Man & The Kids

I've had two girls, first pregnancy everyone was 'oh you must be so pleased it's a girl' errr why? Second time the same people were 'oh no! Boys are so much easier' I mean seriously!! Kirsty @ Winnettes 

When I told people I was pregnant with my second boy, I got lots of "oh that's a shame" and "I bet you wanted one of each". I'm very happy to have another boy on the way, thank you! Becky @ The Family Beehive

"Can I feel your bump?" whilst already slathering their hands all over me. Friends, family, complete strangers in the street; one time in the chemist a man asked to have a feel and when I said no he looked aghast and told me "I was only being nice!" Sophia @ Tattooed Tealady

"Are you sure there's only one in there? You're huge!" Lauren @ Mummy is a Gadget Geek

"Oh your putting weight on your face too" (2nd preg) and 1st pregnancy "oh your putting weight on all round!" Kirsty @ Kirsty Dee

"Make sure you get some sleep now, as once the baby's here you won't get any!"...like you can somehow bank sleep up! Nicola @ All Things Spliced

"Oh you don't look pregnant yet!" Yepp thanks for that!! It's puppy fat ...Amy @ The Smallest of Things

"What did your mum say?!" In fairness I was 19 and it wasn't planned so fair enough but it made me feel like a naughty 14 year old haha! Maddy @ The Speed Bump

On telling people I was having identical twins "oh I bet you hope they're a boy and girl" #facepalm Beth @ Twinderelmo

"You can tell you're having a girl, your bottom's bigger." Said by a work colleague. Yeah, thanks for that. (Also how would that even be a thing??) Rebecca @ The Ish Mother

I remember being at work and having a colleage tell me "I totally knew you were pregnant... your boobs are now HUGEEE" - this was a male colleage too! Emily @ Emily and Indiana

It wasn't so much what people said but more what people did, the non consented touching of my bump used to irritate me! Actually thinking about I worked in a nursery and got a lot of "oh you'll be fine you work with kids!" Nope... I wasn't. It was very very different!  Siobhan @ The Baby Boat Diaries 

"Was it planned?" The most annoying question ever! Why must people be so invasive? Amy @ Amy and Tots

"Who's the father?" or Asking my wife who the Dad of our baby is!  (Lesbian couple) Laura @ Mama, Eden & Me and Vikki @ Mum Times Two

Making jokey remarks about how much of my bump was baby and how much was food - I put on a lot of weight. Good job I'm not easily offended! Lucy @ Real Mum Reviews

Whilst trying to squeeze past me this morning "can you breathe in love?"  I'm nine months pregnant... Hollie @ Thrifty Mum

Asked me if I knew what I was expecting. Then proceeded to have a go one i said boy! "Why did you find out? You've ruined your birth as you won't get the surprise"... Blah blah! Amy @ All Things Amy

Pregnant with my 3rd boy everyone was asking: "Oh you really wanted to try for a girl this time then??" Sara @ Mind Your Mamma 

Have you had any unwanted comments from friends, family or strangers?! 

Newborn Wishlist - When there's always more things to buy ;)

With Baby B's arrival due in just a few weeks I've been trying to get myself organised. Fortunately I kept lots of Elliot's baby bits so I've not needed to buy the big things like a cot or pram but when there are so many lovely things on the baby market, I have done a sneaky bit of online shopping for some bits that perhaps aren't totally essential!!

I'm not one for traipsing around the shops (shopping can be hard with a 4 year in tow!) so I buy most things online for convenience. During my online travels I found LovetheSales which I've found some great baby bargains on. Basically rather than visiting lots of different websites looking for bargains, you can find around 500 retailers in one place.

Here's some bargains which I've got my eye on...

Tommee Tippee Essentials Baby Bottle Kit - £94.99
Tommee Tippee was one of my favourite brands when Elliot was a baby and I love this essentials kit. It can work out quite pricy to buy things separately so to be able to get this bundle and have everything you need for bottle feeding is a godsend!

Minene Unisex Storage Basket - £21.50
I'm not one for things that are too pink so I love these bright and colourful storage baskets. Babies come with alot of clutter (nappies....wipes....muslins....)  so these would be really handy for keeping the house tidy.

Polar Gear Go Anywhere Pram Organiser - £6.99
These organisers are brilliant for attaching to the pram to keep your essentials to hand, you generally need about 5 pairs of hands when you're out and about with the baby so I'm all for things that make things easier! I used to get the bus alot with Elliot and it saved alot of time rooting around in the bottom of my changing bag for coins!

Fisher Price Sunny Days Bouncer - £29.99
Love the colours on this unisex bouncer. Elliot spent many a happy time in his old bouncer so I will definitely be upgrading to a lovely new one like this :)

BT Baby Monitor - £75
We're planning on reusing our AngelCare monitor for this baby but that hasn't stopped me having a little look at others on the market. This one is a colour video monitor which is a step up from our old black and white one and it even plays lullabies!

Chicco Next to Me Crib - £139.99
We didn't have anything like this with Elliot as he outgrew his moses basket in a few weeks and went straight into his cot! But I like the idea of having the baby next to me without the risks of bed sharing and this clever little crib can even be set at an incline to help with colic or colds.

What were your best buys for your newborn?

*Via LovetheSales

Pregnancy Update ~ Second Baby (Week 36 - The End is in Sight!)

Happy New Year to you all! Well, so much for my regular pregnancy updates - looking back, my last one was around 28 weeks. I'm now almost at 37 weeks! The time has just absolutely flown by and I can't believe our baby will be here in 3 weeks time - eeeeek!

Gestational Diabetes

So in my last update I wrote about gestational diabetes and to be honest, that has taken over my life a bit. But not in a bad way - just it's always there, I'm always thinking about it and thinking about what I should be eating/not eating. Thinking about when I next need to test my blood sugars. I have appointments most weeks at the hospital so I feel like I'm constantly there sat in the waiting room! But I've got used to it all and it's becoming second nature to whip out my finger pricker thingy (there must be a proper name for it?!).

I've had to change the way I eat which was actually not as hard as I originally thought - I've taken alot of advice from http://www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/ and I've basically been following a high fat/low carb diet. Which is the complete opposite of what I'm used to with Slimming World - it still feels really naughty to be having full fat cream and luxury full fat mayo! I've cut out cakes completely (well except a small slither of Mum's Christmas Cake on Christmas Day!) and I've been eating nuts and cheese like there's no tomorrow. Eating out hasn't been too challenging, I just make sure I avoid any sauces and go for something meaty. I hear that alot of ladies who have GD stick with this diet after their baby is born but I have to say, I'm really looking forward to getting my teeth into carbs again. And unlimited fruit will be such a treat!!

How am I feeling?

I've actually been feeling really well over the last couple of months and I've had lots of energy in the daytime. I'm sure by this stage of my last pregnancy I was in hibernation mode but I feel quite sprightly at the moment!

I get weighed at the hospital at each appointment and I've lost weight so there's the silver lining of gestational diabetes! I dropped 5 pounds last week and that is the first time in my life where I haven't put on weight over Christmas! I'm only a few pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight so I'm really intrigued to see what happens over the next few weeks and if I end up weighing less when the baby is born. It certainly gives me a good head start for when I return to Slimming World :)

What have I been wearing?

Fashionwise, I'm not going to win any awards for maternity wear! It's either leggings and a shirt or leggings and a dress. I have about 4 outfits that are on rotation! I did treat myself to a lovely maternity dress from Yours Clothing before Christmas which I wore to my choir performance - it's quite dressy though so I doubt I'll get the chance to wear it again before baby comes. Which is a shame because I really liked it!

I'm a bit camera shy when it comes to bump pics but here's me on the far right in my lovely Yours Clothing dress - good job you can't see my baggy tights and chunky ankles ;) 

How's Baby?

We had a scan last week and she is growing perfectly - she currently weighs 6lb 5oz so my money is on around 8lb at birth! (Hopefully not another 10lb+ baby like Elliot was!) . She is SO active in the evenings - I guess in the daytime I'm busy so don't notice it as much but when I sit down on the sofa I can feel her doing all kinds of flips and kicks.

What next?

I've now been given a date for my c-section so it's become very real now! It's forced me to finally pack my hospital bags and today I finally got round to sorting out her drawers and putting all her new clothes away in their new homes. I didn't think I had many outfits for her but actually sorting it out made me realise that she has plenty for the first 3 months at least! I've bought lots of things in the sales recently and picked up some lovely bits in Morrisons last week. Sabrina from The Mummy Stylist also sent me some lovely girly bits passed down from her baby Lily and I can't wait to dress our baby girl in these!

Elliot is still really excited about the impending arrival of his baby sister and has now taken to counting down in days.. "how many days now Mummy!". I think he will be a really great big brother and I have no worries about how he will be when she arrives. I think he'll love helping me out but has already stipulated that he won't be dealing with any dirty nappies ;)

Pregnancy Update ~ Baby #2 (Gestational Diabetes)

So following on from my last update , I just wanted to write about Gestational Diabetes. At 28 weeks I was booked in for a glucose tolerance test. This isn't something that all ladies will have to have in their pregnancy but if you are risk from getting getting gestational diabetes then you will be offered the test. Gestational Diabetes is when your body cannot produce enough insulin to meet the extra needs in pregnancy.  Any woman can develop gestational diabetes but you are more at risk if:

- Your BMI is above 30
- You've previously had a large (10+lb) baby
- You had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy
- You have a family member with diabetes
- Your family origins are South Asia, Chinese, Africa-Caribbean or Middle Eastern

My test was at 9.15am at the hospital so I was told to fast from 10pm the night before. At my appointment I had a blood test and this is used to see the level of sugar in my blood. Straight after the test I was given a measured glucose drink to drink within 5 minutes - I won't lie, it tasted pretty grotty! You can take your own Lucozade in to have instead of the glucose drink but check with your midwife/notes as hospitals may vary and it has to be a specific type of drink. I was then told to sit in the waiting room for two hours. I did feel abit hungry towards the end of the two hours but I had my Kindle to read so it wasn't too bad! After the two hours, I was called in for another blood test and this was to see how the levels compared to my first test. Unfortunately they aren't able to give you a result there and then so I was told that the hospital would be in touch within 48 hours if my test returned positive.

The next morning I had a phonecall and my heart sank when I saw the hospital number because I knew that it would be bad news concerning my GTT test. The midwife confirmed that my test result was positive for Gestational Diabetes and that I needed to go back to the hospital to attend the diabetes clinic that very morning.

Having escaped GD in my first pregnancy I was quite upset that I'd got it this time round and I didn't really have a clue what to expect. Fortunately I remembered that one of my friends had had it during her pregnancies so she was able to give me some advice and calm my nerves abit!

Back at the hospital I met with the dietitian who was really nice and put my mind at rest that I wouldn't have to cut out completely everything and live on a diet on brown rice and broccoli! She gave me some dietary advice handouts and the main thing I was told was to watch my carb portions and cut out any sugary drinks. I was then introduced to the diabetes specialist midwife who I will be seeing alot more of over the next 3 months and she gave me a blood monitoring kit. This was a bit overwhelming at first - I would have to test my blood 4 times a day by pricking my finger with the special needle device. Good job I'm not squeamish :-s

That was over a week ago and I'm pleased to say I'm getting my head round things and knowing what I can/can't eat. I've found a really good website (http://www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/) which has helped so much with everything and they have a really active Facebook group too which has been useful for questions and reading what other people are eating.

Unfortunately my morning readings of my blood levels are still higher than they would like and this isn't something that can be controlled by diet. So I've been put on some medication which should lower this. If this doesn't improve then the hospital will look into putting me onto insulin. Hoping it doesn't come to this but we'll just have to wait and see - I've read that gestational diabetes can get progressively worse towards the end of the pregnancy.

The positive thing is, the gestational diabetes should go when the baby arrives but unfortunately it will leave me more at risk in the future of developing type 2 diabetes so will have to ensure I really watch what I'm eating after the baby is born. Good reason for me to return to Slimming World!

Pregnancy Update ~ Baby #2 (Weeks 24-28 & Pregnancy Essentials!)

Well, here we are in November - how did that happen?!! And I'm now 28 weeks so heading into the third trimester. I feel like it's going so fast now, the first trimester went so slowly because I was conscious of not telling people but now it's becoming more realer by the day. We have so much on over the next two months too so it really will be due date before I know it - eek!

I've been a bit slack at blogging my pregnancy updates recently but the truth is, there's nothing major to talk about! Other than a little tired, I've been feeling well. No sickness as such but certain smells are still making me retch and even brushing my teeth some mornings can cause me to get a bit retchy...not a pleasant side effect!

Lots of movement from the baby, even more so than what I remember with Elliot. Such a strange feeling, like she's doing somersaults in there!

Haven't seen my actual midwife since 16 weeks but I did have an appointment with the hospital midwives last week. I got the letter and wasn't sure why it was at the hospital and not at my local Dr's surgery but when I got there I was told it was due to my high BMI and that it was a special clinic for overweight mums to be - great!! Was expecting a lecture but the midwife was very nice and just did all the usual measurements and checks. She said I should be trying to limit my weight gain over the next 3 months - currently I'm up about a stone from my pre-pregnancy weight. She went over what I should be eating, what exercise I could do - obviously I won't be doing any marathons anytime soon but walking is very much encouraged in pregnancy, not just for larger ladies!

We had another scan this week (28 weeks) and this was a growth scan to see how the baby was doing. I love the later scans because the image is so clear, we could see her pursing her lips! She's growing well and measuring exactly as she should so that was good.

Pregnancy Essentials

I'm lucky to have had a good pregnancy so far but there are certain things I've been using that make life a little easier!

Pregnancy Pillow - Velinda 
I didn't have one of these when I was pregnant with Elliot but I have to say this has come in really useful this time round. It is rather big so it does take up a fair amount of room in bed but it really does make things comfier. The material is soft and the pillow is squishy without being too soft. Elliot quite likes propping himself up on the pillow to watch a film too so I think we will be getting lots of use out of it! I've read that pregnancy pillows can be used as a feeding aid when baby arrives so I will definitely be giving this a go.

I love the pattern on mine!

Maternity Leggings - Yours Clothing
I never used to wear leggings but my first pregnancy changed all that and I'm back in them this time round too - so so comfy! The choice for plus size maternity clothes online is sadly abit limited but good old Yours Clothing have a great range called Bump it Up which has lots of essentials like leggings and shirts. I kind of begrudge paying lots for maternity clothes but these leggings were £12.00 which I didn't think was too bad and I do wear them alot! I've not bought any maternity jeans so I generally live in leggings with a shirt or dress over the top.

Baby Center Pregnancy App
I love reading the daily updates and seeing what size my baby is now compared to a piece of fruit or vegetable - last week she was the size of a cauliflower which made us chuckle!

What were your pregnancy essentials?

Pregnancy Update ~ Baby #2 (Weeks 22-23 & Gender Reveal!)

The weeks are flying by thick and fast now and we finally know the sex of our baby - yippeee!!!

Last week we had a holiday in Majorca and had a really lovely time. The temperature was perfect. it wasn't too hot so this was a relief for me, didn't want to be too uncomfortable! I wore compression socks on the flight even though it was only two hours but I still got swollen ankles which I expected - I usually get this even if I'm not pregnant! We were all inclusive and it was a shame I couldn't take advantage of the cocktails but I did enjoy lots of slush puppies which are a firm favourite of mine whilst pregnant!

My bump is well and truly out now and it feels alot firmer. Even my husband said "wow you look really pregnant now!".

No cravings really but appetite is a bit hit or miss. I always feel hungry but can't manage a big portion. I eat a little portion but then find I'm hungry again within an hour!

My sense of smell is driving me mad still - public toilets seem to be the worst culprit at the moment!! I was sick at the airport as the toilet was a bit whiffy, poor Elliot, I missed his head by inches!

20 Week Re-scan

If you read my last pregnancy update then you'll know that our 20 week scan was incomplete and we had to make another appointment. It was booked for the Monday morning after our holiday and I was really excited that we might finally finally find out the gender. We decided to take Elliot along too so I wondered how he'd take to seeing the baby on screen! 

We arrived at the maternity unit and the midwife looked at my notes and said "you're not in the system, you have the wrong date!" - what! I knew I'd definitely got the correct date and she was quite rude to be honest, even when she saw the details of the re-scan written in my notes she was still trying to make out I'd got it wrong. She even said "well you're booked in for another scan on the 2nd November, why is this?" - er, you tell me, you're the midwife! Fortunately she said they'd try and squeeze me in but I was a bit annoyed as I knew it would mean sitting in the waiting room for god knows how long and Elliot was due at pre-school in a few hours! 

After waiting for 45 minutes we were called in (finally!) and I was quite pleased that the sonographer was lovely and not mean like her colleague we had met earlier! She was able to get most of the measurements she needed but was struggling with the heart - the baby was in a really awkward position and no matter how much I moved and changed positions, she still couldn't see what she needed! So I was told to go for a wee and a drink and she'd call me in after the next person. 

Fortunately, on the next go the baby was positioned perfectly and she could see that the heart was all plumbed in as it should be and everything was fine. Phew!

The sonographer said this was a cute pic of the baby's profile but I think it looks like she has giant teeth and a beard!! 

So....I guess you're wondering if it's a boy or girl?! I've been convinced throughout the whole pregnancy that we are having a boy....so imagine my surprise when the sonographer tells me it's a girl!!!! 

It's a girl!

I was completely shocked and it's taken me a few days to get my head round it but I'm really excited that Elliot will have a little sister! It also makes the name options easier because I couldn't find any boys names I like whereas I have definite favourites for girls ;) 

Now I know the gender I've been able to start shopping and I've managed to pick up some lovely bits and bobs in the Tesco sale. I'm not a girly girl and I hated all the pink floral stuff in Asda but Tesco had lots of different colour bits which were more my cup of tea! 

So there we are, time to get organised now. I think January will here before we know it!

Pregnancy Update ~ Baby #2 ( Weeks 18-21 & Anomaly Scan)

Well I'm officially over the halfway mark now and time seems to be going a bit faster now. We have lots planned for the Autumn so I feel like Christmas will be here before we know it and then January - baby time!!

Still feeling generally fine in the pregnancy although I have struggled with the heat over the last few weeks. It's been so muggy so I feel like I've just been constantly sweaty - nice! I've had swollen ankles too which happened in my first pregnancy too.

I've been feeling baby move so much more recently - my husband hasn't been able to feel it yet but I can certainly feel it! It's hard to explain, just feels like lots of bubbles and swirling inside. The baby seems very active!

My bump has definitely popped now and my tummy is looking much more baby belly round, and not "eaten all the cake" round!

I need to get round to sorting Elliot's old baby stuff out soon so I can see what I need to buy. I think I have most of the big items but I did pick up some Tommee Tippee bottles in the Asda baby event last week, plus some neutral baby grows.

20 Week Scan

Week 20 meant it was time for our anomaly scan. It was fantastic to see the baby again on the screen - he/she was really active and flipping around all over the place. Unfortunately the sonographer couldn't get all the measurements he needed - a combination of the baby moving, and my BMI. This is quite common in overweight ladies and actually the same thing happened at Elliot's 20 week scan. We are booked in for another scan at 23 weeks so hopefully the baby might be more cooperative then. I'm also gagging to find out the gender so hopefully we will know at this next scan!

As I'm under consultant care I had to have a meeting with my consultant after the scan. To be honest this was a big waste of time and just felt like they were ticking boxes! I had to sit in a room for half an hour while they read my notes and when she came in she said "Well we have a lot to go through!" so I thought I'd be in there for ages. But she literally had a list of things she whizzed through:

"You had a big baby last time, we'll keep an eye on that this time"
"Do you want to see a dietician? No? OK"
"I see you want a c-section, are you sure?"
"You're booked in for a GTT test, correct?"
"When are you seeing your midwife next?"

And that was literally it, felt it was a complete waste of not only my time but her time too!

We're off on holiday soon to Majorca and I'm looking forward to spending a week in the sun and relaxing for a bit. Well, relaxing as much as you can with a lively almost 4 year old!

Pregnancy Update ~ Baby #2 (Weeks 13-17)

Well the Summer Holidays are almost over and I've not had a chance to write as many pregnancy updates as I'd quite like as we've just been so busy! Hence why weeks 13-17 are lumped together.

I've been feeling really well over the last few weeks since my scan, I don't feel queasy at all now which is great! But I've been feeling pretty hungry alot. It's very similar to my last pregnancy where I can't eat a massive meal but I seem to graze more throughout the day! Lots more energy too.

No real cravings but I am drinking ALOT more milk - well specifically, Crusha milkshake mix!! I hear this is quite common but I just fancy milkshake all the time, I've even taken to hiding my Crusha in the cupboard so Elliot doesn't spot it and want to have some ;)

My smell has been a bit funny these past few weeks and everything smells so strong - yuck! I had to empty the bin in the kitchen and there was cat food in there, it's all I could smell and it made me start retching - even when I put the bag in the wheely bin I could still imagine the smell of it which made it worse!! Elliot said "Are you going to be sick Mummy?!"

Elliot has been so excited about the baby and every new person we meet he tells them that Mummy is having a baby! He can't decide if it's a boy or girl, I think he's just excited to have someone to play with. Although he did ask if he would have to share his toys!

I had my 16 week midwife appointment a couple of weeks ago and that was fine. She went through some of my test results and then she had a listen to the heartbeat which was lovely to hear. Took her a while to find it though! The appointment was really quick and we were out within 10 minutes. Probably just as well though as I had Elliot with me and he decided to do a really loud fart as we got into the room - boys!!

I feel like I have a bit of a bump now although being plus size, I probably just look like I've been eating too much!! (Maybe it's the milkshakes!) I'm still wearing my usual clothes although I have bought some new things for my holiday in a bigger size. There isn't a great deal of choice when it comes to plus size maternity wear so I'm reluctant to spend a fortune on clothes I don't really like or I won't really get too much wear out of. Instead I've just sized up and in a few months when it starts to get colder, I'll just be in my trusty leggings and shirts/tops!

My 20 week scan is just a few weeks away and I'm so excited about finding out the gender!

Pregnancy Update ~ Second Baby, Week 12 & The Scan!

Week 12

Exciting times now as the first trimester is almost over! Been feeling really well this week, the queasiness has pretty much gone now which has been good. I'm almost sure I felt the baby move too. I know it's early but I recognised that little fluttery feeling very low down where the baby would be - I was singing at the time too with my choir and it almost made me forget my words!

It was finally time for the first scan this week - I felt quite nervous but really excited to see the baby. And excited to be able to everyone our news! We left Elliot with my parents and headed to the maternity unit at our local hospital. I was weighed and measured (I haven't got any taller...sigh!) and then we waited in the waiting room until we were called a few moments later.

I was fully expecting to have a vaginal scan as this is what happened at my 12 week scan in my first pregnancy. (If the sonographer is unable to see a clear picture then they will suggest this, normally if it early in the pregnancy or if you are overweight. ) This time round the sonographer did a regular scan and we were able to see the baby really clearly. He confirmed that there was definitely a baby (phew!) and only one (phew!) and that everything looked normal (phew!). We had some pictures printed (£5 for 5) but they're not the clearest, we could see the baby really clearly on the screen but as soon as he clicked to take the picture the baby moved!

The scan took around 10 minutes and we then had to wait back in the waiting room for me to have some blood taken. Unfortunately the hospital had some kind of emergency and everything was delayed so we had to wait almost an hour for someone to see me! Finally though a lady took my blood and explained that it would be sent off and tested so we would know if the baby was high or low risk for Down's Syndrome.

We didn't tell Elliot the news straight away, we went out for dinner on the way home but when we got back we sat him down and showed him the pictures. I'd bought him a dinosaur tshirt too which said "I'm going to be a big brother!". He seemed a little shocked but quite excited and kept saying "wow!".

I think he was a bit tired at the time and it didn't really sink it but the next morning he came running into our room and said "you've got a baby in your tummy Mummy!" - and since then he hadn't stopped talking about it! I get asked at least 5 times a day when the baby is coming and he is constantly telling people "we're having a baby!" - even complete strangers!!

Pregnancy Update ~ Second Baby (Weeks 9-11)

Week 9

Still knackered!! I definitely don't remember feeling this tired in my first pregnancy but this time round, I am just exhausted. I don't think it helps having a 3 year old to run round after, he certainly keeps me busy! Seem to be waking at least twice in the night for a wee, that'll only get worse though so better get used to that!

Apart from the tiredness, I'm feeling ok in general. Queasiness hasn't been too bad but I've been making sure I have breakfast everyday, a proper breakfast too and not just a quick cereal bar! My appetite seems to be all over the place. I seem to be hungry all the time but nothing really appeals except bread and butter! (Proper butter on a fresh tiger loaf is literally my idea of heaven right now)

I've still been attending my Slimming World meeting but to be honest I haven't been sticking to plan at all. Lots of healthy foods have lost their appeal - the thought of a salad makes me want to retch right now! I've also gone off Pepsi Max which is mad, I used to be addicted to the stuff and now the thought of it turns my stomach. I've been drinking lots and lots of sugar free squash though so that's got to be better for me!

Week 10

Had my booking appointment this week at the hospital. Met my midwife and she's really nice - I was a bit worried incase I had a mean one who'd pull me up on my high BMI! It was much the same as last time and it was lots of questions to answer about medical history. We also talked about Elliot's birth and whether I'd be having another c-section. (Yes I will be!). She took my blood pressure and that was fine and she wanted to take some blood - eek! I mentioned that last time they always struggled to find a vein so she got her colleague to do it, she eventually found a decent vein and it took a couple of seconds...and didn't hurt!

I was given my notes and lots of leaflets to read and I'd say it took just over an hour. I was glad to get out of the hospital as it was so hot in there!

Week 11

We spent the weekend at Bluestone, Wales and I was abit worried that I might feel sick on the 4 hour journey but I took a few snacks and I was fine. Elliot decided to get car sick though so at one point I had to catch his sick in a carrier bag and hold it til we pulled over on the hard shoulder - it took alot to block out the smell and not start retching!

Feeling ok in myself this week, not quite as tired which is good. Still pretty hungry all the time though! Haven't weighed myself for a couple of weeks but I'm sure the weekend away put on a few pounds...can't resist a Welsh cake!

My scan is next week and I can't wait - not just to see the baby but to be able to tell Elliot, he is going to be so excited!

Pregnancy Update ~ Second Baby (Weeks 5-8)

So this is the first in my series of pregnancy updates. Blogging about pregnancy is all new to me as when I was expecting Elliot I didn't even read blogs, let alone write one! I enjoyed reading other pregnancy updates from bloggers such as Sabrina at The Mummy Stylist and Beth at Life as Mum so I thought I'd give it a go myself. I'm past the 12 week stage now but here's a look back at my early weeks :)

Week 5

So I found out this week that I am pregnant - eeek! I'd been feeling a bit out of sorts and quite tired, I'd originally put it down to my period being due but then that didn't happen so I thought I'd better take a test. I had an inkling that I might be pregnant and the test confirmed it - spent the rest of the day in a bit of a daze!

Rang my husband at work to tell him but he wasn't on his own so didn't mention it....but sent him a whatsapp message saying "can you please call me when you get a moment to yourself....there's a small chance we might be having another baby!". So of course he rang back straight away and I think he was totally shocked and surprised!

It was my birthday the following day so I told my parents who were very excited. To be honest, it still doesn't feel very real as apart from the tiredness, the early pregnancy symptoms haven't kicked in yet.

Week 6

Starting to feel slightly queasy in the mornings but if I make sure I have breakfast, I'm ok. Been feeling hungrier than normal but the thought of salad is not appealing which is bad news for my Slimming World diet! I do plan on sticking with SW for as long as I can throughout the pregnancy so I can minimise my weight gain. But not sure how this will pan out....

Blogging has taken a bit of a backseat, by the time I get to sit down at my laptop in the evenings I'm knackered and the lure of the comfy sofa is often too much to resist!

Week 7

Been struggling with tiredness this week - it really hits me in the afternoon and I have succumbed to a nap on a couple of occasions! Although that's not so easy with an excitable 3 year old bouncing around all over the place. We've been trying to catch up with Game of Thrones in the evenings but I can only manage one episode before I'm snoring - poor husband!

The morning queasiness continues and certain smells have been making me feel sick! I've been eating a bit better but feeling really bloated and my jeans are feeling a bit snug. Boobs are feeling bigger too.

Finding it really difficult not to tell people about the baby - I'm crap at keeping secrets!

Been reading lots of pregnancy blogs and really enjoyed this one from Lisa at Mummascribbles about the transition her son will go through from only child to sibling. It will be the same for Elliot so it was interesting to hear from her perspective. We haven't told Elliot the news yet but I think he will be really really excited about having a baby brother or sister!

Week 8

Tiredness is still my number one issue! I don't remember being this knackered in my last pregnancy but I guess I didn't have a lively 3 year old to chase around then.

Got the details of my booking in appointment with my midwife which will be happening at ten weeks. Last time the midwife came to my house but this time round I have to go to the maternity unit at the hospital which is a pain, the parking is rubbish there and it means I'll have to get my mum to look after Elliot whilst I'm there. Better get used to it, will be spending a fair amount of time there over the next 7 months!