Its my DUE DATE today!

helloo :)

Well, i cant help but feel excited and full of anticipation today, because Friday 13th April 2012 is my baby's DUE DATE!!!

I haven't hopefully got long to wait til i see my baby son, and i must say I'm getting eager for things to 'kick off' and get cracking, labour-wise!
I have heard all of the old wives tales about bringing on labour, and although that's just what i think they are - tales - i have been given some raspberry leaf tea which i have been drinking since Wednesday (one cup daily, not sure how many, is meant to 'get me going' so i may live dangerously and increase it to 2 a day!)

My OH and i decided that if the baby didn't seem to be showing signs of coming anytime soon, we would go to the Cinema tonight to see a new release Horror film, (to scare him out, maybe?!) then, time permitting, for a spicy curry (to smoke him out, hehe!)

I realised that i didn't have many pictures of me with the bump (probably because i look and feel ENORMOUS!) having gained around 2 and a half stones since pregnant, but i knew i would regret not taking any later, so here are a few of me and the bump over the last 2 weeks or so, making me 38 - 40 weeks pregnant in these (and feelin' it!)

Hopefully, the next post i do will be to introduce my newborn son :) but, if he stays snuggled up inside my tum, i think I'm going to do a 'Whats in my Labour bags' as i love watching those on You Tube, and it will be interesting to do one after, to see what i actually use from them (there are 3 in total!)

Fingers crossed that Friday 13th will be a lucky day for me!!

Possible Pre- Labour and My Pregnancy Essentials

Helloo :)

I'm now 39 weeks and 5 days pregnant, and due to meet my baby boy in 2 days time (eek!) and i am feeling VERY pregnant.
Nothing out of 'the norm' except that I have been having some pains right at the bottom of my bump, about where the bikini line is, and sometimes in my 'lady bits'.
its not constant or anything, but it is getting more frequent, IE, on a daily basis.
I'm not entirely sure if these are normal 'just my body getting ready to give birth' type of twinges, or if they are minor contractions at the start of labour, as they start off with a tightening feeling, like normal Braxton Hicks (which i have been getting since about week 25) then get painful.
Hmmm, i suppose i will find out soon enough!
My OH Simon is at a gig in Manchester tonight, so i was half expecting to go into labour, just because he is over an hour away and this night has been long planned, but so far, this baby is a no-show!
Anywho, i thought i would tell you which items i have found to be indispensable and worth every penny during my pregnancy, and will keep hold of for any future pregnancies, or would definitely buy again.

So, in no particular order:

*Bump Support Belt/Band - i got my basic bump support band from Mothercare a day after boxing day, when i was 25-26 weeks gone, as i felt like my bump was getting heavy and i remember my bump and surrounding area hurting and feeling like my belly was 'dragging' downwards. I think i paid between £8-£12, not much at all really, and it has been worth every penny. I don't wear it all the time, just when i feel the need,and it really does help relieve the dragging feeling.
It has a supportive band to the bottom which sits under your bump, then the normal fabric wraps around the bump, and you Velcro it at the back, however tight you need to, so it will fit whichever stage of pregnancy you are at.
I also found that it doubles as an 'under top'  that i can wear underneath a normal non-maternity top that is a little too short for my bump. Bonus!

*DreamGenii Pregnancy Support and Feeding Pillow - This pillow is AMAZING! I got mine second hand, and i have been using it from quite early on in my pregnancy, and i have found it to be fantastic support at all stages of my pregnancy. It helps me stay comfortable, and have felt my bump and back were supported whenever i use it. I have not tried it (yet!) as a feeding support pillow, but even if that doesn't work out, I will continue to use it as a sleeping buddy, because i would miss it so much if i were to be without it!

*Maternity Long line Nursing Vests - Although the normal style longer vests would do just the same job in terms of wearing them under normal non-maternity tops, i feel that you get more value for money (if you are planning on breastfeeding) paying slightly more for the feeding vests as you can obviously use them to your advantage after you have your baby, without showing off the inevitable jelly-belly.
I have got several Mothercare ones in basic white and black (they go with everything!) and the are just basic vests with the clip bits, but i have seen the ones with built-in support if preferred.

*Bravado Seamless Feeding/Maternity Bra -  I have a few of these fab bra's and had i known how good they were, i wouldn't have bought any other type. (except for my night time crop-top style feed bra, as its so comfy!)
Now, they are not the sexiest bra i have come across (not by a looooong shot!) but they are amazingly comfortable as they are seamless, and actually grow with your boobs as you get bigger.
I actually think i will cry when i no longer need to wear these, and go back to the under wired variety (much as i have missed the support!) because this is the only bra i have come across during my pregnancy that has made me feel properly supported in the chesticle area. Sob!

Those are the holy grail for me maternity wise, but i also really recommend (and really wish i had stuck to doing/using myself) the following:

*Bio-Oiling - twice daily EVERY day. Once-when-i-could-be-bothered didn't work. using it as recommended may have prevented my stretchmarks :(

*Moisturising - ditto, as my bump and legs get so dry due to hormone changes

*Birthing Ball - i got mine around 35 weeks, and wish i had gotten one earlier, as its sooo comfortable and supporting!

*Resting Feet -  as recommended above heart height may have help prevent the water retention causing elephant feet i have now.

That's all i can think off right now, but i may end up adding things as i remember them x

Waiting for Baby

helloo :)

As i said in my last post, i am currently 2 weeks and 2 days (not counting the weekends lol) into my maternity leave from work, and i don't know about any other very-soon-mummies-to-be, but I'm getting BORED and really restless :(

The first week of my mat leave (which was actually a week before i had originally planned, but more on that later) i seemed to have a mad panic that the baby was going to come early (probably because that's what everyone was telling me) and i had made a list of 'things to do' before baby arrives which i had decided that i simply HAD to get through.

This list included not only the usual wash every piece of baby related items that i owned (although in the three sunniest days this year, i managed to wash, dry and iron every single newborn and 0-3 vest and babygro (and i seem to have A LOT of them) 15 or so baby blankets, every cot,moses basket and pram sheet i own, all the baby towels, all of the baby sleeping bags, both of the moses baskets' inserts/hoods/covers etc, the baby bouncer covers, play mats and god know what else!) but i also decided that i NEEDED to paint the kitchen. desperately.
(let me explain - back in January, Simon and i had come back from a birthday drink at my sisters house, to discover the ceiling in the kitchen was pouring with water, through the light fittings and everything. to cut a long story short, we sorted it, but the kitchen ceiling was stained a nasty yellowy brown colour afterwards.
So, me being me, i decided that, at 37 weeks pregnant, and massive with it, not only the kitchen ceiling had to be painted, but the wall paper could do with a good going over with Magnolia too, as it wasn't fit to be seen by any baby visitors/well wishers :/
Its a good job that i have a small kitchen, as it only took 2 days and 3 coats of paint, and it now looks lovely and 'fresh', and all fit and ready for any visitors after the baby comes :)

More things on the list were:

*sort out walk in wardrobe - we have a large wardrobe in our/baby's room that houses all the (now neatly organised) baby toys, baby towels & sheets, baby play mats, misc stuff, Simon's clothes, and the millions of nappies and wipes we have stocked up on and a million other bits and bobs. It was driving me mad how things had just been chucked in.

*clean inside windows

*clear/sort out garden

*sort out airing cupboard - (i have lived here for almost 3 years and NEVER had the urge to do this before. Am i taking 'Nesting' to a whole new level??)

*put up shelves in our/baby's room (this is still to do, as the beech floating shelves we got form Argos just don't seem to go, annoyingly.)

*organise both changing stations (we have one upstairs for night time changes, and one downstairs)

*clean down the main pram and wash/sew any bits that need it  - (our Mamas and Papas Pliko Pramette travel system pram was second hand, but in excellent condition) which we are planning to use most of the time as it lies completely flat, but we also have a new Silver Cross Zest stroller for when Ethan is a little older, for use on buses etc as its smaller and less bulky than the travel system.

*Paint and reupholster storage box/stool - that is eventually to go in the baby's room, and was a nasty pink colour.

*finish packing Hospital Bag.

*make and freeze lots of healthy skinny-friendly meals for after the birth (still to do)

I'm sure there was lots more on it, but I've chucked the list away and cant remember any more, stupid baby brain!
Anywho, I did manage to get through the list, but now I'm super bored as i have nothing really to do, except generally keep the house clean, tidy and general stay-at-home stuff. :(
I thought being on maternity leave would be fab, being able to relax, do nothing and watch what i want on TV without anyone moaning about all the baby shows i watch (and it IS nice not having to go into work full time) but without someone or something to occupy my time, I'm not sure what to do with myself until the baby arrives :/
Does anyone else have this issue? maybe i am just too used to working full time Monday to Friday, that faced with lots of 'me' time, i have nothing to do!

Anyday Now........

Hello :)

I realise that as i have no followers (as this is a new blog), that i am actually talking to myself, but i thought this blog would be a good way to look back and remind myself what it is/was like being pregnant, and all of my baby boy's 'first's' - first moments, first smile and my 'first's' as a new mummy etc, without posting such things on my 'other' blog, (which i am planning to start posting on as i am now on Maternity Leave from work, yay! and have more 'free' time) and i know some people are not bothered about reading about baby stuff, especially seeing as i can drone on about the subject forever now, which surely must be a new mum thing?!

Me, 33 weeks pregnant (excuse the PJ's!), and my other half Simon <3

So, a little bit about me:
I am 26 years old, and currently very heavily pregnant with my son Ethan Luke, who is due on Friday 13th April 2012, (in 5 days time! eek!)
My fiance Simon and I have been together for 7 years, and this baby is the first for both of us, so we are both super excited to meet him, and cant wait to be parents :)
Ideally, I would eventually like 2 children, and I have always wanted my first baby to be a boy, and then have a girl, as that is how it is in my family, and i loved having older brothers to stick up for me (and bully me!) and i think Simon is secretly thrilled to be having a Son too, as he is now planning on teaching him all about football, (which lets me off the hook!)

My Son Ethan at 19 weeks 6 days :)

Me in Pregnancy:

I think i have been let off pretty lightly nasty pregnancy symptoms wise and I am actually feeling good (if very large and heavy!)  - yes, i have stretchmarks, heartburn, swollen feet and ankles (and everything else!) and had the early pregnancy fatigue (like most women, i imagine?) but have luckily missed out on morning sickness, varicose veins,constant need to pee, constipation, haemorrhoid's and don't yet seem to have hit the late pregnancy fatigue, so i think I'm actually doing pretty good :)

so, that's a little bit about me, our baby, and what to expect from this blog, which i shall try to update as regularly as possible :)