4D Baby Bond Scan - 28 weeks!

Hey Huns..

Hope your all well; Mid way through November so I've finally made a start on my Xmas shopping and feeling good as I really don't know how I'm going to feel closer to the time being in my third trimester.

I'm now 28 weeks pregnant and we had our 4D baby bond scan on Monday; it was amazing! We had it with our first baby at the same stage of my pregnancy so knew we would more than likely get a good clear image on the baby. We stuck to our original plans of staying team yellow, for those that have been reading my blogs will know how much we love the surprise and why we opted to go for it again a second time round so for us we just couldn't wait to see the baby again on screen and 4D gives a peak of their beautiful little features and face up close. We loved it! 

Baby looked just harry from what we could see and when we compared images it confirmed it... Same lips and nose! Superrrr cute. 

If you haven't had a 4D before and thinking about it I highly recommend. It is such a beautiful moment to experience seeing your baby close up on screen and I imagine if struggling with your pregnancy due to sickness or generally finding it hard then I honestly think the scan will give any mummy to be a boost and lift in that final trimester - It did me, I have found second time much more tiring.

What to expect?

On booking your private 4D baby bond scan you'll be given options of a suitable date and time (that will last usually around 15 minutes!) You'll be on count down till that day arrives with excitement regardless whether your finding out the gender or not. It is named a bonding scan for a reason so it isn't just about finding out about the gender, there is so much more too it so if like us do not worry if you want to have a surprise!

We arrived and you'll be asked to lay down on the couch where the sonographer will ask for your due date and whether you wish to find out boy or girl. She'll place Gel on your tummy just like your NHS scans and if not finding out like us because she doesn't know the placement of the baby you'll be asked to look away in case anything appears giving it all away!

Once found placement of baby she'll tell you how baby is sitting/laying what he or she's placement is within your tummy and at the moment our little one was laying horizontal across my tummy so no wonder I had been feeling a bit uncomfortable the last few days! I'm not overly concerned I have 12 weeks to go till baby engages and gets where he or she should be. 

She really zoomed in on the face where we got to see the baby yawning, and drinking, smiling, arms up in the air and crossed in one photo which my hubby was delighted as he is a hammers fan!!! Lol.  

We could see the shape of the babies lips and eyes, it was soooo cute. 

It is recommended to scan at 28 weeks for a good clear view bonding scan as if baby isn't in a good placement you can come back within that 2 week window taking you to a max of 30 weeks. Any later than that there isn't much room left for baby so view isn't always that great and any earlier than 26 weeks features aren't as prominent, so my advice would be to follow as recommended and stick to the 28 week mark!

If lucky enough to get some moving images on USB depending what package you pick they are included; they're fab for a keep sake to link up to your tv and watch with family and friends and you'll also get some prints to take home. We got around 8-9 and all of them were brilliant.

Highly recommend the baby bond scan for any expecting parents! It's a real treat in that last trimester and we are even more excited to welcome baby brown number 2!!! 

toddlers snacks and dinner ideas

Hey Lovelies,

I hope your well and thank you for logging on to my latest blog. This weeks is all about my top snacks for any toddlers who if anything like mine; snackers, grazers, basically one who eats little and often!

Snacks through out the day for Harry will vary from;

Philadelphia on ryvita plain cracker bread

Babybels 

Dairylea dunkers

Cucumber sticks

Chicken pieces from the chilled fresh meat section in supermarkets

Chopped pieces of fruits such a peaches, nectarines, or plums

Apples and blueberries are always a favourite

Yogurts

Organix carrot wafers

Kiddylicious smoothie melts he still loves at 2 years old!

I always have to make sure I have plenty of the above in the list in the cupboards as he is a big snacker and I do my best to keep it varied and not complete rubbish!

Quick Dinner Meals!

Fresh fish or Chicken from the supermarkets, packet of bread crumbs once they have been dipped into some egg, and pop in the oven!

Alternatively we do buy boxed fish fingers but I will always check the % on the back of the box to ensure it does contain a high amount of fish or meat for protein benefits.

Pre made mash, with fish from the fish counter, steamed broccoli (10 mins in the steamer) once all cooked put together with a sprinkle of cheese and you have a home made fish pie!

Uncle bens rice 2 minute microwave rice, with grilled chicken pieces and Little Dish have launched their new sauce pots for little ones, these have been a big hit for Harry for Pasta dishes or a chicken curry with rice!

Sausage and Baked Bean Casserole, add in onions, carrots and a some cheese!

Bolognese is always a good one to bulk cook and freeze, include chopped onions, mushrooms etc we just cook the pasta fresh! 

Jacket potato and beans

After a long day at work I can always count on Harry eating the meals from the Little Dish Range! They are £2.50 a go BUT for speed, and that I know he will eat them, they are super handy for us on days when you cannot be bothered to prep or cook. 

Little Dish ones in particular that are his faves are the Chicken and Risotto, the Chicken Curry and Rice, Chilli beef and Rice and also the fish pie. 

I am not going to lie, meal times for me as a parent have always been up and down. Harry eats like a king for his breakfast, and still loves his milk before bed time but lunch time and dinner time can be really hit and miss!! The above are what we know he will eat so we try our best to keep a variety going and will change it up but I will also admit I take the easiest option and stick to what he knows because I just want him to eat!!

 I have some mummy friends who their kids eat everything and anything and I have others than eat far from their 3 meals a day.. You are not alone. I have come to the conclusion kids are kids, and the fact is some adults don't even eat 3 meals a day so rather then get stressed over meal times, I now just go with the flow. 

I have never followed the if you don't eat your dinner you won't have dessert because I don't want meal times or food to associated in being an unhappy time, if Harry eats what he can then thats good enough for us! I also thought I would share that it isn't so much about what a child eats in one meal sitting its what they have had in a 24 hour period so do NOT beat yourself up over them missing a meal! Some day's Harry eats better than others. 

If your little one has been poorly recently and they have point blank refused food all together head over to my other blog ''WinterBlues'' to see what we find works for us when Harry has been under the weather.

I can't not include Puddings in this blog as I am a massive pudding lover!!! So it just wouldnt right not include!!! 

Pudding shopping list

Fresh fruit

Ambrosia Mini Custards

Ambrosia Mini Rice Pudding 

Yogurt with a drizzle of honey

Jelly 

Strawberry chocolate chop small mufins 

Frozen yogurt banana bites

Hope you found the read helpful and any tips from other mummies comment or message me on Instagram - @thehappybalancemum - Would love to hear from you!

And remember you can also email subscribe for all my future blogs 

Lots of Love x

MAM - EASY START ANTI COLIC BABY BOTTLES

Hey lovely people 

Well this weeks blog is a super duper exciting one! I recently received a lovely delivery from MAM UK which contained the NEW design for their Easy Start Anti Colic Bottles and I am delighted to be doing a collaboration with MAMUK as these were fab for my first baby so I can't wait to use them again a second time round!

MAM bottles were great for me and my baby as I breast fed my little boy for the first 7 months so once he was onto solids at 6 months I started to slowly transition to formula. Harry took expressed milk and formula from the easy start bottles with no fuss or upset. Initially when we first gave him expressed milk I didn't realise the temp of the breast milk was too cool, so my husband suggested we warm it up and since then he was a dream to feed via the bottle, it also allowed daddy to have some feeding time too as I done a mixture of breast and bottle from 8 weeks old, it goes by no surprise MAM have a 94% teat acceptance*! I have always been honest since I have started blogging and bottles was an area I was dreading and worrying about as I had heard stories and experienced with my own family members babies not taking the bottle and completely refusing which was stressful for all parties, with the skin soft teats and simple self sterilising in 3 easy steps I am so glad I found MAM.

MAM Easy Start Anti Colic Bottles have a unique vented base which has a range of different effects;

80% of mums said their babies had less colic

relaxed drinking, as the base allows baby to drink at their own pace

reduction of wind 

I absolutely LOVE the new designs especially as we haven't found out the gender of the baby! As you an see from the photos featured, the grey and soft lemon is just adorable for newborns and the perfect start for any new born baby.

Happy Baby - Happy Mummy!

You can purchase MAM products from 

http://www.mamonlineshop.com

Harry can't wait to help mummy and daddy feed his new baby brother or sister!

With Love

The Happy Balance Mum x

If you like what your reading remember you email subscribe to be kept to date with all my blogs & follow me on Instagram - @thehappybalancemum

how to get through the winter blues - Infant snuffles

Evening all,

I hope your well and thank for you logging onto my latest blog. For those that don't know me I am a mummy of one boy Harry who is two years old, and currently expecting with baby number 2 which is due in February! I am wife to Chris and a working mummy, so if you like what your reading please. subscribe with your email to follow my blogs and top tips for my motherhood journey so far!

I blog all things beauty, baby and motherhood, and I am a mummy of one boy who's 2 and also currently expecting baby number 2 in February. 

This weeks blog is all about those horrible winter blues and all the germs our littles ones end up facing :( snotty noses, and chesty coughs!

My top tips to comfort your little ones are below!

Calpol Plug In's

Oh my good these are amazing for stuffy noses and general congestion nose or chest. I have used them with my little one in his first winter and have recently purchased the re fills for this winter season as well as he picked up a horrible cough from nursery. Initially you purchase the plug and it comes with 2x refills, from there you then just purchase the refills which I think come in  a box of 5x. They last 8 hours, and can be left on over night if need be. 

The product itself its based around aromatherapy oils, chamomile, menthol and allows your little one to breathe easier for a more peaceful sleep - They make such a difference and are a life saver for parents wanting a good nights sleep. They are safety tested and sold in all high stores such as Tesco, Asda, Boots etc 

We usually turned on 1 hour before Harry's bed time and depending how congested he is, we will turn off once he is in bed or leave it on over night but will leave the door open slightly and do not put directly near the cot. 

Steamy Showers

Turn your showers on, leave them on and hot enough for the room to steam up, once at this stage, take your little one into the shower room for 10-15 minutes as this will really help loosen up any mucus or stuffy noses.

Foods

Soft foods such a pears, bananas, peaches to keep them hydrated and soft for them to eat. Lots of water or milk, and do not stress if they aren't wanting to eat their meals. As long as their passing urine, and drinking that's what is important. 

Yogurts, Ice Cream and rices cake for him to just snack on are always popular for our little one when he been under the weather. 

Fresh Air

Do not feel if your little one in under the weather you shouldn't  leave the house, we recently attended a family festival for a couple of hours to get some fresh air for Harry. He wasn't himself but he was in fairly good spirits and it was good for him to get some fresh air.

Staying indoors won't necessarily make babies/children get better quicker, its good to even have a walk round the block. Please know I am not encouraging attending children play area's or soft plays I am encouraging a walk round the block :-) 

Spoonful of Honey

It may be one of your Nans tales but I honestly feel it makes a difference in keeping cough's at bay at bedtime which helps improve sleep. Its a natural alternative instead of cough medicine and there has been studies carried out to on children over the age of 2 who had upper respiratory infections and it showed to be just as effective as over the counter medication!

Comfort and encourage sleep 

Bring their favourites bears, pillow and quilt down stairs onto your sofa. Let them rest else where away from their bed room. Our toddler would not be prepared to sit in his bed all day after just sleeping in there, but will happily chill on the sofa with his favourite tv programme on. Every now and again he would doze off and wake up again which really allowed his body to rest. 

Hope the above helps all you mummy and daddies this winter

Love the happy balance mum

 x