Whats in my hospital bag?

Hello, and welcome to my latest blog 37 (+3) weeks and hospital bag, as I had started typing this blog the weather WAS looking very bleak outside, the weather where you don't want to leave the house but as the day as gone on it has brightened up and the sunshine is peeping through - Hooray! So how are you mummies feeling who are at the same stage as me? My back ache hasn't been too bad recently but trying to get out of bed I am like a huge turtle struggling, and I am back to feeling knackered by 3pm! I am sure I sound a huge moany Margaret but Hun's I can honestly say being pregnant the second time round is no where near as dreamy as the first!!

Anyway's with only 2 and a bit weeks to go, I am feeling mixed emotions happy, excited, nervous, and strangely a little teary emotional as I have a realised that our Harry will no longer be the only small little person in the house, but a lovely girl I follow on Instagram told me something soooooooo lovely and true which was ''you are giving him the best thing in life, and that is a sibling!'' and that made me smile because how true is that? (I am an only child by the way)

So the nursery is finally fully completed whooooo! I say completed because I keep finding other little bits and bobs to add, my hubby has done an amazing job - I am sooo pleased!!! I will feature on my next blog and show you my fave buys for interior ideas. So along with the nursery finally complete, so is my hospital bag yay!!!!

I never got the most of my hospital bag last time because i gave birth and I was home 4 hours later so  other than getting Harry's outfit out and a fresh set of clothing, I didn't use anything else in there that I had packed - Below are where I found the best buy's and all so so affordable to throw out after if they ruined!

Whats in my bag?

BABY

• Coming home outfit
• Car seat
• Vests
• Baby grows
• Nappies - Pampers newborn size
• Hat (Pink or Blue - Or if like us having a surprise we have packed white!)
• Blanket
• Booties
• Muslin cloths
• Teddy bear
• Present from baby to give to Harry when he arrives to meet him or her. 

Why haven't I packed - Dummies or Bottles. I breast fed Harry so I am hoping to do the same this time round so I have MAM bottles at home for a back up should not all go to plan but I don't plan on bringing to the hospital and Harry didn't have a dummy either so I am just planning to go with what i done the first time round, but back up's are there if need be.

MUMMY STUFF

• Nursing bra's (Mine are from H&M and Primark)
• Bikini top (if like me wanting to have a water birth)
• Towel large and small 
• Hair bubbles (Pack from Primark!)
• Dry shampoo
• Deodorant 
• Hair brush (Primark do an amazing small travel size!)
• Cleanser and Face cream (Environ skincare!)
• Bar of soap
• Lip balm (mac cosmetics)
• Clear mascara so you can feel a little human!
• Nursing cover up if you want s (Some privacy in the beginning (Ebay!)
• Comfy super large undies (Primark 2 sizes up from my usual size!)
• Pjs or large night dress
• I have packed nursing tops (H&M) and then large pj bottoms (Primark!) as feeding in a nighty in front of family isnt ideally what I feel comfortable to do! Especially after just giving birth!
• Slippers or Flip flops (I got light weight slip ons as I was pre warned hospitals are super hot - Primark!)
• Going home out fit, I have packed a large plain v neck tshirt and also some H and M maternity leggings.
• Eau Thermale facial spray from Boots is amazing! Its a facial cooling spray to keep cool during labour and birth - Get your partners to spray you through out if need be. 
• Tooth brush and tooth paste (Cosmetics travel section from Primark!)
• Camera and charger for phone and camera 
• Sanitary towels - Large (Always ultra with wings from Superdrug!)
• Breast pads (Lasinoh - Bought a big value pack)

BEST PLACES TO BUY FOR AFFORDABILITY AND SIZES!

I was amazed ladies by Primarks ever growing range of beauty and beauty miniatures! I got pretty much of my toiletries from there for such a bargain price of £1 or £2 per item and for my all time favorite products (Environ skin care items and Clarins mattifying lotion) for my own home comforts I got some empty bottles and have filled them up. My friend got me some lovely soap bars for Christmas so I will be taking those in. I have also taken dry shampoo as it is a life saver for me, I do have thick hair so I am lucky I don't have to wash mine every day.

I will add although I haven't packed I recently bought some nursing bra's from marks and spencer due to the shape and amazing support they give. The Primark bra's for value and a quick clip down to feed you can't complain but if going out for the day or lunch etc they don't give me personally the best fit/shape, I found the M&S much nicer to wear. 

Lots of Love x

BIRTH PREP AND HEALTHY PREGNANCY POST

So as it stands, I am currently 8 months pregnant and naturally it has dawned on me that I will be giving birth in 4 weeks time!!!! I am feeling mixed emotions, excitement at the thought of welcoming another baby into the world and seeing Harry become a big brother! Nervous because I know what's coming as in terms of pain, and although I had a quick and fairly good birth and labour with Harry no 2 birth stories are never usually the same. 

The last 9 months as a whole aside from the back ache and bad headaches, I have been lucky to have a good pregnancy but I wont lie in saying I am looking forward to getting back to normal. There was definitely no ''I LOVED BEING PREGNANT!'' like I did the first time round time and that simply is because I am a busy working mummy who admittedly tries to fit a millions things in within a short period of time. So with that in mind, I am very intune with my body and how I feel and I know how much energy and sleep I need to be able to do what I need to do day to day. 

Since working in the skin and beauty industry I have been lucky enough to meet people from all area's of education as in terms of skin, some of these will be doctors, nurses, beauty therapists, nutritionists, skin aesthetician's and also sat in many seminars allowing me to have the knowledge that I do about healthy skin and what it needs on a daily basis. The first thing one needs to do is feed their skin from within, and by this we mean from the dermis layer, the deepest layer of your skin where all your living skin cells live and I do this by taking a range called ''The Advanced Nutrition Programme'' the ANP (for short) range is a skin specific natural nutrition range that combats and fights against the effects of stress, hormone in balances, medication, poor diet and so on. All of these have a huge effect on how our skin functions, looks and how it feels, so it is vital all is working as should be to achieve the reflection you want in the mirror. If you havent noticed already all of these are coming from within, therefore NO skin care product is going to fight against these because skin care products only work topically, there is still a need for those, dont get me wrong but they combat other area's that can also have a negative effect on how our skin looks. 

Not only does the ANP range fight against what I have listed, it also works to put back into the skin what we are not getting from our diet and I will be the first to put my hand up and say I do not get all of my 5 a day of fruit and veg EVERY DAY, or do I eat amount of fish that is recommend on a weekly basis, it just doesnt happen in todays busy working world. I am fairly good with my water content and the amount that I drink a day but there is definitely room for improvement where my diet is concerned and more so that I am consistent with it, for me it is far easier to take a supplement that is relevant to my skin and wellbeing goals and know I am getting maximum benefits due the advanced nutrition programmes high quality level of ingredients, so I actually see a difference and change in how I look and feel.

So what have I been taking you wonder? 

Within the range I have been supplementing ''Skin Omega's'' which contains omegas 3 and 6, studies show these are amazing at boosting brain development, moisture levels within the skin, oh my goodness that pregnancy itch in the beginning drove me insane in my first pregnancy! Hydrates and purifies the skin, I do not have to spend all morning and evening moisturizing my whole body as taking 2 of these a day will reach every single layer from head to toe of my body, and who even has time to do that with a toddler running about? Take the supplement instead! Goodbye dry flaky skin.

I have also been adding ''Probiotics'' to my daily routine. Probiotics comes in a powder formula that you can either sprinkle over your foods or add to your drinks. There are a number of benefits of probiotics even aside from being pregnant but for me in particular I have found it amazing for going to the toilet more regular, it promotes a healthy digestive track and this time round before I had been taking it, I had not been going as frequent as usual in this pregnancy, so its been a godsend for bowel movements!!! Some say it also creates a healthy birth canal ready for giving birth - I'll take that for sure.

I also take every day a multi vitamin, at the moment as you can see in my photo I am currently taking the pregnacare multi vitamin as I will take their breast feeding range after I have had the baby but I  usually take Skin vitality 1 which is from the advanced nutrition programme, both of these brands are amazing at brightening the skin, boosting energy levels for me, promoting a stronger nail and also most importantly as it takes a bashing in pregnancy... my hair is sooo much glossier! My hair was horrendous in the beginning and with out taking a multi vitamin I would of had no hope what so ever, I also remember loosing so much after I had Harry, all mums do right? I am hoping by continuing taking the multi vitamin it will reduce the amount that may come out after the hormones have calmed down.

Raspberry leaf tea is a bit of a myth from what I can work out online as I read there is no actual proof it works but for me personally I do believe it works from my past experience. I started drinking raspberry leaf tea around 36 weeks with Harry's pregnancy as I had read it works on softening your cervix and promotes a quicker labour, I don't believe it brings it on because I had been drinking it for well over a month before things started to move. BUT I do believe it it makes things easier, or I was just super lucky! Harry was only 2 day's late, and I dilated fairly quite quickly, I started to get mild contractions around 7am, stayed at home all day, went to hospital at 4pm where it was confirmed I was 4cm dilated, I got in the birthing pool at 6pm and he was delivered and out by 21.02pm. I had started pushing around 8pm which wasn't bad going at all for a first time birth and I only used gas and air through out the duration at my time at hospital so I feel that was fairly good going, I am really hoping its a smooth run the second time round and I get the pool again! I would of loved a home birth but the husband was not having any of it. 

And finally my Nutri Bullet; I am no food diet fanatic and to be honest I dont want to be, I love my food far to much and through out the first 6 months of my pregnancies, although I didn't really have any cravings, I have ate pretty much what I have wanted and that has included MacDonalds, Pizza's, Chocolates till my hearts content because it was what I fancied, there was no way after being at work all day, looking after a toddler, running a house, being a wife I was not going to have a bit of what I fancied especially with raging hormones and feel like I had been hit by a truck in the first few months BUT what I have done as I did the first time round, once I reach my 3rd trimester, I do all that I can to make a conscious effort in choosing more of my energy boosting foods because I know I am prepping for labour and a newborn joining our family. I will still have those naughty foods if I fancy them but I will make sure I will have 2 smoothies a day and include super foods and seeds such as spinach, chia seeds, flax seeds, kale, banana's, raspberries, blueberries, frozen blackberries and what ever else I have lurking in the fridge because the reality of is I am almost at the finish line and I want to help myself in having a healthy mind and being the best mummy I can!

34 week pregnancy update

Welcome to this weeks blog

Well lovelies now Christmas is completely over and routine has resumed, harry back at nursery and house back to normal, the 34 week marked has crept up on me! But I thought I would give you all an update on how my pregnancy has been since my last pregnancy milestone - I haven't been blogging each milestone as per say and just going with the flow, but 34 weeks has been a huge leap since my last update - How are you all feeling?

Baby is now the size of a pineapple/cantaloupe and weighing over 4lbs and I have really suffered with my back the last 3 weeks, I am not sure if the baby is laying on certain nerves, or in fact I am just over doing it and lifting my toddler too much when actually I should be bending my knees, and as my midwife advised ''getting down to his level'' But lets be honest, her advice isn't realistic, our 2 year old (and 5 months) generally will walk most places, but there are days he will want me to carry him, areas he isn't overly familiar with or actually its just general day to day life such as lifting him in and out of the car or the trolley when food shopping - Its sooooo hard to not lift them! Any how what ever the reason is my back definitely has felt it this time round; some tips that have helped are bending the knees, especially when going to pick toys up, hoovering/washing etc this past week in particular I have made a conscious effort to ensure I am bending down correctly because I was starting to worry I was going to have to deal with this back pain for the remainder of my pregnancy it was becoming unbearable! So making that conscious effort has made a difference. 

Hot baths took the edge off, even though I feel like a whale in the bath tub with not much room to move! 

Planning my week, so now that I am all finished from work for annual leave and maternity, I will do my best to ensure I am not out all day, and just half the day. So I either go into town or food shopping, play groups, etc in the morning or the afternoon - Not both! If I am out all day at this stage in my pregnancy, I really feel it the next day with back pain, I feel such a moany Maggie but it is a true fact I am afraid. 

So enough of the back talk, my boobs are still growing like no tomorrow! Before I had Harry I was a 32/34 DD and after breast feeding I learnt to live with smaller boobs, and went down to a B cup. There is no doubt in saying the moment I saw the positive line come up on the test my boobs started growing over night - no joke! I am now in a 34E cup so before my milk has even come in I have gone up 3 cup sizes already. I have recently purchased Bras from New Look, Primark and Mothercare all ready for nursing as I do aim to breast feed my second baby. If you are wondering why I just didn't keep my older bras I actually threw them because I felt like I lived in them the whole time I fed, well I did and just wanted rid and to wear a proper bra once I had finished feeding! Lol So they were gone and binned off :) 

In fact a lot of my maternity wardrobe is new as my first pregnancy was a spring/summer (July baby) and this is a autumn/winter (February due date) so I haven't really recycled much at all because I simply haven't been able to wear the cotton dresses in this cold cold weather!!!!

I have recently been watching videos on you tube regarding feeding in public as until I had completely got to grips with breast feeding I would not feed anywhere other than a feeding room, so I just wanted to remind/refresh my self how to cover up quickly if baby needed a feed and your not in the most private place, I am all for breast feeding in public and do not think us mummies have any reason to feel we aren't allowed but I am the first to put my hand up that in the beginning I wasn't 100% confident in doing so, once over the 4-6 week cluster feed stage its an absolute breeze and you can read your babies signs to find some where that you are comfortable. I would often feed any where with my muslin cloth or breast feeding cape discretely covering Harry. I would definitely advise to go and watch Emily Norris and also Cloud Mom their video's were great. I will link below;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spa8SECSneI&t=270s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcHiLQslLQw

I will be uploading my own personal tips for breast feeding once my little one arrives, as no baby is ever the same so I am not expecting he/she to feed as my son did so it will be good to do a comparison and give you mummies some tips. 

34 WEEK MIDWIFE UPDATE

Yesterday I saw my lovely midwife, I haven't seen her since November which feels forever! I noticed on this appointment she had a good proper feel of my tummy, which strangely felt a bit uncomfortable but this could be because I feel I dont have much room left in there! Lol! She said baby isn't engaged yet but heading that, she said they aim for 36 week mark for head to be engaged so still a little time, I have been on my bouncing ball this past week or so and have found that helps get me a little more comfortable which moving baby about. Heart rate was 148bpm - Old midwives tale says you can determine the gender of baby depending at the rate of heart beat, is this true?

I am currently measuring one week behind, which I did with my first pregnancy anyways so I am not concerned, Harry was only 2 days late which I don't think was bad going for a first baby. She also said she thinks I am having a girl from the size/shape of the baby??? Whatever that means Lol -  She said baby felt petite,  but not small were her words. But again my boy was only 7lbs so not overly big - Time will soon tell! eeekkk we are getting so excited. 

Next plan is to do my hospital bag over the weekend!

Please go and give me a follow on Instagram @thehappybalancemum or 

Email - thehappybalancemum@gmail.com to share your pregnancy/baby journey!

Love