Jan 22 2014

27 Weeks Pregnant!

Posted on January 22, 2014 by admin

So at 27 weeks pregnant, I finally caved and hit the sales in a bid to get ready for Mini Madam’s arrival. Having sorted out all Dexter’s old babygros I think we were both a little embarrassed how stained and stretched they were! So we had a mass binning session and charity shop dump last weekend to make room for baby. Her nursery is now crammed with tiny dresses and rompers which has made things feel a little more real. We still have a long way to go though and are short on blankets, bedding, and little places for her to chill out (rockers and swings etc). If you spot any bargains, or have any recommendations - do chuck me the links as I need all the help I can get!

Baby Clothes 27 Weeks Pregnant!

Name choices have also been coming thick and fast this week and we now have a A3 sheet of paper covered with ‘possibles’ strung up in the bathroom… not the traditional place I know, but I figure it’s the best place for Craig to have a little ‘think’. Far from shying away from the oldie-worldly names, Craig has perhaps embraced the idea a little too much and I’ve spotted some truly awful ones being secretly scrawled onto the list. I have a feeling I’ll have a fight on my hands to get her a name she won’t hate us for when she’s older.

Thankfully the morning sickness has flared only once this week, but sciatica strikes every few hours. I’ve dug out my old bump bands and have given up attempting to walk gracefully. Taking my boots off after a trip out now resembles a yoga move with lots of grunting and swearing for dramatic effect. The overall effect is a little like I’m trying to make Team GB’s Weightlifting squad for Rio.

27 Week Bump 27 Weeks Pregnant!

Glancing down at my naked tummy, my belly button is now a little off-centre so it seems Mini Madam has a preferred side. If you press lightly over the bump there are two slightly harder spots (feet and head) which means we’re able to gauge her length with a little more accuracy. She’s definitely longer than Dexter was at this stage and I’ve had the odd killer moment where her tiny feet have lodged into my ribs. Not only is this seriously painful, I’m also more than a little squeamish about having to poke them back through.

Due to her tiny lungs functioning better now, in just a few short weeks she’s gone from having a 1 in 4 chance of premature survival, to very good odds. There’s also a good chance she’s sucking her fingers and hiccuping in there now. Next week I’ll be in the third trimester and we’ll be on the home stretch. I’m really looking forward to having my body back to myself, and can’t wait to for that first celebratory swig of champagne. I figure I deserve it.

Jan 15 2014

26 Weeks Pregnant

Posted on January 15, 2014 by admin

I’m now 26 weeks pregnant, and I’m feeling brilliant. Finally.

I can overlook the constant need to pee and the not-so-elegant roll-and-fall out of bed in the mornings as the sickness and exhaustion finally seems to be over. Hopefully now I’ll have a months respite before Bump and I go crashing into the third trimester.

Once again, this week has flown by. This is probably down to the fact I had several antenatal appointments which, barring my 35 week consultant check, should have been my last. I had a routine midwife appointment, and a blood test for gestational diabetes - but unfortunately I somehow managed to mess both of these up. It seems I was some 3 weeks early for the midwife so she’s asked to see me once more, and I overlooked the copious notes advising me that I needed to fast for 2 hours before my blood test. Having walked into see the nurse at the blood clinic with a cereal bar and coffee in my grubby hands, she quickly waved me out of her room and told me to re-book. Despite feeling like a bit of prat, I’m actually secretly pleased that I’ve diddled the midwife and will get to hear Mini Madam’s heartbeat in stereo again.

The midwife did point out that Mini Madam is measuring 2 weeks ahead of schedule. This is nothing to worry about but I’m keeping fingers and toes crossed that this is just a ton of amniotic fluid and not a 10lber in there. This is (hopefully) the first baby I’ll be birthing naturally so I’m hoping she’s of weeny proportions so I can cough her out demurely and not disgrace myself on D-Day. Still, I’ve gone ahead and booked in a private 4D scan to make sure this baby isn’t unnaturally HUGE and isn’t, in fact, sporting a willy. Having had previous experience of these scans, I suspect baby will spend most of it showing me her bum or hiding behind the cord but hopefully she’ll give us a sneak peek of her face.

Speaking of unflattering pictures, here’s Bump and I at 26 weeks. I’m looking a little like Harry Enfield’s Waynetta or my old English teacher who went to great pains to tell us all that “It’s fluid retention, I’m not really this fat” when someone wrote something mean on the wall in the school toilets. I’m surprised I’m not being followed around shops in town by security, my bump is easily the size of a decent House of Fraser haul! There’s no denying I’m growing a little one in there anymore and no amount of sucking in restores my former hour-glass figure (Ha!). Nope, now it’s clear to everyone that I’m an unmarried mum-to-be - oh the shame!

But I can’t blame Mini Madam entirely for my super-sized bump. I am craving cherry bakewells and other Mr Kipling treats like a deranged and less-discerning Nigella Lawson. This is very unlike me as during my non-pregnant days you’re far more likely to spot me sneaking out of Greggs with a sausage roll stashed in my bag, than you are hiding behind a menu at Patisserie Valerie. But this diet can’t be all that bad as I mentioned last week I’ve lost weight throughout this pregnancy. I’ve actually lost a further 3lbs this week *mustn’t grumble*.

Right, that’s it - my 26 week update over. I’m off to raid the treat cupboard then sit and cry at adverts with small children in them. Until next week.

Dec 31 2013

A Good Old Pampering - Oral-Bs Healthy Gums in Pregnancy Campaign

Posted on December 31, 2013 by admin

Oral B Logo A Good Old Pampering Oral Bs Healthy Gums in Pregnancy Campaign

Just before Christmas (when I was in the grip of flu) a seriously lovely gift box arrived through the post. Having done the precious-little Christmas present shopping I did do online this year, I assumed this was yet another toy, book, or designer top, and not a bevy of pampering products from the folk at Oral-B. Delving into the vibrant pink tissue paper I pulled out treat upon treat that they’ve lovingly handpicked to indulge a select few of us pregnant bloggers. Given I’ve been pining after wine and champagne this Christmas and staring a little too longingly at other people’s glasses, it’s certainly cheered up this tired and exhausted mumma-to-be. Let’s face it, I haven’t stopped whinging since the pregnancy symptoms kicked in (for me, around week 8!). More on these treats later!

084 A Good Old Pampering Oral Bs Healthy Gums in Pregnancy Campaign

You see, I was contacted some time ago to ask if I’d like to join a few other pregnant bloggers to take part in Oral-Bs Healthy Gums in Pregnancy Campaign. The aim is to highlight the importance of looking after your teeth when you have a baby onboard. And if I do say so myself, there’s no one better qualified than me to chat about this. The official line is that hormonal changes in pregnancy can make your gums more vulnerable to plaque, leading to inflammation and bleeding. If left untreated pregnancy gingivitis or gum disease can take hold. It’s my biggest fear to lose my teeth and wander around looking like a drug-user so oral hygiene is definitely important to me.

With this pregnancy, my gums bled from week 6 and my teeth were incredibly sensitive. Luckily, as this is my second pregnancy I spotted the warning signs straight away and booked in to see my dentist. It seems the fault lay with me. My morning sickness (which still hasn’t abated at week 25) was particularly torturous in my first few weeks. Thinking I was doing the right thing, I’d be sick, then brush my teeth to help take away the sickly taste and wash away the nastiness. My dentist quickly warned me that after a bout of sickness the acid can leave your teeth extra vulnerable. Brushing immediately after an episode will do more harm than good and you should wait an hour after being sick to brush them (a glass of water should give teeth a gentle cleanse instead in the meantime).

The over-sensitivity was due to my over-brushing and wearing away the enamel on my teeth (leaving the nerves exposed). If you’d like some further advice from the experts on this, I’d recommend Oral-B’s Love Your Gums Website which is crammed with ideas and brushing techniques to keep your pearly white’s looking and feeling perfect.

074 A Good Old Pampering Oral Bs Healthy Gums in Pregnancy Campaign

Although my dentist is a dead ringer for Ryan Gosling and I’d be happy to see him everyday rather than every 6 months, I followed his advice and most of the problems seem to have cleared up. Given I’ve switched from a whitening toothpaste to one specially formulated for sensitive teeth, they are looking a little dull but the bleeding has all but stopped. I’ve always lusted after an electric toothbrush however as one of my friends once pointed out that the difference between your average toothbrush and its electric cousin is as dramatic as that between a mangle and a washing machine - everyone seems to have one nowadays and I’ve often wondered if they really do live up to the hype.

Well move over Santa as Oral-B sent me one to review and I’ve fallen in love with it. I was sent the Oral-B Triumph TriZone 5000/5500 to help me stay smile-happy whilst the rest of body is morphed beyond all proportion due to Mini Madam, and I’ve noticed the difference instantly. My teeth feel incredibly smooth after brushing, and the smaller head means I can get to my back teeth without gagging (this used to be a major problem). A handy little timer gadget thingy (aka the SmartGuide) lets me know when I’ve brushed for 3 mins which is the recommended time for brushing recognised by healthcare professionals, and I have 5 modes to choose from when brushing: Daily Clean, Deep Clean, Sensitive, Whitening, and Massage. What’s more, there’s a pressure sensor that beeps to tell me when I’m pressing too hard - this auto adjusts when it detects any over-zealousness from me.

index2 A Good Old Pampering Oral Bs Healthy Gums in Pregnancy Campaign

My Triumph TriZone also comes with three different heads - The Oral -B Sensitive Brush Head (my favourite), the scary looking Oral-B FlossAction Brush Head, and the Oral-B 3D White Brush Head. Each are tailored to deliver maximum cleansing and polishing with the minimum of effort from yours truly - genius!

The Oral-B Pro-Expert Toothpaste also targets all of the areas that dentists focus on (namely, cavities, your gums, plaque, sensitivity, enamel wear, tartar build-up, dullness and bad breath) whilst delivering a fresh minty and deliciously palatable taste. It’s holding its own against my usual (ridiculously expensive) sensitivity toothpaste so I’m confident it’s doing what it should.

But that’s not all. Oral B also sent me a fab selection of luxury pampering products that was such a welcome treat. The Olay Total Effects Moisturiser has helped me hydrate my dry, tired and central-heating ravaged skin and seems to help combat the zombie-look I’ve been perfecting over the last few months.

058 A Good Old Pampering Oral Bs Healthy Gums in Pregnancy Campaign

I was also sent Maxfactor’s False Lash Effect Mascara which is a cinch to apply and less globby than my usual Maybelline one. I like a thick full set of lashes and did have to apply several times before I looked suitably dolled up - but I think I achieved it, what do you think?

0122 A Good Old Pampering Oral Bs Healthy Gums in Pregnancy Campaign

Finally, I was sent a Pantene Deep Moisture Souffle to give my dead ends and tired hair a treat. Unfortunately I don’t get that pregnancy-glow everyone seems to rave on about and end up looking terminally ill - my hair gets fuller but far more brittle and there’s clumps of it on the pillow every morning. I don’t suppose it helps that I dye it every few months (shut your ears fellow pregnancy bloggers! You’ll be wanting to wrap my knuckles right about now for reaching for the John Frieda with a little person onboard) but motherhood has certainly tripled my grey hairs in a way that ages me significantly beyond my 30-ish years. Here’s a selfie of me and my long-suffering other half, looking a great deal perkier than usual.

035 A Good Old Pampering Oral Bs Healthy Gums in Pregnancy Campaign

So thanks Oral-B - I look and feel a trillion times better and am happy to report I won’t be going back to a normal toothbrush. Not only that, but your tips and advice, combined with those of my dentist, have made me feel much more confident that I’m getting my oral hygiene right during these crucial months.

So over to you lovely lot, did you experience any bleeding or swelling of the gums during pregnancy? What did you do to counteract it?

Disclaimer: This post is in association with Oral-Bs Healthy Gums in Pregnancy Campaign (#OralBLoveYourGums). I was not instructed what to write although I did receive this hugely generous pamper pack to review - I’m eternally grateful.