Tag Archives: Planning Pregnancy

Aug 16 2013

Trying For a Baby with the Zestica Conception Kit

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Since announcing my pregnancy, I’ve had several tweets and messages from people saying they’re hoping to follow in my footsteps. Well I’ve stumbled across a new product that just might help - the Zestica Conception Kit. Although I didn’t get to try it out myself, reading through the product information I wish I’d have discovered it a little earlier. You never know, we might have achieved those two precious pink lines just that little bit sooner.

Getting pregnant is hard work. For many, it’s an incredibly frustrating journey often filled with disappointment - it certainly was for us and I’m sure it will be again next time. I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve snuck out of bed at 4am to wee on a bit of plastic, only to crawl back in beside Craig for a good cry after a negative result.

On average, among couples having regular intercourse, 25 per cent of women will conceive within one month, 60 per cent within six months, 80 per cent within one year, and 90 per cent within 18 months Your Pregnancy Bible: Dr Anne Deans

It’s true to say that most conception journeys involve a ton of planning and lots of waiting around. Whether you’re counting down to ovulation day or testing day, those ‘in-betweeny’ days are absolutely horrible.

What impressed me about Zestica, is that it gives you something productive to do on every day of your cycle. You feel like you are starting your pregnancy from the first day of your period as it allows you to create the best pre-ovulatory environment for conception.

So what do you get?

ZESTICA CONCEPTION GEL

By restoring and maintaining the vagina’s natural PH, The Zestica Conception Gel achieves a balanced vaginal flora and creates sperm friendly conditions. This will help you create the best possible pre-conception environment to improve the chances of fertilisation.

Using the conception planner provided, you’ll work out when to begin using the kit (e.g. for cycle lengths of 28 days, you start on day 5). Stage 1 is to apply 6 consecutive days of Conception Gel. It’s supplied in easy-to-use single-use application tubes and 10 tubes are provided.

OVULATION TESTS

You are only ever fertile for a short period of time each month. Zestica Ovulation Tests are 99% accurate and help you to identify the fertile window when ovulation takes place. It is on these days you should have unprotected intercourse to significantly improve your chances of conceiving. When you have sex during the pre-ovulatory stage, you have a 28% chance of achieving a successful fertilisation.

Ovulation sticks are every wannabe mummy’s secret weapon. Seven sticks are provided and you should carry out one urine test per day for 7 days after your initial course of Conception Gel. During these testing days you’ll want to ramp up your baby-making mission and get in lots of early nights.

ZESTICA FERTILITY GEL

The Zestica Fertility Gel supports and enhances poor sperm motility by 24%, increasing your chances of conceiving by 7-12%. This product will also help you overcome dryness and create a sperm-friendly pH environment within the vagina.

You’ll use this when you are ovulating during sex. 6 tubes are provided with the kit.

You’ll then follow-up with 4 more consecutive days of Conception Gel.

So there you go! Of course this kit won’t guarantee a quick conception and some people have their charting down to a science already, but if you’re getting really frustrated and finding the process particularly monotonous, the kit could give you the little boost you need. It’s very easy to use and could help you get a better understanding of your cycle to help aid conception.

I wish you all the luck in the world if you’re trying xxx

 

 

Aug 13 2013

The Big Announcement

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Yep, I’m pregnant!

I am a grand total of five weeks gone… Although, owing to the fact I have ridiculously inconsistent cycle lengths, the midwife could well decide we’re further along than that! But I won’t bore you with the biology. All that’s important at this stage is that as of April 2014 they will be a brand new My Mills Baby.

Given we’ve been working on this pregnancy for the last eight months, it’s Sod’s Law that the one month we decide to relax a little, we fall pregnant. Moreover, this is the one month I’ve had a cheeky sambuca when I’m ovulating. Sure, sperm hadn’t met egg at that stage but I did consume enough to get a starring role on Shameless.

So that’s it. For the next eight months my belly will swell to Death Star proportions. I might get one of those t-shirts that says “I’m not fat, I’m pregnant” just in case my friends club together to get me a subscription to Diet Chef for Christmas.

You see, I might be only five weeks but I’ve already had a range of symptoms. Most afternoons around 1.30pm you’ll find me with my head down the toilet, one hand holding my hair out of my face, and the other keeping Dexter at bay. He’s utterly fascinated by toilets at the moment but that’s another blog post.

I’m also struggling to sleep on my stomach, Now this could be psychological - or perhaps I’ve just reached the limit of how many pies you can get away with without morphing into Jo Brand. Either way it’s making it uncomfortable to sleep. So I’ve already gone and bought myself one of those enormous penis-shaped pillows to cuddle up to in bed.

It’s tiredness that has been the biggest giveaway though. The other day I fell asleep halfway through drafting a blog post (pen in hand). I woke up five minutes later to find my little prince nestled in my lap with one thumb in mouth, and the other twirling my uncapped pen. Thinking we were having a lovely mum & son moment, I stroked his head and told him all about the baby in mummy’s tummy.

When the doorbell rang I grudgingly got up to answer. To be honest, I needn’t have bothered as it was someone from Anglian Windows promising me they weren’t there to sell me anything, just to let me know how I could improve the energy efficiency of my home and save myself thousands. What nice guys they are!?

Having sent the 16-year-old in a suit packing, I walked past the hallway mirror and discovered Dex had drawn what I am insisting is a long and tall tree and two little bushes on my forehead - Thanks son!

So to summarise… I’m now in bed by 8pm, rolling around like an upturned turtle until 3am, up frantically writing the blog at 5am, falling asleep during core parenting hours, and waking up bang on 1.30pm with uncontrollable sickness akin to that of a 15-year-old who’s pinched one too many of daddy’s ciders.

Welcome to pregnancy!

All joking aside, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. Having tried so hard to get pregnant after the disappointment of January’s miscarriage, I’m overjoyed to finally be carrying a little brother or sister (or both - I’ve already got a bet on with Craig that it’s twins) for Dexter. It was always a dream to have two-under-two and this will be our reality for a whole month when I give birth in April.

So bear with me if I’m a little forgetful over the next few weeks, and I apologise in advance for the dozens of tweets about maternity leggings, stretch marks, and fights with Craig when he rejects my name choices. Oh, and I’d avoid contacting me at all between the hours of 1.30pm and 2pm unless you want to come out in sympathy.

Much love to you all - Gemma, Craig, Baby Dexter, and Bump! xx

Jan 2 2013

The Plan for 2013 - Baby 2 and Watching People in Leotards!

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So we’re two days into 2013 and Dexter has survived his first year-end with us as his mummy and daddy. The year passed pretty uneventfully to be honest as I fell asleep on the sofa at 11.30pm whilst Craig watched Channel 4′s House Party with a cheeky beer.

2013 is set to be a big one as I’ve decided to take on the mammoth challenge of losing weight and having a baby before the year is through. The first resolution is already well underway as the fridge is full of vegetables and fresh fruit and there’s a decided lack of carbs to snack on. I seem to be in the fridge every two minutes frantically searching for a bit of cheese or chocolate but it simply isn’t there to graze on.

Exercise will have to be light as we have no way of telling when I’ll fall pregnant (I’m pretty sure the midwife would get a bit moody with me if I start an Olympic programme in the first trimester!). There’s a new DVD out that I’m already eyeing up so I can at least pretend to exercise - What to Expect When You’re Expecting (The Workout) - the aim is to watch at least an hour of people in leotards everyday - hopefully I’ll be inspired to join in.

I’m sure joining the two-under-two club will also not be everyone’s cup of tea. I’m under no illusion that I’m letting myself in for a tough few years. However, it’s well thought through and Craig and I are 100% sure we’re doing the right thing for us. We always wanted for Dexter to have a sibling and it’s important to us that they’re close in age. Dexter is a really loving baby and is used well used to chaos and loud noises with all his toddler cousins - we already know he’ll make an excellent big brother and the two will become best buddies.

If I’m honest, I also really hate being pregnant and want to reclaim my body next year (2014). Having suffered with PND with Dex - many will think we’re idiots to add another little person to the mix - but I have always been a bit of a ‘all or nothing’ girl and I promise to take a big break before number 3 to focus on me. The thought of working hard to control my weight, then getting pregnant fills me with dread! I’d much rather eat healthily so I don’t gain too much this time around, then dedicate a few years to getting back in shape. By 2015 I’ll be super mum to two beautiful children and will be back to Kardashian size (I wish!).

Wish me luck guys! I wish you all every success with your own plans for 2013 x

 

 

pixel The Plan for 2013 Baby 2 and Watching People in Leotards!