39 Weeks Pregnant

So, i was being dramatic and my cousin said to me i should continue this blog so i am!

having a baby isn't just the pregnant stage its also the having the baby and then what happens afterwards!

I am now 39 weeks and 2 days pregnant which means i am actually in the home straight of having this baby and i wish it would happen right now!

Other then the aches and pains of my body changing preparing for labour, its very exciting feeling him move around and how low i can feel his movements too!
He's still not settled though and by that i mean his limbs are everywhere still and he doesn't feel like he's ready to come out which is nice to think i have made a nice home for him for the past 9 months but enough is enough and he has a lovely home and family to come and meet!

I am going to post a section about how i have surprised myself personally and how pregnancy just keeps throwing me curve balls!

Check back in soon,

Kerry x

38 WEEKS and saying bye to blogging....

So, today marks may 38 weeks of being pregnant so baby can come at any time which is so scary but so exciting at the same time.

but i think i am going to stop blogging now...


as it comes to the end of my pregnancy i don't feel this blog has taken off but hopefully i will get some inspiration to continue and do something else...

thanks if anyone has read continuously.

Bye for now and wish me luck

Kerry xoxo

35 Weeks Pregnant ...

So, i am now 35 weeks pregnant and i can safely say i am getting to the point of having enough!

I feel huge and gaining what feels like a stone a week at the moment, granted your meant to gain about a pound a week but this week already im 3lb up and i have no idea why! ive not over eaten or indulged... i actually did have a domnios last night because i just felt like giving up. whats the point of trying to loose weight when your pregnant when your going to keep gaining.

I have also got an incredibly sore side which hurts after a general day of living life so when it comes to the evening i am in pain because no stretches will reach it.

I shouldnt complain about being pregnant but i am just feeling so big and unattractive and like ive let myself go. the scales dont know your pregnant so when your weighting 13 and a half stone its enough to make you want to cry when youve never weighed that much before and you try so hard to keep it off and is now feeling like your going to be frumpy forever and you have a wedding dress to loose weight for...

also my job is getting my down.. i dont know what to do about that!!

And my laptop is running so slowly i have had enough and want to throw it out the window but i cant because i cant afford a new one...


anyone else get so frustrated with life that it all feels too much.

I dont mean to rant.

we actually picked up babies cot yesterday ... i say we, my other half did along with my dad because i am a bit useless!
so thats now up in the bedroom just needing to be all kitted out and for my little man to arrive.

can i just say i cant wait for him to be here... im not frustrated with him... its just my body and the way i see myself!

i have even started a proper skin care routine which i never bothered with before to see if that helps and it hasnt.

Sorry.... but this is life.

Boots - My Baby Bundle

So a month or so ago Boots had a baby event which included spending £20 and getting a free 'Baby Bundle' which i only opened the other night (excuse the poor quality photos) and i couldnt believe how much was included!! 

First item is one i could try out straight away and that was the Boots Botanics Refreshing Eye Bright Roll-On for MUMS! 

This type of product is something i have always used on and off and never really stuck with it but already from using this for about a week i see real results.

Using it once in the morning and again at night has completed my morning and night routines and my eyes dont feel as tired as they normally do and when your pregnant thats ALOT of the time. 

To buy on its own wold cost you £8.75 so to get this as a free gift is just brilliant.

Also for Mums you get the Sanctuary Spa mini body wash and a salt scrub which i will be using after baby comes to really pamper myself!

The other items i will be trying out when Baby arrives but you get 

1. Pampers baby wipes
2. Boots own baby wipes
3. Boots own nappies x3 
4. Boots own cotton pads
5. Boots own baby bubble and bath wash
6. Boots own Baby teethers

To be honest i thought this was incredible and i will be taking the smaller sample packs to hospital with me!

Thanks for reading!

Kerry xoxo

Braxton Hicks? ; Diary #11

'When you have a contraction, your womb (uterus) tightens and then relaxes, like a stronger version of period pains. You may have had contractions throughout your pregnancy, particularly towards the end. During pregnancy, these painless tightenings are called Braxton Hicks contractions.' 

Ive not been very active recently on my blog... sorry! but not alot has gone on if i am honest with you, until today!
I think i am getting braxton hicks! ive been getting tummy tightness and it feels really uncomfortable but not painful! i havent googled the symptoms of it aside from putting in what is on the top of the blog entry! Could these be braxton hicks! How exciting!

Exciting? Really? Why?
Well thats because it means my body is getting itself ready to have the baby! YAY! I cannot wait!

Luckily i am going into the final few days of work before my maternity leave starts so i can start relaxing a bit and not having to worry about going into work (always a nice thought)

Anyway I do have a few exciting posts i want to write over the next few weeks before baby comes so keep coming back!

Thanks

Kerry

Diary; Paranoia & Pregnancy #10

Do you ever get that feeling that everyone's just that much closer and you can't breathe and you want to close your eyes and hide from the world? Me too!

The past two weeks have been an absolute rollercoaster for me mainly because I have had a huge growth spurt when it comes to the baby area so I think my emotions are going up and down causing me too have what I call panic attacks, something that I am used to from having anxiety at such a young age.
It also doesn't help that I am now 33 weeks pregnant and the thought of B-Day is getting that much closer and I don't feel prepared at all.... going on maternity leave and then having those financial worries which is human but you cant help but think your the only one going through it.

Another worry that comes to mind is babies arrival... am i going to be a good mum? Do i have everything i need? will my baby even like me because the kid i saw earlier jut gave me evils... I don't know if thats just me but i get so worried that I'm not going to be  good mum.

My latest thing is being paranoid when i go out and about, i hate it! i mean really hate going out when i am alone because i worry someone is going to ram there trolly into me or some teenager is going to run into me because they don't care!

I can honestly say the next 7 weeks cannot come quick enough! I want my little man here now!

Kerry

Diary; I finally Know where My Baby Is! #9

Evening guys!

Sorry I have been MIA, i have had a very exciting weekend - I GOT ENGAGED!!! So I've not really been doing much aside from looking at wedding stuff and baby stuff, its all going on!

But focusing on my little man here, I went for my 31 week midwife appointment today and this couldn't of come at a better time because believe it or not i could not work out where my baby was laying! Not because i am being stupid but i was feeling several movements all over the place and areas on baby pushing out and i just couldn't tell!
At my last appointment babies bum was to the left hand side and his head to the right.... NOW he is head down and is 'back to back' which i was told thats when babies back is on your back... and this isn't good because it could cause your labour to be longer and more painful? No thank you!
So i have been told i need to sit forward, lay on my side and spend more time on all fours... this is to try and make baby move into a better position so hopefully next time i will know if it has worked - i can telly now its bloody uncomfortable!

Aside from that baby is doing really well! heartbeat sounds amazing and i am measuring 30cm from the top of my pelvic bone to the top of my stomach so thats working out 1cm to the week (which is good according to my chart) and as he is head down he is low to my pelvic bone but isn't 'engaged' so hopefully it won't be long and he could very well be getting himself ready for his arrival, the amount he's kicking i think he is running out of room.

As for me everything is also good - I've not been weighed but i was weighing 12st 9lb this morning, i am reaching that 3 stone mark which makes me sad but i know it won't be long till i am doing bridal bootcamp and getting myself looking sexy for then!
I need to keep my iron intake up as i am doing so thats lots of greens, almonds and also some cheeky dark chocolate!

thats it for now? Not much has really gone on this week if i am honest! I want to do more posts on getting my hospital bag ready and changing bag prepared; also do a post about getting a baby area ready when your living in a one bed flat!

Thanks for reading!

Kerry xoxo

Becoming a pregnancy professional!

When you first get pregnant you suddenly think 'WHAT DO I DO' and trust me its something i still think about but as you get further along the worries you had before go away and you start getting on with life...
For me it started with food - you suddenly get overwhelmed by what you now can and cannot eat, basically anything raw... certain cheeses and you can't have too much fish and caffeine... cut down on the sugar which if I'm honest when your a caffeine lover like me having no sugar to give you a boost absolutely SUCKS! But as we know we are doing this for our baby and the first 12 weeks are the most paranoid you could ever be so obviously you want it done right!
You also now need to start taking pregnancy tablets such as folic acid and vitamin D which your body doesn't produce much of, I took omega tablets for a bit but they were horrid - I choked twice!  I started on Holland and Barrats own then I went onto Pregnacare which have been good! If your overwhelmed then speak to someone in store, I did and she was lovely!
Now though I do stick to the basic foods you can't eat, I do have sugar in the form of naughty treats but you can do that! And decaf options such as tea and cappuccino sachets from nestle (they're my treat... normally nightly) but for some reason as soon as you find out your pregnant you think you can't eat half the stuff you could normally but in my case so far so good so I'm not going to change what I'm doing, everyone is different though!

Following from this weight gain comes up because you again want to eat healthier and exercise more but you can't do this pregnancy thing worrying, when I finally realised that I was going to put on weight not because I was eating a little bit more then I fancied but because your carrying more water, blood supply, A BABY... you just begin to accept it and think when I'm all done with being pregnant you can work for your old body! (I know I will...)

Learning about other pregnancy symptoms through out the course of your pregnancy can also be difficult to get to grips, whether it's baby movement or that horrid cramp you get in the middle of the night! These things you will soon learn how you handle them and manage them.

Dressing for bump is also a task, what do you wear? What's comfy? Will I squash baby? Can I show too much boob? Can you tell I'm pregnant? Where have maternity leggings been all my life? Standing in a changing room for the first time trying this new world of clothes on is weird but you gets used too it and you learn what you like to wear! I originally wanted that 'MILF' look that slowly went into the baggy jumper and leggings style but it's comfy so that's what I choose!

Baby clothes shopping is great fun but when you think what does a baby wear then you can get yourself in a pickle! Just make sure your buying g essential items along with other things because the stylish stuff you can buy when they arrive! You'll know there size and have more of an idea.... I say this but I have bought my baby loads of clothes because if it's in the sale it's a no brainer and if it's really cute then it has to be done!

Baby products such as a cot and pushchair can be overwhelming! Luckily where I bought mine they are so helpful but make sure your not buying the first one you see, shop around and know what's available! And don't get mugged off for the cost either! Check local stores against big highstreet names and also see what's going on second hand selling pages!
Also I didn't quiet realise how many different brands of baby bottles, dummies and wet wipes there are... that kind of stuff I am winging, Boots have a wide variety so I think when you look just make sure it's what you have in mind and don't worry about it being the most expensive!

That was long... my iPad actually began to complain!

Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed!

Kerry xoxo

7 ways to overcome the SLUM!!

Ladies! We have such a rubbish time with hormones and I have had about a weeks worth of pregnancy slum, low motivation, mood swings and feeling extremely sensitive and all you want is to be left alone.

So I thought I would share with you 7 things which have helped me get out of my slum!

1. Doing Yoga really chills me out and makes me feel good because I feel as if I've been active and you also get a boost of endorphins! 
2. Seeing a friend when your down makes you feel a lot better because you can get your mind focused on something else entirely or chat about what's going on with you and sometimes that makes you feel a lot better and even clarify your feelings!
3. Having a treat, pamper yourself! Go to the hair dressers or nail salon and have a girly day with yourself or bring a family member or friend! My mum came with me to get my nails done which cheered me up because you just don't feel so alone! 
4. Buy something nice for yourself, you are growing a small person after all and your waredrobe probably does fit and you can't stay up all night out and about so the money you've saved there buy yourself something whether it's a new pair of shoes or handbag or that coat you've been eyeing up! Or even something for after you've had baba! 
5. Look at baby things -reminding yourself you are doing something awesome by looking nice things for your new arrival! Whether it's clothes or a playmat... 
6. Netflix and NO CHILL if I'm honest... unfortunately feeling down doesn't make you feel much else so if you think you just want to get into bed ALONE (sorry) and binge watch a TV show DO IT, don't even feel bad for it.
7. Early nights are also a bog standard way of making yourself feel better! So if it's really doom and gloom and the hormones are in full swing then yes go to bed and when you wake up it probably won't be that bad! 

I hope you liked these little ideas! 

Thanks 

Kerry 

Diary; You cant always be Wonder Woman #8

Goodness me what a couple of weeks I have had.

In a nutshell i can safely say i havent been as active, motivated or anything.... So about three weeks ago i managed to develop PVG (Pelvic Gurdle Pain) which is a condition really common in pregnant women which effects the pelvis and lower body region because your body is changing if your not careful you can develop this!

I spoke to my midwife and she referred me to a physio at the hospital where i joined a group of women to learn about various exercises and the background into why you might have developed it!
I came home with a back support and crutches.... great.

So this has meant i haven't been feeling amazing, barely exercised or been able to walk anywhere and because of my ever growing baby bump the weight is slowly creeping on and it was really getting me down! Chocolate has become my best friend...

I cant stress enough how important being happy with yourself can effect your everyday life pregnant or not so i think I'm going to go through some ideas and tips to keep yourself feeling good when your feeling low!


Im hoping i will start cheering up soon!


This is pregnancy!

Thanks

Kerry xoxo

Diary; Something I Didn't Want To Admit #7

Before i start writing this i just want to disclaim that I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL and everything i write on here is from personal experiences!

This is difficult for me to write because it is really personal and i cannot stress enough how amazing my support system has been throughout my pregnancy but unfortunalty i just haven't managed to shake the constant feeling of being 'alone' now being alone doesn't mean that your never around people, you could be surrounded by all your friends and family - what i mean is that horrid sense that you just cant talk to anyone and don't feel as if your connecting anymore to those who you could before.

Pregnancy is a rollercoaster that can hit you in many ways through hormones and body changes and mentally it can really get to you, if your lucky to have a partner or a close friend who is there for you and you don't relate to this then i am very envious!

For people who know me, know that i am a fun laid back kind of girl who enjoys a bit of banter and a good old chat, people who know me really well know that i am a bit weird and at times a bit of a nut and those who know me inside out know that i am also very good at hiding my real self which has little confidence and self esteem which when your pregnant just magnifies and its really.... shit!

Being pregnant is something that you will get a lot of help with if your lucky but at the end of the day it all comes down to you and thats a lot of responsibility for one person to have, effectively your growing the baby, feeding them, nurturing them, basically changing your lifestyle to make sure that they get the best possible start to this world and it comes with a lot of stuff you need to remember and when you have baby brain its not that easy! for example - taking your pregnancy tablets and remembering to pee in a cup before a midwife appointment! we have to do a lot by ourselves and even if our partners are doing the best they can it doesn't change fact.

When i say i feel alone its mainly because i have changed a lot of aspects in my life; training, work, food, drinking, my body.... the list is endless and when you have to think about the fact that everyone else life is going on around you and hasn't changed and you start not feeling included it really sucks! its almost as if your in a bubble which doesn't move and the world around you is fast forwarding in front of your very eyes and thinking of everything you wanted to do suddenly is on the back burner and your now going to be Mum and thats your job!

I don't think this will be something i will ever stop feeling but it is something i want anyone else to know is totally normal.... i could write so much more but i don't think i can put it into words!

Also, i cannot wait to be a Mum... and hormones are a bitch!

Thanks

Kerry xoxo

10 REAL THINGS that happen in pregnancy.. According to ME!

Its a long stint being pregnant, being told that your only going to be nine months pregnant seems like it could be easy but for me nine months has dragged out so much it may as well of been nine years! (I'm only six months through) so i thought i would share 10 REAL THINGS THAT HAPPEN when your pregnant, according to me

Granted some women could be lucky and get nothing and others could be suffering with more but for me these are REAL things.

1. You no longer have control of your bladder - its now a baby toy! 
2. Morning sickness doesn't always happen in the morning and your not always sick - 5-8pm like clockwork from week 5 to week 16! 
3. Constantly hungry and still never feeling satisfied! Yes they say your eating for two but in reality your just eating for the baby, they leave you the leftovers!
4. Missing caffeine , so not only is it recommended you limit your intake of caffeine if your like me you will miss it so much but thats ok - Decaf is a thing... and your Starbucks orders will still taste the same! 
5. Aches and pains around your lower back; this is something i have only experienced the past month but anything with your lower back speak to your midwife or doctor and see if you can be seen by a specialist!
6. Naps are the best things ever, don't even feel bad - your working so hard to grow a human... if you need an extra hour or three DO IT! you'll feel like a new woman (kind of)
7. Weight gain is something i didnt want to happen but it does... you forget your growing a human being and your bodies changing and your clothes aren't fitting - thats why maternity wear was created - but it will go! I was told the other day your body carries an extra 40% of blood? I think thats enough to justify some weight!
8. Food aversion is a weird one; i had an aversion to sweet potatoes and cream cheese based food (carbonara) and pasta... basically Pasta based meals were not a thing for me anymore and even tho it eases up i still don't enjoy eating pasta unless its cold? Weird! but thats pregnancy! 
9. Sense of smell goes mad and you will find it could be a trigger for nausea but it does go away I PROMISE! plus you get out of doing the nitty gritty household chores like the bins and the other half can do the cooking because some food just stinks!! I hated the smell of meat cooking! 
10. Food cravings, you will crave some food more then others! for me it was mash potato and doritos.. at one point i wanted mash potatoes and peanut butter (i couldn't do it but the urge was there)
    

What have you been suffering with that i might of missed!?

Comment! 

Thanks

Kerry xoxo

Pregnancy Yoga

Another way I have enjoyed keeping fit is doing pregnancy yoga.

Granted i probably don't do it as much as i should do because it is highly recommended you do it to build up your pelvic floor muscles and keep yourself nice and ... nimble? for child birth! So coming into my second trimester i decided to start and i haven't gone to classes ive just used YouTube videos, one being by a lovely lady called Tammy who is SO GOOD! i haven't done yoga before this but i find it quiet tough still and her level and style works for me! 

I don't feel like an expert (because i am not) but i have experienced it and i think it should be done by everyone! It keeps me calm and relaxes me and there is a segment at the end of the video (which is my favourite part because the video is so hard its great to get to the end) which has you doing breathing exercises and connecting with your baby. 

Now going into my third trimester there are other videos i will be exploring and will talk about because I've noticed they focus on preparing for child birth!

 Thanks for reading!

Kerry xoxo

BJJ and Pregnancy

Everyone can remember there first true passion, i always thought mine was filmography - when i was 14 i would dream of becoming a music video director, that slowly changed and suddenly i didnt have a passion and thats quiet sad! Then not even my default, it was my boyfriend got into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu which is a martial art and to begin with it was a 'Cant beat them join them' moment which quickly turned into an obsession, lifestyle and my passion!

None of these photos are of me before I was pregnant, this is me now doing what I love and trying my best to not use any excuses and pregnancy fall backs to keep me away!

On a Saturday morning at Andy Roberts BJJ in Farnborough, Hants is a women only BJJ/Self Defence class taught by one of my very good friends Helen who has been such a rock through my pregnancy doing Yoga with me every Saturday morning and keeping me going in class and allowing me to adapt and go at my own pace during class.

I did however stop for two months because tiredness was a main factor in my first trimester which meant i was sleeping from about 6 when i got home from work till about 8 every evening which was over the classes and waking up Saturday morning wasn't an option!

I went down for a Saturday class to see the girls and i was reminded immediately that this was such a huge thing in my life i don't want it to stop because i am pregnant! As Karl and I both train BJJ our baby will hopefully enjoy it as much as we do but it will be a huge factor in his life along with ours!

BJJ is a lifestyle unlike any other, it teaches respect, discipline and strength along with family, being humble and learning about yourself! one of the reasons why i decided to continue training was because i changed a lot as a person through BJJ and i noticed i was falling into bad habits without the influences of my friends and team mates at the academy to keep me balanced.

A lot of people have questioned me training because BJJ is a very physical sport and with reason are worried about my bump! but as long as your not an idiot (to be blunt) you can train! As you can see you can still arm bar, just don't put pressure on your tummy, you can do light throws - NOT THROWING OVER SHOULDER - but if you have a teammate who you trust and is willing to have a technique done which has been adapted to you then take advantage! I just make sure that there isn't any pressure on my tummy or straining around my back and front tummy and sitting down if i start feeling lightheaded.

You do what you can do, not what someone else can because your bodies are different! I was lucky training BJJ before i was pregnant because my body already knows what goes down in class.

I personally wouldn't advise BJJ if your pregnant and have never practised it before!

So i hope this was a nice insight to my love of BJJ and training through pregnancy!

Thanks

Kerry xoxo

Photo Credit - Daniela De Jong

Team - Andy Roberts BJJ 

Emma's Diary Freebies!

One of the best things about being pregnant (aside from having a baby) is getting freebies! lots of companies give freebies out if you know where to look and one of them is through Emmas diary.

For those of you who don't know who or what Emmas Diary is - its a magazine/website which has been around since my mum was pregnant with me and it gives loads of information about pregnancy in the form of a diary and different products to try and also testimonies from other parents! Its really cute!

Anyway i have been taking my sweet time getting these goody bags and you can pick them up from Boots and Argos, so i thought i would share what came in these packages!
Im not going to go through in a lot of detail, you should be able to see what was in each and I will go through the products in detail when I have used them or want to review them, but from what I have seen they include various nappy brands, creams, pads and leaflets with lots of offers... Which is always good!!!

Each are for different stages of maternity;

Mum To Be

Bump to Baby

New Family

Thanks

Kerry xoxo

Diary; My Second Trimester #6

Im not coming into the end of my second trimester and i can hardly believe it! Its officially the home stretch now and I couldn't be more excited to meet by baby boy!

Looking back on my second trimester I have to say it wasn't everything i was expecting purely because a lot of people referred to it as the 'honeymoon period' of your pregnancy! this wasn't the case for me; i was still very much lacking energy and with a ridiculously hot summer in the UK i can safely say the struggle was real. But in saying that it also showed me some of the most amazing moment i could of asked for!

Body Image

Well, I can safely say that this was the part of my second trimester i was not going to enjoy because this is the stages were you get BIG! for some women they don't for others they get bigger then I did but it was something very weird to get used too and where maternity jeans  and leggings actually become your best friends!
I will add a photo from about week 14 to week 26 which shows my bump progress!

I did put on a lot of weight in my second trimester which shows in my face and legs due to an increase in eating and lack of excessing because i have been so tired! for the first 5 to 6 weeks i really got down about this and would cry because i just felt like i let myself go, but the reality is - I'm pregnant and its going to happen! so now i embrace the fact that this is the best excuse i have to sit on my back side and eat cakes (occasionally).

I have however been exercising; going out for walks, doing pregnancy yoga and still keeping myself involved with BJJ. This has helped keep some of the weight off but don't worry too much - after baby is born is when you can worry about loosing anything!


Aches and Pains

Toward the end of my second trimester i noticed a lot of aches and pains were starting on my lower back and pelvic area!
I spoke to my midwife abut these and she has referred me to a physio to get it sorted as i don't want any issues during labour. I was told it is where the pelvis is now softened and the muscles, etc are now moving around to accommodate a growing person inside you which means that it is a lot weaker so doing your everyday tasks can be a struggle and even be the simple trigger!
If you are feeling any types of aches and pains make sure you do mention it to the midwife because it could cause a lot of issues; I find doing stretches in yoga and sitting down when it does get painful helps.

Baby Movements

This is by far the best thing about being pregnant in my eyes! Feeling your baby move - I can still remember the first time i felt him move inside me and it felt like a bubble popping, this was around week 17/18 and i remember being sat on my sofa and thinking 'what the hell was that' and it didnt happen again so i thought it might of been wind, i then felt it again a few days later with a lot of force and i shouted the same thing and i knew that was the baby!
Throughout the weeks the movements get a lot stronger and the popping feels more like a small kick and you can just about see your tummy move! Then comes the alien like sensations where your looking at your tummy and all of a sudden you can SEE the baby moving inside, this could be simply moving from one side to another or your tummy being lifted up in one area, it sounds weird but its actually really cute!


So these were the only things i could think of from my second trimester which were different from my first?

Hope you enjoyed!

Thanks

Kerry xoxo

Diary; The Anomaly/ Gender Scan and reveal #5

Its been a while since you've seen your baby now and trust me it feels like forever when you just want to see there face again and how much they've grown!

By this point i really just couldn't wait to find out exactly what i was having! such an exciting time now being able to plan what to buy and get an official name sorted. I was a lot more relaxed this time going into the maternity ward as I felt good even though its a big scan you aways want to think positive!

Not a lot was going on to be honest through my mind at this time aside from wanting to see my little baby again but as always waiting for your name to be called does make the wait feel so long.
I remember needing a wee because i had a full bladder when i didnt need to so i went and then obviously as i come out when my name was finally called and the sonographer and Karl were just stood staring at me...Talk about undated attention.

When we were in the room it was all a familiar sight as before and there my beautiful baby was, just bouncing around and being a proper trouble maker for the sonographer! Just would not stay still i was almost emabarresed because the baby had a mind of its own and kept kicking back every time the doppler was pushing down, baby has sass! along with making it very hard for them to make sure all was good we finally got there in the end and baby was fine... All looking good!

We were then asked if we wanted to know the gender to which we said YES! She wasn't too convinced we would find out because of how much of a pickle baby had been during the scan but obviously i am the mother to one proud baby because low and behold legs wide open and you could see everything and thats when i found out i was going to be a Mum to a baby BOY! I obviously was beyond excited!

Me and Karl then went to Southampton for the day because we had to wait for the evening to tell our families what were having. I decided on gender reveal cakes which were made by a friends mum and she did an amazing job!
And i needed to make the reveal online stand out even more so with the help of Karls sister i made a cute little photo out of the scans and other items!

Thanks for reading!

It was a quick one because I'm not feeling brilliant and i have a baby kicking on my bladder but regardless i hope you liked it!

Kerry xoxo

Websites

This will be a quick post to inform all you first time mummies about some amazing websites and apps i have used and read through since being pregnant!


http://www.emmasdiary.co.uk

http://community.babycentre.co.uk

http://www.whattoexpect.com/what-to-expect/landing-page.aspx

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/pregnancy-and-baby-care.aspx


Have a look through these and hopefully they will give you some advice on your pregnancy and the stages in which you are at!

Thanks

Kerry xoxo

Buying for Baby on a Budget

This post is going to be along the same lines as buying for yourself but focuses more on babies... some things may be repeated but thats because its just good advice! 

So as everyone has probably told you, babies are expensive and yes they sure will be; needing new clothes, bedding, feeding items and eventually toys your going to find yourself quickly spending those precious pounds so here are a few tips on saving some money!

Second hand clothes

I have trailed the internet to find myself baby clothes from second hand websites because believe it or not babies don't wear them for that long so half of the stuff being sold is actually as good as new! I managed to buy a bundle of baby clothes for £10.... and when i say bundle I honestly mean three large bags full of baby clothes! Make sure your being sensible about your choices and not just buying for the sake of it though, look out for basic baby grows and tops because babies will be changed many times a day. 

Clearance sections

When your in your local Boots check out the clearance sections, I managed to get my hands on a Tommy Tippie sterilising set for £10! Save a good £30 and that went straight into the baby fund (to buy more clothes obviously) You will be so surprised just how quickly stock can turn over, if you have friends who are in the retail business and work in a store that sales baby items ask them to keep a look out. 

Furniture

Baby cots, bouncers, moses baskets and travel systems (push chairs... car seats) can really rack up the price in your baby budget so think smart about it.... your baby might be your whole world but does he really need that £1000 cot bed from Mammas and Pappas? If you have your heart set on it see if you can either find it second hand or in another store which might sell it for less! Even better see if there are any Baby shows going on around your area... you might be able to get a great deal (will speak more about this next)

My Mum bless her has been talking to me about getting a moses basket and i couldn't justify spending £80 on something used for three months and before i knew it she has only found one on a Facebook selling page for £7... YES £7!! 

Also see if there are any independent stores around you, i went to one which is local to me and bought my travel system which is an iCandy and that cost about £600 where as buying from iCandy or other leading retailers would easily have been the other side of £900 and they sometimes have offers... we got our car seat with this deal included and it was only £30 and its a Maxi Cosy! We also managed to buy a cot bed from the same store which was near identical to one we had both fallen in love with in Mammas and Pappas for £300... saving about £700?  You do the maths guys!

Baby Shows

And lastly Baby shows! I had never been to one till I managed to win tickets through Emmas Diary to go to the Baby and Toddler Show (Thank you!) and i am so annoyed I didnt take any photos but it was so busy... I can always include items which i was given as freebies and links to stores which were there... but to continue companies from Mammas and Pappas - Cossatto - iCandy and SMA were at this show selling items for a great discount, we picked up a Snugglebundl for £33; not to mention i could of mentally spent a fortune and when it comes to baby no.2 i will defiantly be going to more shows to get some more incredible offers! Make sure you check these places out if you have also had your baby as they have so many stalls for toddlers too which makes me excited to go again. 

I hope this helps and if anyone wants a haul with my latest baby buys i can do it?

Thanks

Kerry xoxo

Pregnancy Wardrobe on a budget

Something I have noticed about being pregnant is your wardrobe is going to change a lot and everything (in my opinion) is expensive! Only a small amount of high street stores have a maternity section - NewLook, H&M, Peacocks and various other baby stores sell a line of maternity wear and not many of them have them in there stores which makes shopping for your bump quiet frustrating , so I have some tips for shopping for your baby bump on a budget!

Look online 

if you look at stores like eBay or Depop you can search for your second hand clothes and not all of them have been worn! I've bought a couple of pieces still with labels on at a quarter of the price!

If your on social media you might find some selling pages from people in your area selling clothes! I got a H&M coat for £10!!

Sales, sales, sales 

Check online or in stores for sales - I've noticed NewLook as a pretty quick turn over of maternity clothes!
Check the sale rails because you could be surprised.

Buy the staples 

Your only going to be dressing your bump for a short period of time so buy what I call 'staple' pieces such as basic tops, jeans, leggings and a jumper or maternity coat if your going to be pregnant over the colder months!


Borrow clothes 

If your lucky to have a friend of know someone who is pregnant see if you can borrow clothes, if they have a maternity dress and you need one for an occasion see if you can borrow it, saves you some pennies and you know it looks good because someone else has styled it.


I hope these points help if your looking for clothes!

Thanks

Kerry xoxo

Diary; The First Scan #4

Love At First Sight


The morning of the first scan I was extremely nervous! Just because your about to see the human your growing for the first ever time!

I remember this day was so busy because I was also going to Ascot and I was thinking i need to announce my pregnancy and then get myself ready for the Races, talk about a busy day!

So I remember going to the hospital and I was shaking and hyperventilating because I was so scared of what might happen; I'm pretty negative at the best of times so i was obviously thinking of everything wrong that could happen.
we went into the waiting room and i really needed a wee (and you need a bladder full for your scan) and they were running slightly late ... then i heard Miss Allen (HOLY HELL)

Going into the screening room and laying on the bed made it so real, The sonographer was lovely and he told me to get my belly out (not literally) and put the gel on; Oh it was SO COLD, and he put the 'Dopple thing' (Such a good medical term) on my tummy, with a lot of pressure, i thought he was going to squash the baby!
He was moving it around which can obviously also be seen on the scan is your tummy and i couldn't see anything - there was no baby in sight and for about 5 seconds my heart sank and i wanted to cry which is when he said "Thats your bladder" and he moved it slightly over and there was my little human! I fell in love and i grabbed Karls hand and cried, it was the most amazing thing i had ever seen, seeing your babies little features and hearing the heart beat is honestly one of the most amazing experiences and from that point is when IT GOT REAL!

Everything after that was routine and I was sent on my way, they don't really waste time.

So thats it basically, the scan is something which is very personal and I don't remember everything very clearly however I remember how I felt and I mean it when I say I fell in love.

Next I will write about my midwife appointments to this date - What to expect as now not a lot of baby stuff really happens until your gender/anomaly scan and the weeks after that (Big belly and HUGE kicks)

Thanks for reading!

Kerry xoxo

Essentials for a Summer time Bath!

Bath Time!

There is nothing more I love then a bath now! Especially with how hot is has been in the UK, I haven't been able to go a whole day without one as I seem to be really suffering with sweating (TMI sorry!) Plus its the perfect time to chill out and give yourself some personal time; whats even better is that if your far enough along in your pregnancy then you can see movements from the baby and it is incredible! 

So I thought i would share with you some items I love when it has come to bathing this summer time! 
Everyones different with there preferences but these are golden!   

So from the left :

• Aussie Repair Miracle Shampoo and Conditioner - I have found with being hot a lot I was wanting to wash my hair because it felt damaged by the sun and i don't like washing my hair everyday, I'm trying to wash it once every four days so when it comes to washing day my hair feels very dry and greasy from everyday life this combination really works and makes my hair feel incredible all over again - however i only use it once every four days, every day or two i think would leave a build up of product.

• Aussie No Rush Body Wash - This body wash reminds me of being on holiday and i don't know why!! Its very fresh and relaxing and I'm a sucker for Aussie! to be honest any shower wash will do but this is my favourite. 

• Radox Feel Pampered Bath Bubbles - OH WOW!!! So I love Radox, i used the muscle therapy one all the time when i was training and now i don't i missed using them and i couldn't find one i liked until this! This scent i can't really explain, it just smells very floral and fresh so when your having a soak i also feel like it is moisturising for your skin.

• Nivea Rich Moisture Creme - This was something I purchased as a one off but it will be a staple! Its great to use after shaving! so it works even when your not pregnant. The creme is very soft and quick so you don't have to worry about making sure you get a lather as from personal experiences the bigger i have got, the less i can move around and reaching my legs can be a struggle so even the smallest amount makes my skin feel so soft and i don't then need to moisturise when I am out the bath. ALSO this is great to use on your bump, my bump is so smooth because of using this which makes applying my bio oil after a real treat because i feel like i have really taken care of it.

• Femfresh - Not going to lie, I get hot in all areas, I'm taking precautions to make sure that I feel good and that means making sure EVERYTHING is good! a lot of people say online to be mindful of what product you use down there but this has caused me no issues and my confidence has boosted because I know that when i do sweat i can use this in the bath or shower and come out feeling Femfresh (Also the wipes are good too) Thats just the reality of being pregnant! 

• Dove Nourishing Oil - So this was something rather new to my routine, but Dove has always been something which has been a special guest. I find this is pretty good to use instead of the Nivea if I have had a rough day and I'm not feeling great i can apply it to my bump incase i fall asleep and forget my bio oil, this isn't a replacement as it doesn't do the same thing but for me it can be a quick fix - it is also very nourishing but i wouldn't advise using it whilst showering as it can get the bath slippery so take care! 

All were purchased in Superdrug and can be found in many highstreet shops in the UK! I put the closest links up for everyone to see!


Thanks

Kerry xoxo

Dressing the Bump - Outfit #1 Wedding

Wedding Time!

So its your first 'Do' since you found out your pregnant and I don't know about anyone else but I struggled getting an idea of what to wear to a wedding before i was pregnant, let alone during pregnancy but never the less I had a lovely lady lend me some dresses and one of them was perfect! 

Dressing up can seem like a chore, believe me when I say the phrase 'I can't be arsed' is used to its actual meaning; especially in the summer time and the last thing you want to do is get hot and bothered and put make up on so this is a simple outfit which worked well for me!

For this outfit i opted for:

• A Simple Blue dress from New Look Maternity Range - these fit so nicely around the bump and are really flattering. 
• Wedged heels! - OH I CANNOT STRESS, do not opt for stilettos just stick to wedges, there easy, flattering and your less likely to fall over which when your pregnant isn't good! 
• Simple jewellery  - I wore my standard items but dressing this dress up personally to yourself is easy!

Hope this helps anyone who is struggling to put together an outfit for a wedding but trust me I'm sure no matter what you look like you'll look beautiful.

Kerry xoxo

Dairy; Telling People #3 - The First Trimester

The worst weeks of my life!

So this is exactly as described; worst weeks of my life!! 

I found out i was pregnant at week 5 so from that point on till about week 11 I can honestly say I HATED EVERY MOMENT OF IT! and it sounds awful but i did! I won't sugar coat it for anyone! 

The internet

I remember doing a lot of reading about being pregnant on the internet which was probably the most stupid thing i had ever done because you read some really upsetting stories; you learn about the more negative aspects of pregnancy such as ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages which stressed me out and during the first 12 weeks you don't really want that so my first word of advice would be DO NOT GOOGLE SYMPTOMS, the likelihood is your going to be fine, your just growing a human and your body is changing, if something is really wrong call your doctor. 

Morning Sickness

I was lucky with my pregnancy because my Morning sickness was purely nausea which wasn't in the morning; it came at about 3pm in the afternoon and lasted until 6pm everyday which i think it probably just as bad as being sick because you just want to be after a while! The smell of food was a trigger, especially meat, i couldn't cook for weeks because i just couldn't handle the smell. 
Following from this came the food aversions! I used to eat sweet potatoes like they were going out of fashion, i loved them but when i got pregnant i just couldn't stomach eating them as they made me feel physically sick! then pasta, luckily i now enjoy it again but i was so upset when i couldn't eat it because it was one of my favourite things!

Tiredness

Tiredness is something i am still struggling with even whilst i type now! Its horrific! 
I found myself falling asleep as soon as i came home for about 2 hours then i would wake up and realise my entire evening had vanished before my eyes, not to mention with this came lack of motivation to go out and do any exercise! I used to train about three times a week if my shifts allowed me too and when i got pregnant i just couldn't get myself motivated to do anything - even a food shop was hassle and i didn't even want  bath because all i wanted to do was sleep! And till this day Baby is still draining my energy levels!

Hormones

So, hormones is going to be a small paragraph because i didn't actually suffer too badly - you obviously have your ups and downs and when i am up i am so happy but when i am down - oh deary me I have cried and cried over the smallest things like not finding something to wear! But something i have learnt is never feel bad for feeling so down about anything, at the end of the day you are growing a person and your hormones are flying around everywhere - you can't feel bad for becoming pregzilla! 

Body

And lastly - your body!! Its changing dramatically! this is a photo of me when i first found out i was pregnant and i was just under 10 stone - I've now safely put on 2 stone - but the process of your body becoming an oven means your going to notice your hips getting bigger and thicker and carrying a lot more water in your tummy which is something i couldn't accept as i obsess over how i look and i struggled with my body for years so getting myself to my goal weight and feeling fit to then find out I'm pregnant may sound selfish but it was really difficult to accept! 
Looking back at these photos i actually thought i was huge at 10 weeks and i really wasn't (stupid Kerry)
Now tho, i have the baby bump and i couldn't be happier knowing that even though i may struggle with baby weight I've created a healthy body for my baby to grow in and its actually quiet fun to dress up your bump!

Oh, man that was a long one and probably didnt make much sense but i hope you enjoyed just a hint of how i found my first trimester and now I'm into my second one i will write about it when i enter my third!

Next I will write about seeing my baby for the first time!

Thanks for reading!

Kerry xoxo

Dairy; Telling People #2 - Family, Friends and Work

We're PREGNANT!

So after the last story you can imagine it was a pretty strange time; we thought we would see the doctor on the Monday just to make sure it wasn't a mistake because you just didn't know, but I had to make an important call, to my line manager!

Working shifts on any day of the week meant that I needed to tell him I had to see the doctor but I didn't want anyone at work to know which was quiet awkward as i work in a team of people for about 11/12 hours a day you can't keep secrets easily or act normal if something is up! 

Telling him was the weirdest thing I have ever done; I think it went something along the lines of 'Hey, Guess what - Im pregnant; what do I do!' He took it really well as you would of thought and we had a chat and the rest work wise is history (Everyone is very excited for Baby Allen's arrival) 

On the same day I had also planned to see my parents and they didn't know and I wanted to tell them so badly but i didn't want to without Karl so I literally spent the whole afternoon like a grumpy teenager who didn't want to be around her parents purely because I couldn't keep a secret from them! Mum was also helping me find dresses for Ascot but at the time I knew I may need to size up so I just wasn't interested, I felt so rude, Im so sorry Mum! 

Anyway....Fast forward all the way to Monday to see the doctor, woke up nice and early and got myself an appointment for about 9:30, saw the doctor and he congratulated us and said book your first midwife appointment... LITERALLY it took about 5 minutes for the whole thing! I was expecting at least another test to be offered or anything but he said the tests are just as accurate as they have (FYI) 

Coming home was weird because i was going to spend the whole day on my own with my thoughts. 
I popped into town and went to Holland and Barratt and got myself some pregnancy tablets which are advised as your baby needs folic acid and lots of other vitamins to help them grow into healthy babies! And then I took my first ever bump photo! I thought that was big.... Oh no Kerry, If only you knew! 

Karl came home and decided there and then we are going to tell our parents. OH GOD! I was so scared I didn't know whether to cry or be sick; headed towards his parents first was so awkward and after being politely distracted by there dog Zara, Karl told them and I don't think I had ever seen them so surprised but they were so happy, then to my parents house when it was my turn to tell them. I remember my sister was in her room with her boyfriend and i was gathering them in the living room which was so obvious I had some big news the words 'Im Pregnant' came out and it hit me like a ton of bricks! The parents now knew and it wasn't a secret anymore we had actually just announced a new arrival was on the way! 
My sister won reaction of the night as she couldn't stop asking me if i was being serious or not with her hands over her mouth! It was great! 

Telling friends was something I was a bit worried about because i didn't want too many people to know so i told my closest friends who are also my training buddies as i wouldn't be able to train and i spent so much time with them and bottles of prossecco i couldn't not!  Plus it is always good having a support system, the first 12 weeks are so fragile if there was anything wrong you may need your girls!
One of my mates knew straight away as i hadn't been training she asked me a few days after I took my test and i didn't want to say yes over text so instead i waited to tell her in her car!? The other I told in the changing room after she had just come back from a month away travelling.

This was a bit long so i am going to end it there and then and just say for most of it you had to be there but it was the scariest thing i had ever done telling people I was pregnant but I am so lucky to have such a fabulous family and friend support system!

Next I will talk in rough about the first 12 weeks / Pre first scan. 

Thanks for reading!

Kerry xoxo 

Dairy; Where it all began #1 - Taking the Test

Taking The Test


I don't even know where to begin on this ABSOLUTE ROLLERCOASTER; So i guess i will start from day one. 

It was a typical Friday morning - i knew that the date meant something to me, of course it did because it was P-Day! Yes my body was so clockwork that I knew exactly what date and what time I would probably see mother natures arrival, but this time it was different.

You obviously think sometimes you get your dates wrong or she just wants to keep you on your toes. 

So a week goes by and you just know somethings not right, it got to the date i would of been done with mother nature and still nothing, so i left it till the following Friday and if she didn't come then it was test time! 

Me and my partner had spoken about the possibility of me being pregnant and as scary as it was we knew that we would handle whatever the result, Luckily we planned a day out in London that day which was great because it just calmed me down and we could just enjoy some time together.

So when we arrived I straight away i wanted a glass of wine because you just didn't know  if i could have a drink for the next 9 months, which sounds bad, I didn't actually drink a lot at all but that was optional, being pregnant meant for me no alcohol 
Afterwards through London we went, had some good food and drink and enjoyed the views.

When it came to home time we went to Boots and got ourselves a test, went home and decided there and then we would do it, looking back it ended up being quiet a funny reveal.

So there we were reading the instructions for this test post pee in the bathroom and i was so confused because there was a waiting timer, my other half thought it was a countdown! At this point it had been about 30 seconds (seemed like 30 hours) and i turned it round to show him and their it was PREGNANT in nice digital letters and i threw it into the sink and with a few choice words and i jumped back and could of fallen into the bath! My partner picked it up and saw it, we hugged, said some more choice words and from that point everything was going to change! 


I hope you enjoyed this short extract of my test story! Next will be about telling parents, work and friends! 

Thanks for reading,

Kerry xoxo

Meeting Mummy Allen

Hello and welcome to my blog!

My name is Kerry and I am a first time Mum expecting a Baby Boy due Christmas Eve 2016!

This blog is something I want to start as a hobby to inform first time mums or anyone about the ups and downs of pregnancy as I wish I had this when I first got pregnant!

My main focus will be about taking care of number one.... which is you as you are currently cooking your replacement, basically a happy Mummy means a happy pregnancy.

Ive been through a lot of ups and downs over the past 6 months and as i approach my third trimester i though this would be the perfect opportunity to start something which i have had experience with.
Obviously every pregnancy is different, everyone experiences different things and some glow, some don't. I certainly haven't.


So I hope this gives some good advice!


Thanks

Kerry xoxo


DISCLAIMER - This is from personal experience, i am not a professional in any pregnancy or baby area!!! (i did childcare but thats it)