Well, i'm still pregnant which makes me so sad because i am now 41 + 3 an i cannot believe the baby hasn't arrived yet!
During the Christmas period i had the best time but it was also not celebrated how we wanted as we were waiting for the arrival... turns out that wasn't the case!
So after a quiet end of the year we come into 2017 still baby-less!
I have now been subject to two sweeps which are the most uncomfortable thing i have ever experienced in my life and my induction has been booked!
From reading the leaflet it seems straight forward but i am absolutely petrified now! I have spent the past 41 weeks waiting for this moment and suddenly its dawned on me i am going to have a baby by the weekend... I hope!
But as i am coming to the end of my pregnancy I thought it would be a nice idea to change up my blog and now focus on being a Mum and how I can save money and sharing this with everyone!
Lets see how it goes!
Thanks
Kerry
Showing posts with label Online Advice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Online Advice. Show all posts
Tuesday, 3 January 2017
Tuesday, 11 October 2016
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
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!
So I thought I would share with you 7 things which have helped me get out of my slum!
- 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!
- 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!
- 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!
- 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!
- 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...
- 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.
- 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
Tuesday, 4 October 2016
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
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.
- You no longer have control of your bladder - its now a baby toy!
- Morning sickness doesn't always happen in the morning and your not always sick - 5-8pm like clockwork from week 5 to week 16!
- 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!
- 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!
- 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!
- 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)
- 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!
- 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!
- 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!
- 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
Sunday, 25 September 2016
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
Saturday, 10 September 2016
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
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
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