Pregnancy, the good, the bad, the ugly

Pregnancy the good, the bad, the ugly 

First trimester 

So I have been pregnant and or breastfeeding for a full consecutive 4.5 years (since 2015) so I feel fully self qualified to write this blog (I am not a midwife this is purely a mum blog). Currently pregnant with baby no. 4 (I will have 3 under 4 in a matter of 13 weeks).

So here’s the thing not every mama will glow up! In fact most don’t I don’t even think I did with my first ( if you are going to glow it will be in your first pregnancy when your not bedraggled with kids hanging off you like a chimpanzee). Pregnancy is not pretty, we draw the short straw an the fellas get the easy ride don’t you think? Even from the moment of conception....

First things first about when them little two lines appear around 4-5 week comes the sickness - most girls get sickness and or nausea at least for the first 12 weeks (which isn’t pleasant).

However a select lucky few get hyperemesis gravidum which is serve sickness to the point where you can’t keep anything down, needing iv fluids, an getting prescribed lots drowsy & head ache fuelling medications! I suppose the only positive was that I lost a stone in the first 8 weeks.  If you are suffering with Hyperemesis don’t suffer in silence ask for help from friends and family with your other children or house chores (especially meal cooking), go to the doctors an or doctors get medication prescribed if need be change to different meds until you find the right combination that works for you an of course fluids when needed they are life savers literally! I’ve personally had it 3 times out of the 4 times an know how hard it can be there are a few Facebook support groups which are really helpful women who know what your going through & feeling your pain because people literally don’t understand (not even most doctors)! With the best will in the world if somebody else asked me if I have tried to eat little an often or maybe a ginger biscuit I could l literally throttle them! That just doesn’t cut it! 

The tiredness is something else especially those early weeks, good lord it’s like you’ve walked up snowden an back by 11am. I suppose it gets harder the more children you have as your work lord increases but as soon as the placenta is in place the tiredness does ease off which is good!! Rest when you can if you can or try an have early nights I know it can be challenging with other children. Who need you every waking moment of their day even if Daddy is there ...

That little fat stage 

That stage when you don’t look pregnant you just look like you’ve eaten to much over Christmas your like a festively plump turkey. Embrace it and enjoy the 9 months of no diets or calorie counting an the fact that you can eat the last of anything in the house without feeling guilty because it’s for the baby.

The second trimester 

CRAMP

I mean as if pregnancy wasn’t difficult as it is. A awful midnight wake up call, to your legs in agony, throwing yourself all over the bed in pain. ( Possibly one of the worst symptoms of the pregnancy sickness a little tip swimming helps with cramp if you swim every few days the water pressure helps believe me mine has reduced massively). Apprently tonic water helps too but it’s absolutely vile an it never worked for me. 

Not being able to get comfy 

It’s  really annoying getting into bed an not being able to get comfy taking ages to get to sleep with your restless crampy less an you’re other half snoozing away not a care in the world. Get the biggest pregnancy pillow you can find they are the best investment ever you can also use them after delivery for yourself an if your breastfeeding.

Sleep 

Well that actually brings me on to the next issue pregnancy insomnia - defo a real thing might be an aniexty issue might be a medical issue I’m not sure but it happeneds. Not helped by the fact baby is bouncing on the bladder which is not as strong as it used to be after having all these babies so there you are up an down a million times too the loo during the night tripping over your partners flip flops that they have left out but you can’t see (because you haven’t turned the bastard light on an wanna get back to sleep ASAP) ... the sleepless nights defo start before the babies born. - Pregnancy pillows can be boss for positioning and help you get a better nights sleep unfortunately you can’t be catheterising yourself so you will have to get up for a wee still but I’d defo invest in some sort of pregnancy pillow. 

Bumps getting bigger 

Now your bumps getting bigger use it to your advantage! If people offer you their seat take it! Your carrying a tiny human take the pressure of those toes. If people offer to carry your shopping bags, let you use the loo before them just graciously accept don’t be a martyr. 

Feeling baby move

You may feel baby move in the first trimester if you’ve had a baby before but mostly it’s the second trimester! Its very enjoyable time an now you can really bond with the little being in your tummy. Taking a bath an talking to your baby placing your hand on your tummy it may respond with little kicks. It’s nice for your partner to feel the baby move an begin their bond too!

Side note if you have hyperemesis the kicking may cause extra nausea so be wary an keep your repeat prescriptions.

Cravings 

Are great fun especially if you can send your partner out in the middle of the night to retrieve them (I mean you are growing their baby so it’s the least they can do)! Indulge mine is personally ice although that’s no good for my Peggy’s an thankfully lee only has to make the trip to the freezer for mine, not actually leave the house.

Third trimester 

Swolleness

Not a pretty sight but it happends to a lot of us especially in the hotter months however if it’s accompanied by headaches go an see your midwife or doc. Go for the loose fitting clothes, flip flops, slippers who cares your preggers an the need for comfort is essential.

Sex 

The elephant in the room, to do or not to do? Not for everyone in pregnancy & no not the prettiest, an you certainly won’t feel like or look like a play boy bunny. But sex perfectly safe unless your doctor or midwife has told you otherwise. As long as your happy an comfortable that’s all that matters. Of course if you don’t want to just tell your partner he will poke the baby an that will be the end of that conversation.(actually he will probably only believe you if it’s for first baby) 

Sex can be useful in the later stages of pregnancy to start off labour.

Hair 

Well you will look like you have come off a L’Oréal advert (if you can be bothered washing it)! All this fabulous new hair grows during pregnancy your hair will feel lovely an thick I suppose there is a few nice things that happen in pregnancy! 

Aniexty 

Whether your a first time mum or your a mum of 10 for most of us mum we get some sort of aniexty, it may be about the birth or how you will cope with your other kids when you get home. It may be that’s you’ve had multiple miscarriages or have had ivf an every moment of this pregnancy pregnancy is filled with aniexty. You may have had a still born babe or lost your baby on a neonatal unit or to SIDS. There so many reasons, I personally struggled massively with aniexty with baby no.2 I found CBT helped me a lot, I can’t recommend it enough.

Pregnancy is such a personal journey, it’s yours and your baby’s, nobody else’s (not even partners) so do what’s right for you! Lots of people love to shared their unsolicited opinions about how they think you should go about YOUR pregnancy. 

I have done lots of things differently this pregnancy I think just due to experience.

For example though, if you don’t want to have drugs through your labour that’s great if you do that’s also ok! You don’t get a medal at the end either way! 

If you choose to breastfeed great but equally if you choose to formula feed that’s ok as long as you and baby are good that’s all that matters. It’s all about what’s right for you an your baby only you can make that decision.

Tips for bringing labour on .... (after 37 weeks some are evidenced some are old wives tales) 

Ps I have no experience in this department as I’m a veteran in c-section mama. 

Sex

Nipple stimulation - hand expression or use the breast pump if you have one

Hot curry’s

Raspberry leaf tea

Yoga ball bouncing 

Acupuncture 

A sweep 

Exercise 

Pineapples 

Insta- @thedrapergirls