Pregnancy Archives - A Baby on Board blog

Your Period After Pregnancy: 5 Things No-one Tells You

Gillian — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 13:51:49 +0000

Oh, The Joy And Pain Of Your Period After Pregnancy… Just kidding! There’s not much joy when it comes to getting your period after pregnancy, is there? But your period after pregnancy is a whole world of pain, PMT and all the mood swings. The World Of Post-Pregnancy Body Weirdness Sound the Code Red, how your post-baby period can change is a surprise in itself. It’s one of the long list of weird things that happen to your body after pregnancy that no-one tells you about – from the night sweats that glue you to your sheets to the hormonal blues that leave you glummer than when your lovely thick pregnancy mane falls out. How Your Period Changes When You’ve Had A Baby Initially, your period always seems to turn up when you’re least expecting it after having a baby – there’s no fixed rule. It always seems to turn up either really early, when you’re in midst of the postpartum throes for some poor mums, or later on when you’re in sleep-deprivation hell. And it’s usually at the least convenient time to have a surprise visit from the painters and decorators. Doesn’t it take long enough to leave the house with small children without an emergency shop dash for tampons, wine and cake? I don’t know if it’s just me, but it’s a surprise every month when old Aunt Flo makes an appearance, isn’t it? You’d think after all these years I’d learn. And yes, I do use a cycle tracker, but still… I didn’t get mine back for two years after having each baby, mainly due to this, the fact I was breastfeeding long-term. I had one period two years after giving birth the first time, and then got pregnant the cycle after. So I had a long time of no periods, and it took two years to come back after my second baby, which was long enough for all the post-baby hormones to have settled down, meaning I was on a really even keel with my moods and most importantly my body. And then I got my period back and was spun into a hormonal hurricane of mood swings and bodily confusing stuff every month. I know this doesn’t affect everyone, but in a scientific poll of women – aka I mentioned my horrendous PMT this week on Instagram – so many people replied saying OMG ME TOO. But no-one ever really talks about it, do they? Five Things No-one Tells You About Your Period After Pregnancy: Your first period after giving birth is a mix of complicated emotions: Like a lot of people I spent a lot of my 20s hoping my period would turn up, then a lot of my 30s desperately hoping it wouldn’t. When trying and failing to get pregnant my period was such an unwelcome hammer blow to the gut, and a reminder of my own personal non-pregnant failure, and that kind of lingers. Now each month my period is a bittersweet reminder that there will be no more babies. The hormones might make you REALLY broody…I also get super, mega broody around ovulation which I know is the whole point of biology and all, but it’s confusing when with your practical head you’ve decided that you’re having no more babies, you’re done and it’s lovely to have some life back but then suddenly you’re looking longingly at tiny babygros and thinking couldn’t we just have one more…? Period pains can be a LOT worse after you’ve had children: It hurts so much more now. It’s almost a cruel trick – people told me labour was like period pains and it WASN’T, now period pains can be a lot like labour pains. Pass the max strength painkillers. And then you have the breast pain, bloating and lots of random side effects like feeling sick that I’m sure didn’t happen before. And feeling wiped out and wrung up and spun out. And all the rest. Periods after childbirth can also be a lot more bloody: Talk about surfing the crimson wave (thanks, Clueless!) Related – read my Lily Cup One review – I’ve been trying out the Lily Cup menstrual cup and I’ve found that that once you get used to it, then it’s great. But when it comes to your period after pregnancy, the big change is mainly: The MOOD SWINGS: PMT after having a baby – and all the hormonal emotions of before and during your period – seems about 100 times worse. At least. I’m not sure if it’s tiredness and sleep deprivation and all the constraints and responsibilities combined with all the everyday annoyances of parenting and LIFE, but I spend at least a couple of days every month feeling like I’m in an emotional wringer, swinging between hating everything and everyone, including myself, or in a echo-y chamber of annoyance and rage, or bursting into tears at even the slightest thing. Or all of the above. And then I realise why! I’m sure there must be something that makes it better, although I can’t take most hormonal contraception. Does anyone have any magic solutions? I’m sure if this happened to men there would be. I was prompted to write this post after reading this from the Girl Guides about ending period poverty, which they start off by saying ‘Let’s talk about periods!’ So here’s me talking about it. And here’s a virtual hug to everyone having their time of the month and you’re welcome at any time of the month to join me in my corner with all my emotions, and some cake. Interested in trying reusable period products? Read my Modibodi period pants review and Lily Cup One period cup review. P.S. I know I write this post about your period after pregnancy from a privileged and comfortable period place and that’s not where lots of women and girls in the UK are. So here’s a link to Bloody Good Period, a charity that campaigns to […]

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Trying For A Baby: 12 Things No-one Tells You About Fertility Problems

Gillian — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 15:44:12 +0000

What No-one Tells You About Fertility Problems There’s a lot of chat about pregnancy and babies, but what about when you don’t get pregnant? Here’s what no-one tells you about fertility problems. When You Try For A Baby But Don’t Get Pregnant And NO, this isn’t a surprise pregnancy announcement or a stealth hint that we’re trying for a third baby (don’t get too excited, mum!). One of the things that struck me recently is that although more and more people are talking about fertility issues, there is still a lot of silence about when you don’t get pregnant. And I realise that as someone with two children, it doesn’t look like we would have had any issues. But one of the things that struck me so much at the time we were having fertility issues was that I felt like we were the only ones, which I’ve found out since couldn’t be further from the truth. Trying For A Baby: Our Experience With Fertility Problems I knew I wanted children, but always at some point…way off in the future…after we were married…then after we’d bought a flat…then when I was done with drinks after work and lie-ins having a social life and guilt-free trips around Topshop. Then I hit 30 and it was like a switch had been flicked. All of a sudden, I really wanted a baby. But my husband didn’t, not quite yet. And by the time he felt vaguely ready, I was really really ready, and had read a lot about it already, so we didn’t start off from a relaxed, ‘let’s see what happens!’ point. But even then, nothing happened. Facing fertility issues – when you don’t become pregnant… And nothing continued to happen. We tried everything. There were a lot of tears before bedtime and and negative tests. And a lot of just, well, nothing. We were, in hindsight, incredibly lucky. Even though it felt like forever, it didn’t take other as long as people we know, and in the end we lucked out with a really good doctor, and only needed minimal intervention, especially compared to other people we know. But it still remains in my mind as the greyest time, one which had all the complicated emotions. So here are all the things that no-one ever tells you about trying for a baby, when you don’t get pregnant: You don’t really expect to get pregnant the first month (but you’re disappointed when you don’t): The first month is fun, a test run really, but when you’re brought up on a diet of teenage magazines telling you to never, ever have unprotected sex as you will definitely, absolutely get pregnant it sticks in your mind that when you’re actually, actively ditching the birth control and *going for it* them, bam! You’ll get pregnant straight away. We didn’t, obviously, get pregnant the first month. I also learned a lot of facts about fertility really quickly (why don’t they tell you this in teenage magazines?) Everyone thinks TTC is exciting, but: You don’t get pregnant the first month, fine. The second month, oh… OK. Then the third month…?! When you keep getting negative tests and a nagging, growing sense that something’s catastrophically wrong, definitely with you, it’s not exciting and it’s not fun. It feels like you’re stuck in a space where you’ve left behind your old life, but you’re never quite at the new one. There’s a lot of peeing on sticks, and you quickly learn all the tricks: It’s not just pregnancy tests for you to wee on, there are also ovulation sticks. Then there’s temperature charting and cycle tracking and identifying which one is the most fertile cervical mucus (sexy!). You read up on everything and know everything from when in the day to drink water and the best time to test, pretty quickly, because… It’s easy to fall down the fertility rabbit hole: Once you start researching, and really taking an interest, it’s so so easy to become obsessed. And I was obsessed. I spent hours combing through message boards for hints, tips, tricks, anything. My commute was dedicated to reading the entire fertility-related internet and most other times to agonising soul-searching about it all. We tried everything from months of fertility acupuncture (which I loved and would totally recommend, but I still wasn’t pregnant) to various ridiculous diets that involved eating food at various cycle points (avocado toast obsessives, I was way ahead of you!). Your life gets sectioned up each month: Starting with the letdown of day one of your cycle, then there’s the waiting, right times to try, more waiting and guessing and you’re back to day one. All tinged with anticipation and hope and disappointment. And anguish. Sex becomes really routine.. .Having a lot of sex is great, but when it’s your wife manically texting you ‘you need to come home NOW, I’m ovulating soon!’ it does put a dampener on it slightly. I imagine *side eye*. Everyone else around you is suddenly pregnant: There must be some kind of natural law that states when you really, really want a baby, everyone else will suddenly be pregnant. Which is lovely, but it’s a constant reminder that they’re in the club you can’t get on the list for. I worked in an open plan office and at one point there were about four pregnant women within view. It really stung. Talking about fertility problems helps… There’s a LOT of secrecy about trying for a baby. You’d often find me sneaking around the Boots near work, buying ovulation kits and pre-natal vits in bulk while looking around furtively to check my boss wasn’t behind me with a meal deal. People don’t, as rule, talk about pregnancy till the 12 week mark, so telling people you’re even trying is out of the question. But it really, really helps. However, people will say the wrong thing when you’re trying for a baby: Like ‘You’ll just have to face up to […]

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Should Pregnant Women Be Given Seats On Public Transport? The #ExpectingChange Campaign

Gillian — Sun, 08 Jul 2018 18:27:02 +0000

(Sponsored content) What was your experience of public transport like, when you were pregnant? Did you find people were quick to offer you a seat, or did you suddenly become curiously invisible – despite a very obvious bump? Did you ever pluck up the courage to ask for a seat when you had a baby on board? Let’s face it, public transport can be a nightmare at the best of times. It’s hot, cramped and you just want to get to where you’re going as soon as you can, with as little eye contact as humanly possible. If you have disabilities it can be inaccessible and you often have to stand if people don’t see you – to the extent that one woman wants commuters to ‘look up’ to see if anyone disabled needs a seat. And if you’re pregnant, where you could feel completely brilliant, but could also feel exhausted, heavy and uncomfortable, it’s no walk in the park if you don’t have a seat. Like a lot of people who commute to work or regularly use public transport, my experience was mixed – some positives, when people offered seats, but some horror stories, like when I had to stand for 30 minutes on a packed and delayed train, at 8.5 exhausted months, where everyone suddenly looked the other way. Or many times of getting onto busy packed buses with a big bump and a toddler and no-one moved an inch. And sadly most mums and pregnant women seem to share similar stories. Mama Mio and the #Expecting Change campaign Last week we headed over to a very special afternoon tea with a park full of brilliant bloggers, vloggers and influencers for an event with pregnancy skincare brand Mama Mio and Mumsnet, to launch a campaign that will, hopefully, change things for pregnant women moving forward. Mama Mio believe that all expectant mums should have the right to a seat on public transport, if they want it, hence the launch of their #ExpectingChange campaign, to provide a platform to discuss public transport etiquette, encouraging people to offer their seats to pregnant women and empowering expectant mums to ask for a seat should they wish. It’s easy to blame the lack of seat-offering on tube tunnel vision, people in seats being engrossed in the free papers or their phones, or being scared to offend people they’re not entirely sure are pregnant. However, Mama Mio’s research found this isn’t always the case and only 60% of people believe it’s necessary to give up a seat for a pregnant woman on public transport and only 2% of people think women need seats in the first trimester. One of the things that really stuck out for me is when Anna mentioned that it was pointed out to her that having a seat is to protect your baby – you might be dizzy and off-balance, trains and buses can stop suddenly and you might fall over. So it’s much safer for your baby if you’re sitting. I asked for people’s experiences, and here are the results: My blog was named after the ‘Baby on Board’ badges given to pregnant women on public transport (here’s how to get a baby on board badge, if you want one) and it’s a topic I’ve written about before. However, following the Mama Mio event I asked on my Instagram account for people’s experiences, and here are some of the key themes that people mentioned: Everyone has a public transport pregnancy horror story: It’s depressingly familiar. Only one person had an overwhelmingly positive experience of people offering seats (which is great – and should be the same for everyone!) People don’t like to ask for a seat: I never did! I felt too embarrassed to speak up. However, a couple of people mentioned that they’d asked and people said no, or were shamed by other passengers for asking. How horrible? Don’t forget about second-time mums! One thing that came up a few times, that I experienced too, was that people seemed more reluctant to offer seats to pregnant women with other children. It’s as if they think you can cope, despite your need probably being greater (you’re balancing you, your other child and in all likelihood, you’re far more tired second-time with no naps on demand or any of that first-time pregnant luxury!). You still need the seat when you’ve had the baby: The seat offering – however limited – stops once you’ve had the baby. But you still might have the need for a seat – to feed the baby, hold them if they’re crying, or just because it’s trickier to balance with a baby carrier. And you still need it when you have a toddler! It’s very rare for people to offer seats to children, but they are often less steady on their feet and not yet able to judge when the train will brake. I’m often physically carrying Florence, which makes for a tricky train balancing act. What do you think of the campaign? I think it’s fantastic and that all people who need seats should be given to them, and hopefully talking about this will make people more aware. But for starters, let’s make sure we watch out for people who need seats, and if our need is lesser, offer them up to help people who would benefit more. Thanks to Mama Mio and Mumsnet for working with us on this post…leave a comment and let me know what your experiences were like – were you given seats, or did people ignore you? Did you ever ask? I’d love to know! Here are some tips on using public transport with a pram

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There’s no ‘right’ way to be pregnant

Gillian — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 04:45:54 +0000

Beyoncé is pregnant, with twins! Finally, some happy news in this horrible news season. She announced it on Instagram with a glorious photo that was brilliant and ever-so-slightly bonkers, in the best way. I’m sure you’ve seen it, along with millions of other people. Lovely, right? But wait, what’s that? ‘Hey Beyonce, as a mum of four let me tell you this isn’t what pregnancy looks like’ wrote Rosie Millard in this article in The Independent, objecting to the photo as being an unrealistic portrayal of what it’s like to grow a baby, adding that Beyonce’s Instagram ‘has only gone down well with people who have no idea what it’s like to actually BE preggers.’ She then goes on to ask: ‘Where is the exhausted, haggard face? Where is the acne, where are the stretchmarks, where is the hopeless hair with grey roots showing (hair dye is frowned upon during pregnancy)? Where is the undefined bump which actually looks a bit like, well very like, a fat stomach?’ The politics of policing other women’s bodies aside. I don’t want to make a sweeping generalisation here – unlike the author – but I’m going to guess that she didn’t have a great time of being pregnant. But fails to have grasped that, shocker, everyone and every pregnancy is different. Every woman is different, every pregnancy is different. Each trimester is different. Even every day of pregnancy can differ – with a whole spectrum of emotions and symptoms that range from top-of-the-world elation through to wracking sobs set off by something, anything, by way of wretched waves of nausea if you even so much as see a tomato – true story – all in the same day. All in the same hour, even. And there’s no one way to look or be pregnant, good or bad. You might look terrible, you might look great. Lots of it is great, some of it is awful – it’s a sliding scale for everyone. But it’s OK to feel however you want to feel; often, it’s whatever gets you through the nine and a half months. Want to announce it’s your pregnancy with a photoshoot looking fabulous? Why shouldn’t you! It’s not an illness. Want to dye your hair and wear a full face of make-up? Sure – it’s actually OK to dye your hair during pregnancy. Want to hibernate at home in pyjamas? Why not? I always feel slightly odd admitting that but I really loved pregnancy, first and second time. I didn’t love it all, or feel fantastic for all of it, and I’m never quite sure how much my feelings are viewed through the rosy tinted benefit of hindsight, but despite scares and extra scans and appointment after appointment, I feel overwhelmingly positive about pregnancy when I look back and I don’t identify with much, if any, of The Independent article. But this is my pregnancy truth; tell me yours. The best way to be pregnant is the way that means you are OK and the baby is OK (and obviously for lots of people it’s not even that simple). Parenting is a minefield of judgement about many things, starting in pregnancy when your body can be a target from unwanted, unwieldy hands trying to touch your bump as well as many comments aimed in your direction (I still remember, unfondly, the woman in the bank who told me I was huge). So instead, perhaps we should concentrate more on the best way to behave towards other pregnant women, starting by not policing their bodies and telling them how to be pregnant. Hands off the bump; figuratively and literally. P.S. Just found out you’re pregnant…? (Not me!) But read this if you are. Also, how to get a baby on board badge,

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Just Found Out You’re Pregnant…? Read This!

Gillian — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 22:17:26 +0000

Have You Found Out You’re Pregnant…? Make Sure You Read This Post! Just found out you’re pregnant? I know this is the most popular time for people to find out about pregnancies and lots of people come by looking for pregnancy information. So hello! If You’ve Just Found Out That You Are Pregnant, Read These Posts For everyone who is pregnant or those who think you might have early pregnancy symptoms – eeek – here’s all my favourite and most useful posts about pregnancy and birth: And early pregnant checklist. One of my favourite posts *ever*, 24 things they don’t tell you in NCT classes, but *definitely* should (this list grows by the day…) If you’re pregnant and commute, here’s how to get a Baby on Board badge (but would you wear one?) I loved reading pregnancy diaries when I was expecting, so here’s all my week-by-week pregnancy diary posts with baby one and baby two. Cravings, rage and inappropriate comments feature heavily…which brings me on to: How *not* to speak to pregnant women – a handy guide (I still have haven’t forgiven the woman in the bank). Here’s what no-one ever tells you about pregnancy and what no-one ever tells you about the third trimester. Also 19 pieces of advice to myself, on the eve of giving birth…. …plus pregnancy life hacks to make what can be a tricky time that little bit easier. And if you love reading birth stories, here’s Eliza’s induction birth story and Florence’s speedy second delivery birth story. And If You’ve Just Found Out You’re Pregnant Again, Here Are All My Favourite Posts About Second Pregnancies. It’s not as easy the second-time-round – much less nap potential, sadly – here’s some unavoidable truths about pregnancy when you have a toddler Here’s how to tell the toddler about a new baby and things to do before the second baby arrives. Are you a future mum of two? Here’s my (non) advice. And further down the line, here’s all the things I love about being a mum of two and life with two children? What other mothers never tell you.

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Strange things I loved about pregnancy

Gillian — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 05:10:40 +0000

Strange things I loved about pregnancy…What strange things did you love about being pregnant? I have to say, now I’m not pregnant, the whole things seems strange looking back. It’s so all consuming at the time that when you’re in it it’s hard to imagine anything else. Then when you’re not… Strange things I loved about pregnancy: Writing about being pregnant – sounds slightly meta, but I loved writing about pregnancy (read all my first pregnancy and second pregnancy posts). Mainly because now my baby brained memory still hasn’t returned, it enables me to remember things I would otherwise have forgotten (except for you, rude lady in the bank) Pregnancy superpowers – I still think pregnancy makes you like a superhero. Who doesn’t love superhuman sense of smell or the ability to replicate? Anyone? Oh, the pregnancy rage – my pregnancy rollercoaster of emotions second time round was a ragey one, especially at 27 weeks pregnant. But the great thing about being with child means people can’t actually disagree with you. I’ve still not lost the post-pregnancy rage now, due to a combination of being tired on top of being really tired, it’s just now everyone thinks I am being unreasonable (I know!) Pregnancy hair – everyone loves that shiny, thick mane of pregnancy hair, don’t they? But one of the lesser-known side effects is that mine rarely needed washing (I probably could have left it for aaages). Which is great when you’re too tired to lift your straighteners. Strange things I loved about pregnancy…actually being pregnant – OK, so I think I’m in a minority in that I actually enjoyed being pregnant (despite the not drinking, extreme tiredness, sickness, spending all my time in the hospital aspects). It’s not so much strange, as pretty magical, if you think about it. I do kind of miss it. Is that strange though? Very possibly… More posts…Eliza’s induction birth story and Florence’s birth story, and advice to my pre-pregnant self on the eve of giving birth and pregnancy life hacks and follow me, gill_crawshaw on Instagram

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Crying over spilt milk

Gillian — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 04:00:04 +0000

OK, it’s finally happened. I have descended into a parody version of motherhood after adverts made me cry, twice, in a minute. The first one was for my bank, of all things. The last time my bank made me emotional was when one of its employees said I was fat (I’ve still not forgotten that, lady). But the bank advert is soundtracked by a song I listened to all the time when I was pregnant and ended up being on my accidental labour playlist, so it’s entwined like a vine around all my memories of the baby. My chest was still tight two adverts later, when there was an ad with one of her older sister’s bedtime songs. My husband, who is built of solid Yorkshire stock, would have undoubtedly rolled his eyes at me if he’d been there but the only person around was the baby, who gave me a quizzical look before scooting off to investigate the TV remote. I’ve always been a fairly emotional person (love this quote from Tina Fey about work environments ‘if you’re so mad you could cry, then cry. It terrifies everyone.’ ) But now most things bring a tear to my eye, from my children doing something amazing or really everyday, songs in the shop, speeches, rousing things, random bits on TV and those moments of clarity where it’s all really normal but perfect. Nearly nine months down the line, I’m not sure I can blame pregnancy hormones any more for making me so tired and emotional. Can we blame sleep deprivation? I reckon so, especially for the tired part. But still, crying at adverts…is everyone this emotional after they have children? There’ll be tears before bedtime, I tell you.

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We need to talk about the post-pregnancy rage…

Gillian — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 08:08:46 +0000

We *really* need to talk about the post-pregnancy rage… Warning: contains mildly cross content… The trip on the post-partum emotional roller coaster can be a bumpy ride, can’t it? There are so many highs and lows, often all at once. There’s the post-birth elation and exhaustion, then the tired and tearful joys starting on day three, when your milk rocks up and the feel-good pregnancy hormones vacate your sleep-deprived body faster than a sprinter on steroids. But what took me by surprise was the post-pregnancy rage. That just about everything, a few weeks in, made me really, really cross. Not the baby, of course – look at their tiny toes! So unbelievably cute etc etc – but most other things at some point. The severe lack of sleep, haywire hormones and the massive slap-in-the-face culture shock of having a baby knocked me off my calm axis. And it’s one of the many things that no-one ever tells you about. As a classic middle child, I’m the peacemaker who swerves to avoid head-on confrontation. But my irritation scale after birth ranged from mildly annoying mosquito in the room via full-on PMT and all the way up to Ross’s sandwich red flag of rage rage rage. Oh, the post-pregnancy rage. Someone woke the baby up? Other people had more than two hours sleep a night? My husband got to leave the house, go to work, drink hot drinks whenever he felt like it and have a lunch hour without a small child attached to his boob 24/7, exactly like I always used to, didn’t want to do now, but couldn’t even if I did? Raaah. I never did anything as mature as air my non-issues in an attempt to knock them on the head. Instead I was teeming with silent simmering rage. I thought this was just me, for ages, until I mentioned it to other mums. And with hindsight it is a definite thing, I think. What about second time round? I had a fairly relaxed but occasionally prickly pregnancy (although these are all irritating things, right?) Post-birth I was much more mellow and flat-out thrilled for ages. Everything felt back to normal much quicker. But then the sleep deprivation hit me like a tonne of bricks a few months in. And this time my post-baby rage seems channeled into an ongoing, hair-in-the-face level of irritation. Including, but not limited to: * Delivery men who ring the doorbell…with a delivery for someone else * Various people who knock the door for no reason during the day * The local shop being out of the particularly good kind of sourdough bread * Unsolicited parenting advice * People daring to tell me I’m being irrational * Who am I kidding? Most things. Women aren’t supposed to be angry, are we? It’s messy, unfeminine and doesn’t sit prettily in a neat package of acceptable emotions. Headline news, “It’s all over the front page, you give me road raaaaage” trilled Catatonia over 90s retro FM in my local shop the other day. I hate feeling tired and grumpy with a really short fuse, but I reckon long term lack of sleep rewires your brain and removes reason and sense. And then everyone expects you to function like a normal, rational person? How exactly? Arghhhh. There’s a whole range of pregnancy afterward symptoms that people don’t really talk about (like the week one night sweats! No-one ever mentions those, either). And like during pregnancy, where there’s so much going on that everything is a symptom, affecting everyone in different degrees, maybe there’s just so much post-natal weirdness that it’s hard to sift it all out and pin it down. But yep, the rage. It’s normal, I think (isn’t it? Tell me, I won’t get cross. Honestly). More posts…if baby milestone cards were made for mums and things they don’t tell you in NCT classes and a SnuzPod review

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We’re MAD Blog Award finalists! Nine reasons to vote for us…

Gillian — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 22:00:21 +0000

I interrupt these ongoing baby rambles to bring you the news that…we are finalists in the 2015 MAD Blog Awards in the best pregnancy blog category. Cue crazy faces and baby-faced selfies. I’m completely thrilled and amazed; the biggest of thank yous to everyone who nominated us. My blog is a labour of love and it means so much, especially as there’s so many brilliant blogs in the list and so many nominations were made. The voting in the finals is now open and it’s probably not a massive surprise that I would love your vote in the best pregnancy blog category. But why? I just wanted to put together a quick recap of all things pregnancy, for if you’re new to my blog, or if you’re even slightly as baby brained as me. So here’s nine things about pregnancy and having A Baby on Board… 1) Pregnancy is a time of such wonderful weirdness. Second-time-round I tried to capture everything from my 12 week pregnancy announcement through to birth and beyond (here’s a full recap of my weekly baby two and pregnancy posts) 2) It’s a roller coaster of emotions and oh baby, I had them all. Everything from the utter joy and amazement of the positive test and wonder of the first kicks and scans, through to transport and cake-induced rage and a healthy dose of second-baby denial. And all the bumps along the way 3) And, of course, there were the cravings – brie, prosecco, cold beer outside a Soho pub, anyone? – and the crazy nesting impulses that made me de-wallpaper our house and have my husband assemble the cot at 10pm 4) But the thing with pregnancy is there is so much that people don’t mention. Leg cramps, intense dreams, and that thing that happens to your bellybutton. So I wrote about the things no-one ever tells you about pregnancy, and the things no-one ever tells you about the third trimester (such a glamorous time, isn’t it?) 5) I also wrote about my various medical complications, worry at being high risk, growth scares, birth choices and birth plans. Also, some tips for entertaining toddlers in hospital waiting rooms… 6) Speaking of toddlers…here’s how we told Eliza the news of her impending big sisterdom and all of our pre-baby plans 7) And speaking of speaking, why is it people somehow totally lose all sense when talking to you? Here’s what NOT to say to a pregnant woman (I’m still holding a grudge against you, tactless lady in the bank) 8) Some quick tips and pregnancy life hacks. For everyone who uses public transport, how to get a baby on board badge. My quest for the perfect maternity jeans and picking maternity dresses. All my pregnancy essentials 9) But more than anything, I hope I conveyed how much I loved being pregnant and had such a positive experience overall. Once that second trimester energy finally kicked in I felt like an invincible pregnancy superhero (don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t paint a radiator at 39 weeks). Sure, it’s beyond exhausting, you can’t drink booze or any of the good cheese and you don’t get a rest this time, but you’re making a new life. And at the risk of sounding ever-so-slightly sentimental and nausea-inducing, it doesn’t get much more magical than that. And because everyone who’s tried to work out the maths through a pregnancy-hormone addled brain knows, it’s not actually nine months…so here’s another half: 9.5) For the 96% who have had the agony of being overdue, here’s some slightly alternative ways to induce labour. Not a pineapple in sight. Voting the in the 2015 MAD Awards is open and I’d love your vote for best pregnancy blog. Vote here. Thank you! **End of transmission** And of course it doesn’t stop there, here’s some post-pregnancy posts on ten truths about life with a baby, what it’s like with two children and some positive non-advice for future mums of two…

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Mother’s ruin; a guide to the horrors of the post-pregnancy hangover

Gillian — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 19:00:07 +0000

Mother’s ruin…here’s a guide to the horrors of the post-pregnancy hangover… The post-pregnancy hangover…a guide Oh, the whole world of pain that is the post-pregnancy hangover… After years of practice throughout my teens and twenties, I thought I knew hangovers. Ha! I was wrong. One of the less well-known pregnancy side effects is that you turn into a massive lightweight, due to sitting out of the drinking game for a good few rounds at least. And one who’s had no sleep in months on top of that. So when the occasional occasion for after-birth drinking happens – wedding, long-organised night out of freeeeeedom – before you know it the cold light of day is tapping repeatedly on your tired and emotional head, saying “Wake up, mummy!” All of these will probably happen: Surprise! Despite weeks of post-7am lie-ins there will be a super, special, extra early start. Guaranteed You’ll be unable to lift your head from the pillow without the room spinning. They’ll be raring to go from the minute their eyes open The emergency iPad of early morning distraction will be on 0% battery Despite being unable to take even a sideways glance at a glass of water, you’ll have to make and clear up breakfast Sensing your delicate state and desire to just lie on the sofa in a pool of your own regret, your children will go easy on you. As if! It’ll be “Let’s do bouncing!” Or, treating you as a human climbing frame. What’s it like, the first hangover back? Like your head is under the Jumperoo with a particularly energetic occupant bouncing off your forehead Getting trapped in the world’s worst soft play, only worse, with no chance of escape, ever Being in a small shop that sells all the noise-making toys in the world, and they’re all making a noise all at once, on infinite repeat. So what you can do? Well, the chances of your baby wanting to go for a relaxing, quiet afternoon at the pub while you read the papers in peace are slim to none (especially if you also have a toddler). So if you can, wangle a weekend lie-in. Then it’s just a case of hanging on, until bedtime. And pray it goes quickly. Things that are worse than a post-baby hangover: Being stuck in a taxi in stop-start London Sunday traffic on the way home from a wedding, on a road with speed bumps every metre, with two very vocal children and your first massive hangover since having the baby (that was my weekend, how was yours?) Not much else It’s fair to say this newishly post-pregnant mum is never drinking again. Ever. Stop sniggering there at the back. I mean it, this time. A Baby on Board has been shortlisted in the best pregnancy blog category in the 2015 MAD Blog Awards; thank you so much for the support! You can vote for us here x. More posts: the first six months of a new baby, notes from a neurotic first-time motherhood and baby milestone cards…for mums

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