A mum's love...

Baby scientists....

I was introduced to a fantastic group at Birkbeck College, London University; The Babylab.

They undertake research into understanding how babies brains develop and how they make sense of the world.

My A-Z of pregnancy : J-O

J is for jabs
Flu jab, whooping cough, blood samples you name it, medics love poking, prodding, jabbing you when pregnant.

The good news is they don't hurt and are over and done with quickly.

if you are nervous just let the nurse know and look in the opposite direction.

Also do your research regards extra jabs offered. On my birth board there are conflicting views about whether or not to have the flu and whooping cough jabs. Personally I'm grateful to live in a country where  we get these jabs for free....women in other parts of the world would do anything for these vaccinations..

Could be worse....

K is for Kegel exercises
Also known as pelvic floor exercises...your pelvic floor is like a hammock and the stronger it is, the less chance of leaking urine and better control you'll have during delivery. Also you'll have a better feeling when it comes to nookie post birth. Imagine trying to hold your wee, that's how you exercise them...do fats ones and slow ones. Your fanny will thank you...well it won't as it can't speak, but if it could chat it would say ta love!

NHS info on kegel excercises

L is for listening
To your baby's heartbeat at midwife appointments, to your gut, to wise people, to music...whatever you choose, listening helped me to learn a lot about myself, people around me and my bubs.




M is for mother
I still get slightly freaked by the idea of someone calling me mum! It's got me re-evaluating my relationship with my own mother and my upbringing. You may find it raises some issues which have been quietly resting in the little corner in the back of your mind. That's a good thing in my view...shows you're thoughtful and taking this journey seriously.

Who knows what kind of mum I'll be...? A good enough one hopefully....



N is for nipples
They change. Bigger, in your face, firmer, longer, darker, more sensitive however you wish to phrase it, they seem to take on a life of their own. They also leak...mine haven't done yet.

A Siberian stripper would be proud of mine at the moment!

They could double as lock picks or coat hangers...but that would be painful...and weird...albeit functional!

The fact is pregnancy is a reminder our bosoms serve a purpose....your fella may need reminding of that fact!


O is for orgasm
My bestie and her fella were at it all the way through pregnancy. I can't remember the last time I had sex, but I recall the sensitivity was so heightened it was painful....and then i bled. My Doctors orders were no more nookie til bubs arrives....

But hey if you can still swing from the chandeliers go for it...it's also a fun way to kick start labour!

My A-Z of pregnancy..... A-I

I thought I'd share my A-Z of pregnancy. The highs the lows and the frankly bizarre things no-one explains! Feel free to comment or add your own thoughts or A-Z's!

A is for Advice

You'll find that pregnancy brings out the agony aunt / uncle in people. Suddenly everyone wants to share their pearls of wisdom with you. It's as though your unborn child has become communal property with everyone from Aunt Maude to a random stranger in a lift or on the tube advising you or sharing their birth stories...word of warning avoid the war tales, it just won't help you. I firmly believe women who insist on telling you how awful their pregnancy / labour was should be issued with a liberal amount of masking tape or simply told - "I think this is one for your counsellor - not me"

By all means hear people out but don't be bullied into doing things other peoples' way - it's your baby. As i had to explain to my mother, you had three children. You've had your go. let me raise my first my way thanks!



B is for 'a Baby'...

That's my response when people ask if i know what i'm having. Yes, it's a bit childish, but I don't want to know the gender and if i did know, i'd have told you long before you needed to ask. So there. I'm not really a meanie....I save this response for people who fall into 'A' above.


C is for Confidence
I have found that becoming pregnant has given me  greater sense of self worth and confidence. I'm better able to put my foot down, to articulate my needs and to just let stuff go. If I want my child to have confidence, I'll need to model it myself. It was quite a strange sensation to hear the word "no" silently slip from my mouth rather than OK then, when my boss asked if i was free to carry out yet another favour that he could have done himself.

It was liberating telling off a bloke who let a woman get up and offer her seat when he was trying to avoid my gaze sitting in the preggers seat.

Most importantly it's satisfying knowing my child will expereince a mother who is willing to stand up for herself as well as her family.

People generally respect you more for it. Should've done this years ago!


Give it a go!



D is for Diabetes
I've been struck with gestational diabetes and have to take my blood sugars four times a day which has now reduced to three times a day. It's due to my body being unable to manage with the extra demands of carrying Beanie and not making enough insulin, so to ensure i don't have too much sugar going over to beanie I need to watch my carbs and sugars.

Midwives in my expereince were keen to scare me into testing, with stories of worst case scenarios. Arm yourself with the facts, try not to panic as upset hormones won't do you or bubs any good.

Oh and you're likely to become mega thirsty! I get through a pint and a half of water during the night alone!

NHS info on Gestational Diabetes


E is for Envy
Ahhh, yes....one of the deadly sins. It 's sad to say but you may notice a number of people become envious when they learn you're pregnant. We got pregnant within eight weeks of trying. If this was boradcast to people who have been trying a long time, it would feel like a smack in the teeth. Other people seem envious when they already have what you have...which never made sense to me.

Some people feel threatened that the limelight will move away from them. Others would like the chnace to be a parent to a baby all over again...whatever the reason remember it's their issue...not yours. Wish them well in your mind and don't get sucked into the toxic nature of envy....step away from the crazies!

It's also a good lesson to share with your own kids later in life....




F is for Friendship
Pregnancy shows you who your friends are... it's a great time to share with people who are supportive. There are people I've distanced myself from...purely because I've had to think about who i want to influence my child. It may sound harsh but why would I associate with someone who is mean spirited and have that affect my family?

My bestie is my absolute rock and has just had her first child. By the time she told me she was pregnant i was a week pregnant and didn't realise! We've gone through this journey for the first time together which has been a real privlege and to know my mate who i've been chums with for over 25 years will be in my childs life is amazing.

Nice people rock. Surround yourself with them!



G is for Gravity
Gravity so I'm told is my best friend. Plenty of walking, bouncing on brithing ball anything to encourage baby downwards is a good thing...well, you wouldn't go for a poo laying on your back would you?!


H is for Hair
I have very thick hair...sadly for me (but great news for my beauticians) it's not just limited to my head. Pregnancy has made my hair grow even thicker and quicker. Apparantly it;s just that you stop shedding hair when pregnant so it;s looks thicker, but will drop out once baby is born.

There are confilcting arguments about bleaching ones hair in pregnancy. As I have afro hair and usually relax it (straight perm) I've had to go without for pregnancy. It's usually in plaited extensions to save hassle. At the moment I am sporting half a head of afro and half straight from last perm in jan! Just waiting to get it plaited up again so it;s neat for bubs birth....gosh vanity eh....

My rule for pregnant hair...keep it simple.

Time for a trim....?

Beanie is also hairy apparantly, according to my sonographer at the 26 week scan...not that I could tell...
ah well, that'll explain the heartburn!

I is for Iron
Take it from me...a lack of this can send you damn near over the edge. i had palpitations that were so severe they would wake me from my sleep, the first time it happenned I thought i was being attacked! Plus the tiredness ....aye yai yai...I had to take a 20 minute nap after a shower it was that exhausting. So if you get those symptoms please get your iron levels checked out. I had this depsite taking vitamins.

NHS info on iron