Just look at M Shadows… look at him. Wow, he’s a dreamboat. Anyway… he’s recorded these lovely tour diaries just for you, so have a listen to him sharing A7X’s favourite Rev stories, thoughts on tattoos & golf as well as drunken Johnny Stories from the Road.
I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year… I ate far too much and here I am wondering why nothing fits me!
At 37 weeks pregnant, babies are considered full term, so if the baby decides to make an early appearance it wouldn’t be considered premature, which always makes you feel more confident about the birth.
I am booked in to have my C-Section in two weeks time and I am really starting to get excited about the whole thing. I have packed baby their own little bag, as well as myself a bag packed full of things for my hospital stay, as well as my lovely Yummy Mummy bag.
Baby clearly has more things packed than I do; he/she has lots of lovely outfits, but I will be sticking to the comfortable – however unflattering – pyjamas!
Our daughter is already looking forward to meeting her brother or sister, she has been very much involved in everything and we have bought her a special present to open from baby so she doesn’t feel left out.
I have started to ‘nest’ and get things ready for baby coming and I am driving my husband mad because I am becoming a bit OCD about everything being clean and tidy, which is slightly impossible with a three year old!
Time to rest up I think and relax.
Laura xxxx
Well baby will be making his / her debut appearance in a few weeks time and I have been washing all their little clothes and making up their bed in preparation… everything is beginning to come together now, apart from the nursery looking like Santa’s Grotto!
With a very excitable three year old and lots of Christmas parties to attend (she has a better social life than me!), I am beginning to feel the strain of a large bump and little time to rest.
However, I have been finding time to get lots of nice warm baths and look after myself a little bit and I am starting to moisturise the bump a lot to steer off the stretch marks… I have to say I haven’t really noticed any at the moment so it seems to be working.
The weather has kept us in the house more than I would’ve liked so I have been eating my way through lots of food – which I probably wouldn’t eat under normal circumstances – and have found myself looking a little larger than usual!
If you’re like me, now the snow has gone and you want to get out and about, please be careful of the ice and don’t be too proud to ask for help from people.
Laura xxxx
Things are going good here in expectant mum land, but with Christmas approaching rapidly, it’s getting difficult to steer away from the chocolate and mince pies! I am occupying my time doing lots of Christmas shopping whilst my husband is working away in the vain attempt to still feel festive, but without the expanding (non-pregnancy) waistline.
A few things have happened in my personal life this week, and I must admit, it has been hard to focus on keeping the stress levels down and concentrating on looking after myself, but luckily my little girl is keeping me busy and always manages to make me smile when she kisses my bump.
On a happier note though, I graduated last week! Whoopie! It was two years of hard work but it was worth it in the end, and what a lovely day it was! Obviously, it was hard to find something that fitted, but it was nice to have a day out and see some good friends who had worked just as hard.
So, with only a few weeks left until baby arrives I have started to nest; I keep cleaning things that really don’t need cleaning, moving things around and generally can’t keep still for two minutes, when really I should have my feet up! I’ve got to admit, it is nice to keep busy, although I am still in bed by 8pm every night!
So if like me, you can’t keep still, give the list of jobs to a willing volunteer and get resting, it is Christmas after all…
Laura xxxx
I had my midwife appointment this week, which inevitably meant even more blood tests, but luckily everything is fine and the bump is growing at an unquestionable rate of knotts.
During my appointment I was given all the information for maternity benefits, so I thought I’d share them with you all: Anyone – regardless of income – are entitled to a £190 grant from the government, called the ‘Health in Pregnancy Grant’.
Also, if you are employed, self-employed or recently employed, make sure you apply for Statutory Maternity Pay or if you are not entitled you can apply Maternity Allowance, just ask your midwife for your MATB1.
In other news, now the weather has changed and nothing particularly fits me, I have decided to invest in a few pairs of maternity trousers because leggings can’t keep me warm for much longer no matter how comfortable they are! I also need some sensible footwear, so if anyone has any ideas then pass them on, because the Scottish weather is already freezing!
I seem to be losing my appetite too, eating little and often is better at the moment because there isn’t much room for a baby and food, which is a shame sometimes when we go out for meals.
If you need any more information about what benefits you are entitled to in pregnancy then visit www.direct.gov.uk.
Laura xxxx
So, we’re at week 26 and my heartburn is beginning to irritate me, every meal and sometimes just drinking can set me off! I have tried to avoid spicy foods and carbonated drinks, but it doesn’t seem to make any difference, I mean, even eating cereal leaves me in pain! I have a huge bottle of heartburn relief liquid that is kept
with me at all times.
Speaking of medication, I have started to moisturise everyday to try and avoid the stretch marks, Asda have their own brand of stretch mark oil which is loads cheaper than other brands that are on offer and leaves your skin feeling lovely and soft. I have even been using it on my hands now the winter is here!
When (like me) you get into your third trimester it is time you started to relax, although the nesting instinct kicks in and you want to clean everything! All I can say is, make sure you take heed and relax because swollen ankles and aching joints are not much fun when you are carrying the extra weight.
Laura xxxx
Over the past couple of weeks I have gone from having a cute little bump to something that now makes me look rather like a hippo; I can’t even put my shoes or socks on properly without becoming a contortionist! I have invested in some stretch mark cream, but I doubt that it will work, but I can hope. Does anyone know of any good stuff to stop the stretch marks? If so, please, hook me up!
Aside from ballooning up, I haven’t been feeling great a lately and after a few trips to the maternity unit and an overnight stay I’m praying that we have finally sorted things out and I am now on the mend.
I couldn’t have gotten through it all without lots of help from my wonderful husband, but I am feeling loads better now. However, I still don’t like doing nothing because it drives me mad, but it is nice to know I have lots of support from my loved ones.
On another positive note, I have my graduation soon so I am on the lookout for a dress – or maybe even a tent – that looks pretty yet sophisticated and some flat shoes for those swollen ankles. To be honest, I am really looking forward to the event, I just wish I could find something flattering to wear, but having my husband, daughter and bump there will make sure the day is extra special no matter what happens.
Oh, and baby names update : We’re back onto choosing the names again… I think we are just about to finish throttling each other and have decided on some we like, but I am sure I will change my mind again, it is the prerogative of a hormonal woman!
Laura xxxx
So, I’ve now passed the halfway point now and my bump is already massive! It seems to have grown from a cute mound to this boulder overnight and I can feel the little mite wiggling around all the time!
My husband and I are currently in the process of choosing baby names and if you’re anything think me – pretty indecisive – you will agree that this part is pretty difficult… choosing something that will stick with your child for the rest of their life! We just cant seem to come to any sort of an agreement and every time we get anywhere near, the interference of both of our families throws everything into turmoil again! We’ve decided now that whatever we finally agree on, we are going to keep it to ourselves, it will save a lot of problems.
I am also finding myself a lot more tired than usual and honestly, I am ready to hit my pillows at 8pm every night now! I’ve also noticed that bending down to pick things up and putting my shoes on is becoming increasingly difficult and leaving me rather squashed and off balance. Now only that, but if you are anything like me, I am a little bit OCD with cleaning, but I am learning now that with a belly the side of Mount Everest and a active three year old, the house will never be perfect, so it’s time to rest up a little.
I mentioned last week that I had quite a bad birth experience with my daughter and had discussed with my midwife the possibility of a c-section with this baby, mainly because of some of the problems I encountered after my first. Well, update: I went to see the consultant this week and they recommended a c-section.
To be totally honest, I would have preferred a natural birth because everything is a lot quicker to heal and you get to go home a little bit quicker, but the advice was not to put myself in the same situation as before as they couldn’t guarantee the healing process to be quite as successful so I am very relieved and happy that I can stop worrying about things and look forward to seeing our new addition.
Laura xxx
Another week down and being pregnant is starting to lose its excitement; I’m finding myself getting up a few times every night thanks to the dancing on my bladder, and as a result I am feeling rather tired this week!
On a positive note we have started work on the nursery; together we assembled the cot and crib and started to buy bedding, it is all starting to seem very real now! Our little girl is very excited and loves to play with all the new things we have bought, probably because she gets a small treat when we go shopping for baby, but it’s nice to keep her involved and share the experience with her.
One lovely thing is that the baby has started performing acrobats and my husband and little girl are able to put their hand on my tummy and feel for themselves, it is such a lovely feeling, especially when it is something that you can share with your loved ones. However my ‘innie’ belly button has become an ‘outie’ which is quite odd!
Speaking of odd, does anyone else seem to find themselves getting over-emotional during pregnancy? Yeah so am I!!! Anything seems to be setting me off into floods
of tears lately, even the smallest of things have the habit of opening the tear ducts!
I suppose what we have to accept is that during this time of a woman’s life, your body is going through all sorts of changes, and it is much better to embrace them
and enjoy it all, you will feel much better for it.
Laura xx
Yesterday we had our 20 week scan and myself, my husband and our little girl were all very excited!
We sat there looking at the screen and watching the baby move around, it was so wonderful, I could feel him/her kicking me at the same time! We decided to not find out what the sex of the baby was and wait for the surprise, but I have felt the baby moving around for the past couple of weeks now and it is nice to know that the little one is moving in there and is nice and happy.
The pregnancy has been reasonably straight forward thus far and I am enjoying watching the growing bump. Our little girl loves to say ‘Knock knock, are you in there baby?!’ and it is so nice to see that she is starting to bond with the little one already.
Apparently a baby can hear you talk to them from about 15 weeks, and although it may seem strange talking to your bump, it is a great thing to do, because when they are born they will recognise your voice and know who you are.
We have already started buying lots of essentials and joined a handful of parenting clubs for money off coupons and baby packs, which have lots of little freebies and come in handy for changing bags. I am also very lucky that my husband bought me a Pink Lining Yummy Mummy bag and I have started to put little things in there too.
Personally, I am feeling a little bit tired at the moment, but with a three year old to run after and lots of housework to do, I find that rest doesn’t come easy, but I can always find a few minutes to put my feet up and have a brew! It is healthy to keep active in pregnancy, but try not to overdo it.
Laura. xx
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