Saturday 31 August 2013

8 years

I am putting my being a mummy post on hold (there is two more of them I need to do), the reason for this is because my partner and I have been together for 8 years today. We are a little broke at the moment with me being on maternity so for our "anniversary" (we are not married) I made him some yummy cakes and a card. I know he will appreciate it but I have a feeling he's forgotten it's today (he tends to forget), it does make me a little sad but I am glad it's not a proper anniversary.

During our 8 years together we have been through a lot - ups and downs, children, funerals, weddings and lots of birthdays! But I proud that we stand here today, 8 years on and stronger than ever! I don't know what the future holds for us but I know what I would like and I will let you all know too...

I hope that one day we can get married - I would very much like my dream wedding but he would rather get married when we can afford. However, at this rate we will never be able to afford it and I would like to get married before anymore of our family members pass away (especially my father who is 70 next year). I hope that we will possibly have another child one day (but I don't mind not having no more). I hope that we will one day have our own house (we rent off his parents). I hope we will be able to go abroad on holiday (I have never been abroad and of course we would have to take the children as it would be unfair not to). I hope to have a better job for the both of us (be that more money or a job we love.

If my hopes don't happen I can honestly say "oh well". As much as I would love for some of these to happen I know I have two beautiful lovely children, a lovely great partner and the some of the best friends ever! My life is good. So happy anniversary to my darling partner!

Friday 16 August 2013

Being a Mother (Part 2)

This is not the last post there is one more to come, I just have to find the time and let's face it motivation to do it!

Birth

Birth scares most women when they are pregnant, those who tell you they were not scared are probably lying because at some point either before or during labour they are scared. I know with my first I was terrified and then with my second I was scared but I knew I could handle it. Obviously different people have different pain thresholds, I was expecting to be a wuss with my first as I find silly things painful. However, I handled both my labours beautifully and I was lucky - not everyone is. Both my labours were straight forward, I was induced due to lack of movement from both and with my last I just had gas and air. I did ask about other pain relief in my weaker moment  but never took it. With my first I didn't know a lot because I was never told and I will probably miss out a lot on here as well.

Active labour  - This is when your contractions are two minutes apart and the midwife starts counting from because those contractions you have at home or randomly spaced out - don't count! They count to you of course because they hurt like hell but you wont be going to hospital nor getting any pain relief (unless you count paracetamol) until active labour.

Pain relief - If you don't need it, good for you! However don't be afraid to ask for some, if you are stressed so is your baby. They will offer you paracetamol first, then gas and air which can make you feel sick (with my first it did but not my second) and then they go higher unless you say I want this.

The ring of fire - When your baby's head is about to pop out - you will know! They don't lie about it feeling like you are on fire... DO NOT push until you have a contraction though otherwise you will rip!

Pushing - I was lucky, my body had the urge which I couldn't control. Others are not so lucky - Listen to your midwife if you don't have an urge and don't give up because it is easy to do so sometimes.

I will do after birth on a separate post - feel free to add as every birth is different!

Monday 12 August 2013

Being a Mother (part 1)

I know I haven't posted in a very long time so firstly I am sorry but for the past 8 weeks I have been looking after my newborn son. He is obviously adorable to me, I am not sure how others perceive him and nor do I care. This particular post is not about the upsides of having a newborn, I don't want to scare any body nor put them off having children but this is what you need to know.

Pregnancy

Do you think it will be a fun time? You are thinking it will be a wonderful joyous moment, first kick and that pregnancy glow! Well let's say it is not like that for everyone...
Morning sickness - It doesn't just last the morning and you don't always throw up (I just had nausea)
Indigestion/Heartburn - It can feel like you are having a heart attack and it can be so serve you throw up (which I did have)
Blood tests - You should only have a few but then they will find you have low iron or something else so then you need to have a billion blood tests
Jabs - Now you have a flu jab and whooping cough. The flu jab gives you a sore dead arm and the Whooping cough makes you ill so you feel like shit
Expanding body - now if you are slim its more than likely people will assume you are pregnant. However if you have an average or above it is more than likely people will assume you are getting fat until your bump improves (I had someone say to me "Oh you are pregnant? I just thought you were getting bigger" aka fat)
Break outs - spots appear at the worst time, sometimes single other times clusters (I have always had spots but being pregnant makes mine go away)
Endless appointments - you have quite a few with your first and with your second its normally less (unless you are me and have issues so get a lot of appointments that you feel like you are taking the piss with work)
Scans - These you can dread, you worry that something will be wrong but when it is all ok you sigh with relief
Hormones - people think it is an excuse or that it is something they will be fine with and ok sometimes that is the case but then you can get the other end where you cry for no reason.
People - the worst of it is other people. They think when you have this big pregnancy bump they have the right to touch, push and poke your bump. They think its ok to ask "oh is there more than one in there" when it is just one and the scans TELL you it is one (it is VERY unlikely you have a second or even third in your bump without someone noticing)

There is SO much more and some I did not experience so feel it would be unfair to say about it I cannot give a true reflection. Part 2 will be about birth and just after...