Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts

REVIEW: ECO BY NATY RANGE



USE CODE 'AMYPYT' FOR 15% OFF 

 We have recently been trying out the Eco by Naty range. We were lucky enough to get a few of their lovely products in the post so we've been giving them a go for a few weeks and I thought i'd let you know how Amelia has been getting on with them and what I think of the range. 

 First of all Naty is a biodegradable and environmentally friendly brand. They started off by creating a Eco-friendly nappy and now they have a full range products including wipes, pull on pants and bath and body care.
Let's start with their nappies, I really wanted to use re-usable nappies but as we live in a small flat I don't really have anywhere to keep them, hang them to dry etc so decided to use disposable nappies. I like the idea of using biodegradable nappies as this is a little more environmentally friendly. These nappies feel really soft and gentle on babies skin but are tough and not flimsy. They are very absorbent and haven't leaked at all. They are certified by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association. Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association is a Swedish national association working to improve the conditions and the understanding of people living with asthma, allergy, intolerance and hyper sensitivity. The only downside about these nappies is the price, they are on the pricey side and a little more than i'd like to spend on nappies however if you are in the market for a Eco-friendly, disposable nappy they are a reasonable price. 

As well as the nappies we have been using the Sensitive wipes (the unscented ones) on Amelia, I haven't tried the lightly scented ones on her yet as her skin is really really sensitive and she has had reactions to wipes in the past. The wipes are nice, not too wet or dry. They are very soft and gentle. The scented wipes smell nice and fresh, not chemically. The wipes are 98.5% water so designed to be gentle on sensitive skin. They are hypoallergenic so don't irritate the skin and prevent nappy rash. 

Another product i've been using is the Baby Bath Foam. It contains No fragrances. No parabens. No mineral oils. Which is great and means I don't have to worry about using it on Amelia's sensitive skin. It doesn't have a scent so is really gentle on baby. It leaves skin feeling clean and soft. It's so gentle you can use it everyday, it won't dry out babies skin. 

One product I was really impressed with was the nappy sacks, I tend to buy any old nappy sacks but these are such a good idea. There's no point in using a biodegradable nappy and then putting it into a plastic bag and visa versa! They are so thick and such a lovely quality, they come on a roll so easy to use. They are a nice design, cream with green leaves. 

I haven't tried the nappy cream yet, Amelia doesn't suffer with a sore bottom (hasn't yet) so haven't needed to try this yet but the nappy cream is Hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested and again suitable for everyday use. It's a healing organic rash cream with tried and tested natural ingredients that will soothe irritated skin and reduce redness often caused by trapped moisture.  


I have been really impressed with the Naty products and would love to try some of their other products, especially more of their Bath and Body care range. I would really reccommend their nappies if you are looking for a Eco-Diaper. 










* this post contains pr samples 
Posted by at No comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

REVIEW: HAPE BABY DRUM




A few weeks ago Amelia was sent this lovely Hape Baby Drum in the post. We've been loving it so I thought i'd feature it in a full review.

Hape are the worlds largest producer of wooden toys! They have a huge range of toys for all age groups!

The Hape baby drum is such a lovely product, it is made from quality materials so is super strong and has passed vigorous testing so is really safe for babies from 6 months.

The Drum has some really cool features. It flashes bright colourful lights when used. You can bang it like a normal drum and it makes a loud drum noise or if you roll it, it will play a funky beat which is supposed to engage your baby and encourage them to crawl after the drum!

Amelia has just started crawling and loves following her drum around the living room! She loves rolling it and dancing along to the little tune that it plays, she can bang the drum but she much prefers the funky tune. She can pick it up really easily because it's light, she likes rolling around the floor with it. It's bright and a fun toy to play with! It would make a lovely gift or perfect for your own little one! 





* this post contains a pr sample
Posted by at No comments
Labels: , , , ,

LIFESTYLE: TRAVELLING WITH A BABY: IS THE FAR EAST TOO FAR?

 

When you welcome your firstborn, you may think that your far flung jaunts abroad are no longer a possibility. Since your little darling arrived, you might think you need to book yourself on a package holiday, venture to a Balearic and succumb to the all-inclusive resort. While there’s nothing wrong with such a holiday, you might yearn for the freedom of organising your own foray overseas with your little brood in tow. But is this even possible?

Holidays by their very nature should be relaxing. Allowing a tour operator to take on the responsibility of booking your flights, organising your accommodation, sourcing excursions and even handling the airport transfers can be tempting. This way, all you need to worry about is making sure you’re packed, ensuring the passports are in date and finding your way to the airport. However, where’s the fun in that? While Lanzarote is a delightful place to while away a fortnight, you want more adventure to your trip. You remember when you were in your early twenties and you thought nothing of packing your forty five litre backpack and taking the first flight you could to embark on a backpacking jaunt around South America. Now you have a little one, do you have to wave goodbye to such a holiday?

You simply need to think a little more outside the box and put your offspring at the centre of every decision you make. The Far East is an excellent option for those families who hanker after a more far-flung and unique destination rather than a mundane Greek island. Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and China are all relatively safe and cater to tourist families. Take a look at how you can travel to the Far East with a baby and still have an incredible travel experience.

Basics

It doesn’t matter where you are heading on holiday, there will inevitably be a major alteration in your little cherub’s routine. This can make for an eventful first couple of days. To try and limit the impact of jet lag, new smells, the flight, and a new bed, try and keep everything else the same. Take his or her favourite snacks on the flight, ensure you have a favourite bit of muslin or toy to help add a touch of familiarity to your trip no matter where you are and remember to keep talking to your little one. If you are forever chuntering away to your offspring about the weather, the view or general chit-chat, keep doing it. Doing everything in your power to maintain a sense of normality will prevent your baby from feeling stressed. Babies pick up on their parent’s vibe, so try and stay relaxed and enjoy the trip you have planned.


Before You Go

Before you even set foot on the plane, you should be planning a few more aspects to your holiday than you might have done in the past. While on your gap year you may have set off without a hostel booked and you winged it once you landed, now is not the time to repeat that experience. Now that you are older, hopefully wiser and perhaps a little more mature, you need to be thinking about the needs of your little one. If you’re venturing to Singapore, consider a hdb room rental for the entirety of your visit. This means you will have a solid base, you can be sure to secure a cot and all of the space you need for your young family, and you will have the flexibility to cook your little one’s meals. If there are any allergies in your brood, this could be vital to ensure their safety when abroad.

You may want to arrange travel within a country before you go. Bullet trains in Japan, and some in China can be booked in advance meaning that you won’t have to endure long queues at the airport. Japan even has rail passes making your travel easier once you have your itinerary planned.

It’s vital to at least have a skeleton itinerary in place before you head off to your chosen Far Eastern destination. If you fancy taking in the vista from the Great Wall of China, make sure you choose the most appropriate part of the wall for your family. Badaling, while touristy, is relatively flat and easy to navigate. Other sections, like Juyong, are ridiculously steep and would be treacherous for little feet. Use your common sense when booking excursions and considering how best to utilise your time.

Climate

With a little one in tow, make sure you aren’t venturing halfway across the globe during monsoon season or when the heat is sweltering and unbearable. While you might be able to cope, the chances are that your little darling could be at risk from heatstroke. Even with suncream and a hat, Far Eastern temperatures can hit forty degrees which would mean staying indoors. This hardly makes for a great vacation experience.


Family Friendly Fun

If you fancy a jaunt to Japan, you will have a wealth of family-friendly activities on your doorstep. The wonderfully exclusive Studio Ghibli Museum only allows a set number of visitors in each day and is protective over its exhibits. If your family adores My Neighbour Totoro or can’t get enough of Ponyo, this excursion could be a memorable addition to your Japanese Odyssey. Alongside the Studio Ghibli Museum, you could also visit Disneyland in Tokyo. Similar to Florida and Paris, this super camp and glittery theme park of fun is the stuff of dreams for little ones. You could be shaking hands with Mickey, meeting up with Pluto and making friends with the seven dwarfs.

In Singapore, you might want to embark on a world first as a family. Opened in 1994, the world’s first nocturnal zoo means you can take part in a nighttime safari to explore the wonderful creatures within Singapore’s greatest animal attraction. Hugely popular, you can observe tigers and lions in vast natural reserves, created with animal welfare in mind.

You might prefer to head to Jurong where you could take your little brood to the Science Centre. Who’d have thought you could squeeze in an educational visit while on holiday. The interactive exhibits are engaging, and you might even have the chance to head to the in-house observatory to gaze at the stars through their enormous Kepler refractor telescope.

In Phuket in Thailand, you might want to take a trip to the magical and recently renovated world class aquarium to explore the underwater creatures that roam the surrounding oceans. The exhibits are well maintained, the creatures are looked after, and you might even be able to sneak in to watch a feeding time. There is a huge and fully immersive tunnel to walk through, and all of the signage and displays are written in English as well as Thai meaning that you can get the most out of your aquatic experience.

If you are considering a more self-planned holiday abroad with your family, consider venturing to the Far East. The people are welcoming, you can enjoy immersing yourself into a new culture once again, and you can relish the opportunity to enjoy the style of travelling you couldn’t get enough of when you were young, free and single. Just because you have a little one doesn’t mean you can’t see the world. On the contrary, with a little thought, some extra planning, and a clear itinerary, you could enjoy the most unique and wonderful family Far Eastern adventure.



*COLLABORATIVE POST
Posted by at No comments
Labels: , , , ,

LIFESTYLE: THE BOOK PEOPLE




Amelia recently received some lovely new books from The Book People,  Amelia has loads of books and she loves playing with books but we also read books before she goes to bed. I love having a big selection of books as reading them gets a little repetitive and I like having so many to choose from.

The Book People have a really good selection of books and a lovely selection of baby books,* we recently picked out a few books for Amelia from their handpicked range. The Petite Boutique Collection is lovely, inside you get 2 books, one of which comes with a Nursery rhymes cd, a pram book and a growth chart. It all comes inside a lovely tote bag. I love the style of the books, they look fab and Amelia really likes the Peekaboo book, she loves looking in the little mirror. The colours are really nice and the stories are really easy to read. The RRP is over £20 but head over to The Book People and get it for less than a tenner!

We also picked out the Baby Touch Hello Baby book by Ladybird. This is a touchy- feel book which Amelia is a little young for but she loves the colours of the book. It's light so it's easy for her to hold. I can't wait for her to notice the different textures in the book. It's such a lovely book for £2.99, it's such a bargain.

We also have the 35th Anniversary edition of Oh Dear by Rod Campbell the author of Dear Zoo. It's a lovely story. It's a lift-the-flap book. The illustrations are lovely, it's such a nice book.

The Book People have a lovely selection of baby books, they are so affordable and really competitive prices. The handpicked range is lovely and all of the books sound amazing. They have some really good offers on and the website is so easy to use. They have lots of information about the books! you can search by age, format, price or offers. I will definitely be ordering some books from The Book People as I think the books are such great prices and they have such a good range to choose from.


* The books were sent to use from The Book People, I have not been paid for this blog post.








Posted by at No comments
Labels: , , , , , , ,

LIFESTYLE: PLANNING A ROAD TRIP WITH A BABY

Image result for amypyt travel


We are going on holiday to Great Yarmouth next month so we've started to plan our trip as we have a long car journey ahead of us. The drive would usually take about 3 and a half hours according to google maps but we have two little ones coming with us, both under 1 so we will need to stop a few times for feeds and nappy changes.

When we are going on a road trip we usually bring lots of drinks and snacks with us so we just have to stop if we need the toilet. We don't really tend to buy food at service stations as it can be quite expensive and sometimes especially during the holidays it can be really busy. We will be bringing some food and drink along with us but as we will be stopping anyway we might get some hot food at the service station, I can imagine we will need a nice hot cuppa as it's going to be a long drive.

We are going to be going in three cars, we have two babies and 6 adults that are going so although we could fit in two cars it might be abit of a squeeze and we are going to have loads of stuff from travel cots, sterilizers, milk, bottles, clothes and much more so it's just easier to have the extra car. I think my sister is getting a roof box which will help as we only have a little car.

We have just had our car serviced and had an MOT done. We usually get the car serviced before going on a long journey just to make sure that everything is ok with the car. This is such an important thing to do and it can save you a lot of money. We had the car serviced at Kwik Fit before we went away to Wales before and ended up needing a couple of new tyres. Had a tyre burst on the motorway we could have been in an accident or needed to call a breakdown truck. We might have had to pay out for a recovery truck if we couldn't sort the car ourselves. Even though we have breakdown cover you would still need to pay for parts if something needed to be repaired and you might find that a breakdown company may charge you more than if you'd just got your car repaired before you went away. I really don't fancy something breaking on the car whilst we are driving to Great Yarmouth (especially with Amelia in the car) which is why we have just had car serviced and we did need a couple of things doing so at least we know that the car should be fine for the long journey.

If you don't plan on getting your car serviced I would make sure you do thorough checks on your vehicle making sure you have plenty of Oil, water, and deicer/screenwash.


It's good to have an idea of your route and of an alternative route incase of an accident or traffic. I like to plan which route we are going to take. By planning your route you can choose the fastest route so you and this can save you time and money in fuel. I usually just use Google Maps or the Sat Nav to work out the route. This time we are actually going away with my parents and my sister so we will probably just follow them.

Other things to think about for a long journey, especially with a baby are a first aid kit- (pack pain killers), plenty of drinks (should you get stuck in traffic) Travel sickness tablets, nappy bag with milk and bottles should be in the car not the boot (incase you get stuck in traffic or can't get out of the car to get to the boot). We have a few baby CD's that will calm Amelia should she get distressed in the car.

I'm not really looking forward to the long drive but I can't wait for our first little holiday as a family.



 

Image result for amypyt travel
Posted by at No comments
Labels: , , , , ,

PARENTING: BATHTIME WITH BAMBO NATURE



We recently went along to a blogger event at Kelmarsh Hall with Bambo Nature Uk, You can see my full post here all about the lovely event we attended and all about the brand. We were gifted lots of lovely products from their range including some of their skincare bits and pieces. I thought i'd review the skincare products as we've been using them alot recently. 

 Bambo Nature have an amazing range of products including Eco-Disposable nappies and wipes. As well as their nappies and wipes they have released a new vegan, cruelty free skincare range. 

 The Bambo Nature range is accredited by several certification organisations that guarantee the safe use and environmental friendliness of the products. The Nordic Eco-label on the Bambo Nature range is your guarantee that the products are certified to be environment-friendly. 

The brand are not just accredited by the Nordic-Eco Label but also Asthma and Allergy Denmark and Dermatology tested. This means these products are less likely to cause any irritation, eczema or allergy on babies skin. Unfortunately for us we have found that Amelia does seem to be allergic to the nappies and wipes but she has very sensitive skin and i'm actually allergic to a lot of more natural products so I wouldn't let that put you off. We have tried some of their skincare range which so far so good... no allergies. The brand have actually won loads of awards for their products which you can check out  here on their website.
First up is the Splish Splash Bath Oil, this is made with mild, natural oils that help maintain the skins moisture balance and leave it soft. I really like this bath oil as it's not greasy and leaves Amelia's skin feeling really soft and smooth. I love using the bath oil to do baby massage, I tend to do it just before bathtime, the oil heats up well by rubbing the hands together and it is really easy to rub into the skin. Amelia has very sensitive skin and has allergies and eczema so I have to be careful when using new skincare products on her. We haven't had any issues with the Bambo Nature skincare products which is great.

 My favourite product is the Bath Buddy hair & body wash, again it's great for Amelia's sensitive skin. I love that I can use the one product all over so I don't have to mess about using different products. It's so gentle that it doesn't irritate her eyes so it doesn't matter if a little water goes in her eye. The wash leaves her hair looking really nice a clean and it smells good too even though it contains no perfumes, this minimizes the risk of allergy. 
I'm loving the Bambo Nature skincare range, and love that it's all Vegan and really sensitive and gentle for perfect for newborn baby skin. As I mentioned above Amelia has Eczema and we have tried other skincare brands and shes had bad reactions to products or they have really dried her skin out but we've found that the Bambo Nature skincare is great for her skin and it leaves it feeling super soft but also really clear. 







*this post contains pr samples
Posted by at No comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

PARENTING: PRODUCTS WE USE WHEN AMELIA IS POORLY


Amelia is now 7 months old and shes had a few coughs and colds. It's such a horrible feeling when your baby isn't well and you feel like there's nothing you can do. I thought i'd feature a few products we've used when Amelia has been poorly and a few tips on how to make them a little more comfortable. 

I found that Amelia is most uncomfortable during the night so when she has a cold or cough I would use the Calpol Vapour plug in her room. You just plug it in and you replace a cartridge each night which releases vapours into the air, this eases breathing during the night, we've found it works well for Amelia.

We've been using a few products from Snufflebabe to help relieve Amelia when shes been poorly, I really like the Nasal Spray and find this works really well at clearing her blocked nose. I find it's a bit easier to use that the nasal drops. 

We have also been using the Snufflebabe nasal drops, it's a saline solution which you can use along side the nasal aspirator or on it's own to clear blocked noses. This just makes baby more comfortable as you can't really get a baby to blow their nose which is usually all they need to do. 

I feel like the Nasal drops and nasal spray really clear the nose and throat of mucus and help Amelia to breathe much easier and stops her nose from irritating her. 

Honestly she's not a huge fan of having the saline put in her nose and usually kicks off but she feels much better afterwards. My favourite thing about the Snufflebabe products is they are suitable from birth ( apart from the vapour rub which is 3 months) as some products have weight restrictions and some are from a certain age and when your baby is sick you just want a product on hand that you can use right away without worrying about whether shes old enough or big enough to use it. 

Similar to the Snufflebabe vapour rub is the Mustela Chest Rub, we were sent this a while ago and have recently been using as Amelias had a few colds, I like this because it's a cream not a balm and it rubs into the skin really easily. Again it's suitable from birth which is great. The pine scent promotes comfort and relaxes the baby. I love that it comes in a tube as usually vapour rubs come in a pot that you have to stick your finger in and I prefer a tube that you can squeeze product out. 

These are a few of the products we have been using with Amelia, alongside Calpol if shes really uncomfortable but I think these products are great at helping move mucus and relieving her and making her more comfortable. Another thing we do when shes snuffly is bring her into the bathroom and either run and hot shower or bath and this helps them breathe easier too. I usually put some relaxing music on my phone and light some candles and we will chill out. We have also tried some baby massage as this can help them breathe and unblock any mucus that is stuck. 










* this post contains pr samples. 
Posted by at No comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVENT: BAMBO NATURE BLOGGER EVENT AT KELMARSH HALL AND GARDENS




A few weeks ago we were invited along to a blogger event to learn all about Bambo Nature UK and their brand and products. 

We were invited along to Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens in Northampton for a wonderful afternoon of activities. The day included learning all about the brand and their products and how the brand is really eco-friendly. We also got to learn some Reflexology and baby massage with Tiny Toes. We had a wonderful buffet lunch which was really tasty and they also had a photographer there throughout the day taking photos not just of the event but also of the babies and families which was lovely. You can see from my blog post that we got some absolutely gorgeous photos of Amelia.  The event was really well organised with the kids in mind so there was really good facilities and lots to keep the kids entertained. 

 Bambo Nature is a Danish Brand of eco-friendly disposable nappies and gentle baby skincare. The Bambo Nature range is accredited by several certification organisations that guarantee the safe use and environmental friendliness of the products. The Nordic Eco-label on the Bambo Nature range is your guarantee that the products are certified to be environment-friendly. 
The brand are not just accredited by the Nordic-Eco Label but also Asthma and Allergy Denmark and Dermatology tested. This means these products are less likely to cause any irritation, eczema or allergy on babies skin. Unfortunately for us we have found that Amelia does seem to be allergic to the nappies and wipes but she has very sensitive skin and i'm actually allergic to a lot of more natural products so I wouldn't let that put you off. We have tried some of their skincare range which so far so good... no allergies. The brand have actually won loads of awards for their products which you can check out  here on their website.

At the event we got to take part in a little taster session of some Reflexology and Massage with Tiny Toes, they are a based in Northampton and offer lots of services aswell as baby reflexology. We got to learn about massage and ways in which you can use this to relieve baby and comfort them when they feel unsettled. It's also a good way to bond with baby and soothing simulation through massage is scientifically show to aid childhood development. 


 The brand also have a range of skincare products which includes their brand new Splish Splash Bath Oil, a Snuggle time body lotion, Love Balm Soothing Cream and Bath Buddy hair and body wash. We are so excited to try the range and I will be featuring the products in a full review once we've given them a proper try for a few weeks. The range is all suitable for sensitive skin and full of natural and organic ingredients. They are free of perfumes, dyes and parabens and certified eco-friendly, vegan and dermatologist tested. So far we've only tried the bath oil and we love this so far but we are super excited to give the other products a try. I love the packaging and the products are really affordable. 

 We also got to learn massage on their feet and how this can also comfort baby, we got to learn a shorter routine just for their feet which you can perform anywhere. I really liked the baby massage and reflexology and have been looking into local groups as it's something i'd love to do with Amelia. She seemed to really enjoy it and i've actually had a look online at some other reflexology and massage videos as Amelia's been a little unsettled this week as she has a cold and I really feel that this is helping her to relax and actually helping her to wind down to relieve her congestion.

 Also throughout there was a lovely photographer Natalie from Imaging Eye Photography who took some amazing photos and we were lucky enough to get some really nice shots of the three of us and some lovely ones of Amelia. 

 We had such a lovely day, lunch was amazing. We got to learn loads about the brand, the PR girls were so lovely and everyone really loved Amelia and it was so nice to bring her along to an event and mingle with other mums. There was crafts going on for the older kids and lots of tea and biscuits for the mums, it was fab. Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens are beautiful and we will be returning as the grounds were amazing and i'd love to go back and have a good look around. 
Thank you to Bambo Nature UK for the invite, we had such a lovely day! 
SIGN UP TO THEIR EMAILS FOR 15% OFF YOUR ORDER 
PHOTOS TAKEN BY NATALIE - IMAGING EYE PHOTOGRAPHY 

BAMBO NATURE UK - TWITTER : @bambonatureuk
                                        - INSTAGRAM: @bambonatureuk
                                        - WEBSITE : www.bambo-nature.co.uk















We were invited along to the event and have been gifted products to feature. I have not been paid for this post
Posted by at No comments
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

LIFESTYLE: THANK YOU MIDWIVES


This is my labour and delivery story, It might be a little TMI so if your squrimish or don't really care about my labour then don't read this post. I really wanted to document it so I have it to look back on for myself. I had planned to film my labour for my vlog channel but that didn't end up happening so i'd rather write it down and then if I plan on having more kids I can read it back but also i'm sure some people will be interested, I know I read some labour stories and watched videos to prepare me for my own labour.

So i'd been feeling uncomfortable for a few weeks. My pregnancy wasn't great and I felt exhausted and in pain most of the time. I'd suffered with sciatica quite early on and towards the end was having alot of pelvic pain, which i'm actually still suffering with. This along with the twinges and back pain made the last few weeks of pregnancy really hard and going overdue really took it's toll on me mentally, honestly I just couldn't be bothered anymore and I didn't really do much in the last few weeks I just waited for her to come.

On Saturday 11th November I was at home for most of the day, I was actually making some frames as the next day I was supposed to go to my friends baby's 1st Birthday/ Christening and also my sisters baby shower. I'd managed to finish my friends frame and made a good start on my sisters one, my living room was covered in craft bits and I felt uncomfortable and fed up. We needed to go to Tesco and was going to my moms to help her with some last minute bits for the baby shower so we left and around 6:30pm in Tesco I was feeling very uncomfortable, like something was happening. I actually needed to sit down so I sat on a bench and waited for Clint to get what we needed. We then headed to my moms and I was helping by putting some sweet bags and putting favors together, I was siting on the floor on a cushion because I needed room for the stuff, I couldn't keep still and kept getting up and pacing because I was very uncomfortable. My mom was watching me and asking if I thought I was in labour but I really didn't know. The pain was bareable but it just kept coming and going which made me think it was contractions but my water hadn't broke so I wasn't sure.

As the night went on Clint and I decided to stay at my moms for a little longer as she was going to be my birth partner alongside Clint and I did feel like this could be it. I'd started timing the contractions at about 9:30pm and they were very frequent, about 3 minutes apart and lasting a good 30-50 seconds. We had phoned the hospital at around 11pm who said to stay at home and to phone back when the pain was worse. I decided to have a bath at this point as the pain wasn't bad but I thought it would make me feel more relaxed which it did. After my bath I dried and straightened my hair, I was still breathing through the contractions every 3 minutes and they were getting longer and lasting about a minute. I was in pain, it was still bareable but we phoned the hospital again as we had a good 30-40 minute drive ahead of us and i'd never actually been to the labour ward so wasn't too sure where we were heading. They told us to come in so we jumped in the car and made our way in. Luckily we had all the bags in the car already, we went via our flat to pick up my pregnancy pillow and birthing ball. (pregnancy pillow was amazing in hospital as their pillows are pants and ball stayed in the car) The car journey was actually okay, I sat in the front and adjusted the chair so I was more comfortable. We arrived in about 25-30 minutes and got parked up. We left all the stuff in the car and decided to see how far along we was and my mom and Clint could go back and get the bits later.

We arrived at the hospital and went round the the entrance that I'd seen on the hospital website ( as I said i'd only ever been there for scans, never to the labour ward) The door was locked and no one was answering the buzzer, finally someone answered and let us in, they told us to take a seat in the waiting room.

Someone came over and got us after about 10 minutes and in this time i'd had a contraction but I was worried they seemed to be slowing down. They put us in a lovely room, with the birthing pool. It was really big and I was quite excited about having baby in here. A midwife came in and got us hooked up to the machine and we were on this for about 30 minutes, she came back and the baby had dropped off a little so she needed me to stay on for abit longer. She came back and examined me and I was at 2cm, she explained that the contractions were frequent enough just not strong enough. She said we would need to go home until the contractions got worse. Before we could get discharged she explained that she needed to have a doctor look over the moinitoring before they could let me go as the baby had dropped off. The doctor wouldn't discharge me and wanted to monitor us again in a couple of hours so I got put onto a ward at about 4:30 in the morning and my mom and Clint were sent home. I was still having contractions and they were still every 3 minutes or so and were getting stronger. I was on a really dark ward, I think it was an induction ward. There was a big ball so I was sat on it and leaning over it, just breathing through the pain.

Clint came back up at about 7am, he's brought me a sandwhich but I couldnt think about food. I hadn't slept at all and I think he got about half an hour.
The midwife came round at about 8am and hooked me back up to the monitor. I think the midwife came back with a consultant to check my progress. Baby was all good on the monitor so they were happy with that. They examined me and I was 3cm, on the cusp of 4cm so they were going to get me moved onto the labour ward soon. The doctor said once I was on the labour ward he would get them to break my waters to speed things along. By 11am, I was in quite alot of pain, i'd gone to the toilet and I was loosing alot of blood so Clint went to get someone. They were just about to move me to the labour ward anyway and didn't seem concerned by the blood.  

We walked around the the labour ward, again we were in a nice room, (no birthing pool ) I met my midwife and I was asked if I minded having a student present, I didn't mind. My midwives were so lovely and made me feel really comfortable. They put me on a wireless monitor so I could move around and because baby had dropped off they seemed pretty happy to monitor me the whole way through labour. The doctors were happy with baby's growth so my labour was considered low risk so I didn't need to be monitored but I didn't mind. The examined me right away because I was in quite abit of pain, and possibly due to the blood. At this point I was 9cm dilated. I was so happy that i'd got so far by myself without any intervention or pain relief. I was then offered gas and air which I took. They decided against braking my waters because I was so far along so decided to leave me to labour naturally. I got to 10cm pretty quickly and felt like I needed to push. What I was actually pushing was my waters. They came out intact, they didn't break and just hung like a water balloon in between my legs for awhile. Apparently this is rare and good luck, Sometimes baby comes out into the sack but Amelia didn't. Her hand was up by her face so I was struggling to push her out. I felt the gas and air was working really well and really helped with the pain. I was all fours on the bed for most of the pushing stage. We had to change position to try and get her hand out of the way so I went onto my side, with my leg up in the air. Clint actually held my leg up for ages. She then started to come out. Everyone was saying she has loads of hair. After about 1 and a half hours on the labour ward Amelia was born at 13:18 weighing 6Ib 5oz They passed her to me and it's such a surreal feeling holding your baby. It doesn't feel real, it's really weird. They confirmed she was a girl and it was amazing. We did skin to skin right away and it was lovely having that time to just hold her and look at how perfect she was. It was all over, I was so proud and just amazed that i'd done it and honestly is wasn't that bad. They then took her to be weighed and got her dressed and then we got more cuddles. She was born small and on the 2nd centile so they needed her to feed, we tried to get her to latch but she wouldn't so she had a bottle as they needed to check her blood sugars due to her weight. She had to be monitored for 24 hours and she was fine and we managed to get her blood sugars up and was discharged on the tuesday, she was born on the Sunday. I am going to be writing a blog post about my feeding experience so I will go into more detail in that.

My midwives were great, they made me feel so comfortable, I didn't feel stupid at all. I'd worried a couple of times if the monitor went quiet but they reassured me that it was all fine. I felt very comfortable and was half naked for basically the whole labour, I did have a sheet over me at the start but this didn't last long. I had some funny moments on the gas and air for example I kept repeating ' I just feel like i'm shitting myself' and apparently I was asking the student about her course and how long she has left before shes qualified? I also described gas and air as the feeling you have when you are drunk and have your head on the toilet door.

 Overall I had a really positive labour experience, the whole thing from having contractions to giving birth took about 18 hours. Pushing was around an hour. I got to 9cm without any pain relief and only had gas and air towards the end. My midwives were amazing and made the whole experience very pleasant. They dimmed the lights to make the room feel more relaxed. They were friendly and chatty and just lovely. I had been very vague with my birth plan because I knew that not everything goes to plan, so I didn't get my birthing pool but I really don't mind. The pain was bareable, the only really painful bit was pushing her out as I did tear a little and needed a few stitches but I think I managed the pain really well and breathing through the contractions really helped. The gas and air really helped with the pain and didn't make me feel sick or out of it, I knew what was going on the whole time. I had the injection to deliver the placenta and this came away very quickly and I was stitched up quickly too.

We were moved onto a ward after a little time just holding her and getting myself dressed and spending some time taking pictures and just taking it all in. I was crying and thanking the midwives. I remember saying ' I can't believe shes here' a few times. It really is an incredible experience.

I understand that not everyone has a great birth story and I haven't wrote this to rub in that I had a positive experience personally. But I found when I was watching videos or reading birth stories that they can be unpleasant and everyones quick to tell you how bad their labour was and you always hear about what went wrong and I personally wouldn't change anything about my labour apart from I wish Clint could have stayed on the first night when I was having contractions by myself but even that wasn't that bad. He was at the birth and thats the main thing.

Did you have a positive birth story? You can share your birth story and thank your midwives using the #Thankyoumidwives hashtags and tag Smart Cells, head over to the Smart Cells site to find out more about the campaign. 




This post is collaborative with information from Smart Cells
Posted by at No comments
Labels: , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)