Project-B Pregnancy Subscription Box (40 Weeks+) - Review

We're at the end! This is my final Project-B box and I have absolutely loved them all!

This month, I received month 10 (40 weeks+) and the theme is: ARRIVE. The day after my box arrived, E was born! Thank you Project-B!

C was clearly very excited - check out the pointy finger!

Inside my box was:

1. Nordic Wipes - these are unlike anything I've ever seen before. They are disposable, allergy friendly wipes but they are foam! I've totally been won over. 

2. Halos N Horns Baby Moisturising Lotion (RRP £3.59) - I'm familiar with the Halos N Horns range and really like it so I was pleased to see this included in the box. E's skin is very dry so we have begun using it on her. 

3. Baby Ddrops (RRP £9.99) - these drops are a source of vitamin D3. They are for breastfed babies so unfortunately, not for us as E is formula fed. 

4. NUK Soother Chain (RRP £6.19) - this is adorable! We love Mickey Mouse and we have given E a dummy to settle her during her feeds. This is perfect for keeping her dummy close to hand. 

5. Bambino Mio Miowipe sample - I'm not a huge fan of samples in boxes but this natural, biodegradable wipe is handy for keeping in the changing bag in case of emergency!

6. Baba + Boo Reusable Nappy (RRP £9.25) - we have used cloth nappies with C but have yet to do so with E. This is such a lovely addition because it gives mums the chance to try out cloth if they had previously never thought of doing so. 

7. Green People Organic Babies Nappy Ointment sample - I love the Organic Babies range and E luckily, hasn't had a nappy rash yet. I'll keep this in our changing bag for when we need it. 

8. Metanium Everyday Barrier Ointment sample - I've heard such good things about this cream but had never tried it. I've been putting it on E's bum to prevent nappy rash and so far so good! 

9. Aquaint Natural Sanitising Water (RRP £2.49) - I love this! It's natural water that kills 99.9% of bacteria. With E having a dummy, we've been carrying it with us while we're out and cleaning it with it. 

10. Aleva Naturals Sleep Easy Wash sample - I always worry about what products to use on a newborns skin when bathing them and I'd never heard of the Aleva brand before. It is completely free from by-products, fragrances and potential carcinogens and is made from 100% natural ingredients. 

11. Aleva Naturals Calendula Plus Skin Remedy Cream sample - again, as E's skin is very dry this will come in handy for her. 

12. Tiddly Pom Organic Massage Oil samples - this oil is made from organic and fair trade ingredients. I've heard that baby massage really helps your baby settle to sleep. Now that I have these oils, I'll have to give it a go!

In total, this box is valued at around £31.51 which is fab considering the box is only £14 to buy. I have been blown away by how much I've loved every single Project-B box and I cannot recommend them enough.

You can read my reviews of past boxes here and you can find out more about Project-B on their website, Facebook and Twitter.

(Disclaimer: I received this box free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

My Second Pregnancy: E's Birth Story

If you're a regular reader, you'll know that every Monday I post a Bump Update but you may have noticed a lack of post yesterday. Sorry, I was busy having cuddles with my 4 day old. Yep, she's arrived!

On Thursday 4th September (at 39+3), I went to the hospital for my routine weekly check up at the Antenatal Clinic. My appointment was at 3.45pm and Chris was due to start work at 6pm so I just went by myself so he could stay at home with C and I could just take over when I got back and he could go off to work. I was called in and all the usual checks were done. My blood pressure was the highest that it had ever been this pregnancy at 140/105 and there was 1+ protein in my urine. I felt fine in myself but as the preeclampsia symptoms were beginning to rear their ugly head again, I had a cervix check to see if I was favourable for induction. My cervix was long but I was already 3cm so they decided that induction was the way to go. The delivery suite didn't have a bed ready so I was able to go home, get my bags and see C before heading back in. 

Waiting to go to delivery suite

We arrived at the hospital just after 6pm and after lots of bloods and being on the CTG machine, the doctor broke my waters for me at around 7.20pm. I needed to wait for an hour so at 8.20pm I was given an IV hormone drip to bring on my contractions. This took a while to get going. I felt more comfortable sat upright in a chair at this point and I used the TENS machine and gas & air to get through these early contractions. I didn't use the gas & air a lot at this point. I didn't like the woozy feeling that it gave me. The midwife explained other methods of pain relief but I didn't want diamorphine as I didn't want the baby to be really sleepy after the birth and because I wanted to labour as naturally as possible after my Caesarean section with C, I didn't really want an epidural either. 

My contractions kept coming and were getting more painful and closer together so I wanted to move to the bed to get more comfortable. A short while after, I felt like I couldn't handle the pain and asked for an epidural. I told Chris that I felt like a bit of a failure but I really couldn't handle it. This was at around 12.30am and I was only 5cm but my cervix was now paper-thin. I couldn't believe that I had only dilated 2cm in 4 hours. I was given the epidural and then my contractions started coming really quickly. I was told that the epidural wouldn't make me lose all sense of feeling, it would just take the edge off the contractions. If I'm completely honest, it didn't work very well for me. I felt everything. 

At this stage, everything seemed to happen very quickly and I was using the gas & air more and more so I felt completely out of it and I didn't enjoy that feeling at all but it was the only thing helping me. I always said that I didn't want to be one of those ladies who didn't know what was going on and made a complete fool of themselves during labour and I always thought I'd revert into myself and not be very loud. I was wrong. I remember saying to the midwife that it felt like I was trying to stop myself from pooing. She left to speak to another midwife briefly and I shouted to Chris that I felt like I needed to push. He obviously panicked as he was there with me by himself so he told me to breathe the gas & air and breathe until the midwife came back in. 

The midwife came back and told me to go with what my body told me to do so I pushed. Holy dear God, the ring of fire is a real thing. I was using the gas & air like my life depended on it and I could feel myself wailing like a banshee but I knew I had to get through it. I even looked at Chris once she was here and said "oh my god, I did it!" He just laughed haha. After only pushing for ten minutes, our baby girl, Erin, was born at 01.50am on the 5th September 2014 weighing 7lbs 2oz. Her head circumference was 34.5cm and she is 49cm long. 

Unfortunately, I had a retained placenta so my epidural was topped up and I was taken to theatre to have it manually removed. I think they said that it was stuck to my previous Caesarean section scar. I also had a second degree tear which needed stitching. We had a two day hospital stay but now we are happily at home as a family of four :)

Project-B Pregnancy Subscription Box (35-39 Weeks) - Review

I've been receiving Project-B's pregnancy subscription box from the beginning of my pregnancy and I always look forward to it coming (you can read my past reviews here). I can't believe we're almost at the end!

This month, I received month 9 (35-39 weeks) and the theme is: NEST. All pregnant women in the last few months can relate to the feeling of needing their home to look perfect for their new arrival and I am no exception!

August also sees Project-B's first birthday so they were lovely enough to send a free gift with every box (a gift for us but it's THEIR birthday?! Too nice!).

The free gift came in gorgeous Project-B wrapping paper and it turned out to be a full-sized bottle of Weleda Citrus Body Lotion worth £13.95! I rarely spend money on myself for anything let alone something to pamper myself with. This smells beautiful so I'm really looking forward to treating myself. Thank you, Project-B!

Now for what was inside my main box!

1. Spontex Washups (RRP £2.49) - This is no word of a lie, but I am obsessed with keeping the kitchen tidy. I don't know why, it's not like the baby will be spending much time in there! I have to have all of the dishes washed so these were a great addition to me. They are such great quality too and seem to last longer than supermarket own brand scourers.

2. Pampered Chef Microfiber Towel - How glam is this!? It's so soft and perfect for cleaning up any spills baby might have/make. It's pink and I'm having a girl - it must be fate! It's a lot bigger than I'd expect it to be and I'm sure we will use it quite a lot in the first few weeks of her life.

3. Eco2Life Bath & Shower Cleaning Spray & Refill (RRP £3.10) - I love this! Eco2Life are a range of eco-friendly green household cleaning products and they use a refill and reuse system. To make up the cleaner, you just fill the spray bottle halfway with ordinary tap water, add a little of the refill and top up with cold tap water. Easy!

4. NO-GERMS Instant Hand Sanitiser (RRP £5.99) - I am obsessed with keeping my hands clean, I was really bad about it when we first brought C home from the hospital. This sanitiser is 100% alcohol-free and kills 99.9% of germs for 2-4 hours (alcohol sanitisers stop working as soon as they dry). It hydrates your skin with natural lavender, chamomile and aloe vera. I've been keeping mine in the changing bag!

5. 2 x samples Phyta Oil stretch mark cream - At this stage of pregnancy, my stretchmarks seem to be increasing by the day. I love being introduced to new products but as I've said before, I'm not a huge fan of sample sachets. I don't feel like you get enough in them.

6. Yes! Nurse's Hand Formula (RRP £5.49) - This is a fast-absorbing, non-greasy hand cream which aims to hydrate your skin after constant hand-washing - something which I'm all too used to with having a newborn! 

7. Weleda Calendula Lotion (RRP £7.95) - I've heard such good things about Weleda so I can't wait to try this on the baby. They must be good with an £8 price tag per 200ml bottle.

This month's flash card topics are:

Information on how my pregnancy is developing this month, a recipe card for chicken and broccoli stir fry (how yummy does that sound!?), tips of posture for getting your baby into the right birthing position and a last minute shopping list!

In total, this month's box is worth around £25.02 then on top of that, you get the £13.95 free gift. Considering that the box only costs £14 to buy, this is a good deal. I've been really impressed by all of my Project-B boxes and I'm so sad that my next box will be my last!

You can find out more about Project-B at their website, Facebook and Twitter.

(Disclaimer: I received this box free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own).

My Second Pregnancy: 39 Week Bump Update

I was really hoping that I wouldn't be writing my 39 week update and instead I'd have a squishy newborn in my arms but, no. Not yet!

This past week has been really tough as my blood pressure does not want to co-operate. I had a blood pressure check on Tuesday which came back as borderline, an iron infusion on Wednesday as my haemoglobin levels were so low, my routine antenatal appointment on Thursday turned into an overnight hospital stay (including a rather uncomfortable cervix check) and since I've been discharged, the midwife has been coming to my house every day and my blood pressure seems to be going down (90, 86, 84). Let's hope it stays that way. 

I definitely think the baby has dropped lower. I mentioned that my cervix was high but 1cm in a post last week and yesterday and today I've had, sorry for TMI, blood streaked mucus so I'm assuming that this is my bloody show? It could however just be from the cervix check, I guess. I have had some period-y cramps since. Apparently labour usually kicks in within a few days of having your show so fingers crossed I won't have to write a 40 week update next week :P 

My Second Pregnancy: 38 Week Consultant Appointment & Hospital Admittance

I have had the worst 24 hours of my life. I set off for my routine consultant appointment at 2pm yesterday fully aware of what would happen. I've been to enough of these appointments; blood pressure, urine check and scan. 

As soon as I handed over my urine sample, the nurse tested it and said "3 + protein". My heart sank. When I'd been admitted to hospital to have C there were 4 +. The doctor asked me to pop up onto the bed to check my blood pressure and it was high with the diastolic number being 95. I was then given my scan and baby looked fine and is estimated at around 7lbs. She spoke to me about her concerns and said that they might want to induce me either later that night or the following day. I was always led to believe that I wasn't eligible for induction as I'd had a previous Caesarian. 

She explained that they couldn't induce using their usual method of a hormone gel because there is a risk of scar rupture. I could be induced using a Cook balloon which is inserted into the cervix and it breaks your waters. She then had me remove my jeans and underwear to check if my cervix would be ready for it if need be. This was the most uncomfortable and painful experience of my life. It didn't help that I saw blood running down her gloved hand afterwards! Apparently my cervix is still quite high but she could get it to about 1cm - not a lot! She then consulted another doctor over what to do with me. 

When she came back, she told me that they had decided to admit me to the ward and they took some bloods. Cue me ringing Chris quickly as he was due to start work shortly. I needed my bags and we needed to arrange childcare for C. Luckily, his mum lives around the corner and she really helps us out when we need it which is fab. 

I was hooked up to the monitor to check mine and baby's heart rates as well as baby's movements but all was fine. My blood pressure was starting to drop a little too (lowest being 88). Chris dropped my bags up around dinner time but as we didn't know what was happening yet, he went home to C as we wanted to keep things as normal for him as we could. My blood pressure continued to be checked at regular intervals and the diastolic number even went as low as 77 on one occasion. My urine was also coming back with just a trace of protein which I thought was very odd.

Chris came up to see me at visiting hours (6.30-8.30) and at 8.15pm, I had another blood pressure check. It came back in the high 80s again. As this wasn't too high, I asked what the plan was. Realistically, I wanted to go home with Chris and by this point I was missing C a lot. The midwife came back and said that the doctors weren't able to come see me so I would be staying in and they'd come in the morning. I was so upset. I was on a noisy ward and being away from Chris and C, I knew I wouldn't sleep and I was right. I think I saw every hour on the clock during the night and even when I did fall asleep, I couldn't get into a deep sleep. I kept jumping and waking myself up.

This morning, my blood pressure was high again at 94 but urine was still clear of protein. The doctors came round at 10am and checked my reflexes which were brisk. I was told that if my blood pressure was back down under 90, I could go home. I had it checked at 11am (94) then 12pm (92) so at least it was going in the right direction. I was hooked up the monitor to check our heart rates and babys movement again and, as expected, all was fine. After lunch, around 1.45, I had my blood pressure checked again - 85. I had never been so happy. Home time!

The midwife will come out to my house tomorrow to check my blood pressure so if it's high again, we'll work it from there. I was also given an antenatal appointment for Thursday when I'll be 39+3 (if I haven't gone into labour already) and I'll probably be given an induction date. Okay, so I may be home with the baby still in my belly, but I've never been more glad to be in my own house cuddling my little boy!

My Second Pregnancy: Blood Pressure Checks & a Monofer Infusion

The past couple of days have not been fun. 

Yesterday, I had a follow up appointment at DOU (Day Obstetric Unit) to be hooked up to the Dynamap machine which would take my blood pressure at regular intervals (every 5 minutes in my case). I have had so many problems with blood pressure throughout both my pregnancies that I feel like a bit of an expert! I know that a diastolic (bottom) number of 90 or above is high. All six of my readings came back between 92 and 96 so obviously, I worried. My urine came back clear of protein and after a doctors check, they didn't think that pre-eclampsia was coming back. The diastolic number at my booking appointment was 84 so because it wasn't a huge jump, they just think I had slightly high blood pressure to begin with. I, therefore, don't meet the threshold for them to medicate me and try to reduce my blood pressure, I just need an eye kept on me and was told to come back the following day (today). My iron levels were also deemed too low so I needed a Monofer infusion the following day (again, today). 

I arrived at 9.30am and I knew I'd be there til at least lunchtime. The midwives were all so lovely and I had my blood pressure checked first and a quick listen into the baby's heartbeat. My blood pressure came back with the diastolic number at 85 which I was really surprised about seeing as it was a bit higher only yesterday. The baby was absolutely fine too. 

I had a cannula fitted (I'd forgotten how much I hated that!) and saline dripped through. I was then given 900mg of Monofer intravenously. This seemed to take forever and the hospital doesn't have wifi - nightmare! They did feed me tea and toast though so that kept me happy for a while! Once the Monofer drip had finished, I just needed another quick saline one to ensure that I got all the remnants of iron then I needed to stay a further half an hour just to make sure I didn't have a reaction or anything but all was good. I did feel a bit dizzy and lightheaded once I stood up though. 

I've been advised to go to Admissions if I feel a bit odd or ill but I'm back to the hospital again tomorrow to see my consultant so I'm sure I'll be fine until then. At this rate I'm gonna be sick of looking at hospitals! On the plus side, my iron levels should start to creep up but it isn't a quick fix. I don't need to take my iron tablets for a week, thankfully, then when I start them again I'll only need one a day! 

My Second Pregnancy: 38 Week Bump Update

I'm 38 weeks pregnant and I feel like crap. 

I had a blood pressure recheck on Saturday morning as it was borderline at 124/91 at my consultant appointment on Thursday. This time, it came back at 140/88 so it did seem to be going down. There was, however, protein in my urine but as there was also leukocytes the midwife put it down to a urinary tract infection rather than pre-eclampsia so she has sent my sample off for testing. 

This week I have had horrible lower back cramps and shooting pains in my pelvis. I don't know if this is anything to do with the baby getting ready or just symptoms of a UTI. 

I'm at DOU tomorrow morning for another blood pressure check and more bloods are to be taken to see if my iron levels are progressing but I will update on that tomorrow. 

I still have swelling of my feet, ankles and legs. My face and hands seem to be a bit puffy too and I'm getting the occasional headache alongside a cloudy head, if that makes sense! I'm unsure if I'm actively looking out for these pre-eclampsia signs but I guess we'll find out tomorrow. 

According to Saturday's check the baby is 4/5 palpable which I think means 1/5 engaged? Hopefully we aren't waiting too long for her arrival now as she is an estimated 6lbs 13oz already! 

My Second Pregnancy: 37 Week Consultant Appointment

How can things change so much in one day?

Yesterday, I posted about seeing my community midwife and everything looked fine. Today was a completely different story and I've just had a rubbish day if I'm totally honest. 

Firstly, Chris had to work so this would be the first hospital appointment that he wouldn't be able to attend with me but seeing as everything was fine yesterday, we assumed nothing would show up today. I left C at Chris's mums and I'm really glad I did now!

My appointment was for 2.45pm but I didn't get called in until 3.35pm. Cue a tired and grumpy me, worried about leaving C for so long and being bored out of my mind because Chris wasn't with me. 

I'd pointed out my swelling but did say that it had been checked out yesterday and that I was advised to just elevate my legs and stay off my feet as much as possible. She had a little feel of my legs and checked my reflexes. 

I was given a scan and everything looked fine with the baby and she was wriggling away. My blood pressure was checked and it had gone from being 120/80 yesterday to 124/91 today. That made it borderline. Protein and leukocytes were also found in my urine so that was sent off. Last night and today, I noticed that I have been seeing 'floaters' (but wasn't overly worried as my blood pressure was fine yesterday) so all these symptoms together aren't great. 

The doctor left to speak to her colleague about "what to do". I was terrified. The last thing I wanted was for them to keep me in overnight. Luckily, as my BP is only borderline, they want me to come back on Saturday morning and Tuesday morning to get it checked. I'll also go back to see her on Thursday. 

My iron levels are still really low so after my surprise blood tests yesterday, another 4 tubes were taken today. I was given another script for iron tablets and of they don't pick up, I will need to be given iron intravenously. 

I'm keeping everything crossed that today has just been a bad day and my BP will be fine on Saturday. It just really sucked being there and being told all of this information on my own. 

I got back to pick up C and the first thing he did was give me a massive cuddle. Just what I needed <3 

My Second Pregnancy: 37 Week Midwife Appointment

Today I had my last appointment with my midwife. I've had really bad swelling in my feet/ankles and legs but I was pretty sure that it was normal swelling as I've had no other pre-eclampsia symptoms. I wore leggings and pumps to show the midwife and she asked if I had any pain in the back of my calves (which I haven't) so it just seemed that it could be down to being at this stage plus the heat. 

My blood pressure came back at 120/80 so it was perfectly normal and like I expected, urine was clear. My bump is measuring 36cm but that's fine as I've always been a week behind. 

As my iron levels were so low at 28 weeks, I needed them checked again because I'm so close to the birth so this meant I needed more blood taken - always my favourite thing to hear! :(

According to my notes, the baby is still cephalic thankfully, but free. I wonder when she will start to engage?

I see the consultant at the hospital tomorrow for some reason (I don't know why they've given me appointments so close) so I'm imagining that nothing will have changed! Maybe they will scan me again, I love seeing her :) 

My Second Pregnancy: 37 Week Bump Update

I'm 37 weeks pregnant. 

I can't believe it - I've cooked a baby to full-term! 

This week has been very hard. I've had a lot of pains with the main one being cramps in my lower back which radiate up my spine then make my neck throb? I have no idea what it is but some people have told me that it sounds like sciatica :(

In addition to this, I've had more frequent Braxton Hicks. My feet and ankles seem to have swollen quite a bit too and they just get worse as the evening goes on. 

I'm not sure if my bump picture shows, but I do feel like the baby is lower down now. I'm feeling constant pressure down below (almost as if my waters could go at any minute!) and the pain in my rib is gone. I'm guessing that this is because she is moving down and getting ready to be born. 

At this stage the baby weighs around 2.8kg and measures roughly 49cm from head to toe. Now, not much is happening in way of development. It's just a waiting game now!

My Second Pregnancy: 36 Week Bump Update

I'm 36 weeks pregnant. I cannot believe that I'm writing yet another one of these updates already. The weeks seem to be flying by although I've heard that around about this stage is where it begins to drag a bit. 

Morning sickness is back with a vengeance. I don't want to eat anything other than snacks, my heartburn appears after I eat literally anything and I have been sick. It feels like I'm right back in the first trimester. 

I did have a little visual disturbance last Tuesday. It was exactly the same thing that happened with my pregnancy with C so naturally, I panicked. I cried. Chris urged me to phone the maternity unit but I hate being a hassle especially if nothing is wrong. I tested my wee with my Ketostix and only found a trace of protein so I wasn't convinced that my vision problems was due to pre-eclampsia. I phoned maternity anyway just to put my mind at ease and she said that because there is no protein and the fact that I had been vomiting earlier in the day, that it could just be down to dehydration. I kept drinking lots of water throughout the night and was absolutely fine. I think I just panic too much over the slightest thing and I'm comparing every little symptom to my last pregnancy. 

I'm really uncomfortable now. It hurts to even sit no matter what position I'm in. My hands and feet are swelling slightly and I've had to remove my ring - boo :( I've found that my socks are leaving marks on my new-found cankles! 

We had a scan on Thursday and the baby is weighing roughly 5lbs 4oz. Her length is around 47cm. I do feel like she is moving lower and lower - it really does feel like sometimes she might fall out! I constantly feel like I need to wee but by the end of this week I'll have a full-term baby. How scary is that!? The end is near! 

My Second Pregnancy: 35 Week Consultant Appointment

Today I saw my consultant at the hospital. I wasn't too sure what to expect as I've never made it to 35 weeks before. I obviously knew that they would check the basics - urine (which was completely fine), blood pressure (again, fine at 119/80) and she asked how I was feeling. I have had mild oedema in my hands and feet but it is nowhere near as bad as it was during my last pregnancy and as I've had no other pre-eclampsia symptoms, she wasn't worried at all. 

I was given a quick scan to check the placenta which is thankfully functioning normally this time! Baby is also estimated to be weighing around 5lbs 4oz. My guess is that she'll be around 7.5/8lbs at birth! 

I questioned labour. I explained that the last consultant that I saw told me that I wouldn't be induced if I were to go overdue and that they would give me another Caesarean section. I wanted to know when I would be likely to get an estimated date for that (C's birthday is Sept 21st and if I go 12 days over that brings me to the 20th - eek!) or if it would just be a case of "we'll see what happens". She explained that as my body hasn't laboured before they would want to leave me for as long as possible because if they start to interfere, the risk of me needing a c-section is higher so really they don't want to be inserting pessaries or anything to get me started off because it could rupture my scar or them interfering could make things worse. 

I'm feeling a little 'meh' if I'm honest. I think it's just the thought of not knowing what will happen. Apparently, although I've had a baby, I haven't laboured so I am likely to go overdue. I don't like the unknown. I just wish I knew whether or not I will be able to labour successfully on my own! 

Anywho, the baby is still head down but not engaged. I see my community midwife in two weeks time (on the 20th) then I will be back at the hospital for another consultant appointment the following day which I thought was a bit strange but I guess it's good that they are keeping a closer eye on me at this stage due to my pregnancy history.   

My Second Pregnancy: 35 Week Bump Update

I'm 35 weeks pregnant!

We're still busy redecorating the house and it feels like it's neverending :( Chris has been doing the majority of it but I'm feeling guilty because it's not fair on him so I'm helping him out where I can. It is putting pressure on my lower back though and I have had some weird cramping pains there. 

I've found that whenever I'm walking I'll get stabbing pains in my pelvic region which does make me yell out and take my breath away. Poor Chris keeps thinking the baby is coming! 

My hands and feet seem to be swollen a little bit too. Not to the extent that they were in my last pregnancy (plus I'm testing my urine with Ketostix regularly so no pre-eclampsia!) but I'm not liking sausage toes and fingers! 

I've started to wash all the baby's clothes this week so they will be ready for her arrival. Not long now! 

The baby now weighs around 2.4kg and measures roughly 46cm. She has full length toenails and fingernails and a fully developed pair of kidneys. Her liver can now produce some waste products too! 

My Second Pregnancy: 34 Week Bump Update

I'm 34 weeks pregnant. I have never been 34 weeks pregnant so this is amazing - hooray! 

I really feel like it is getting tougher now. The skin on my tummy feels like it has been stretched as much as possible. I don't know how I have 3-6 more weeks of growth left. 

We're redecorating our home at the minute too (and built the baby's crib - eek) so we have been out and about trying to buy nice decor items. We don't drive so walking a lot is really taking it's toll. I have been getting a pain in my pelvis/groin area when I've done too much. I was in tears to Chris on Saturday night because I was so sore around my belly and lower back too. 

I seem to have lost my appetite which is really strange! I didn't expect this to happen. Its annoying because I know that I need to eat and I feel really rubbish when I haven't but I just don't feel hungry! 

The baby's kicks are still really strong. On occasion, I have cried out because they hurt me so much. My belly has gotten so hairy too. It's quite embarrassing. I remember it with C though, and it all disappeared when he was born - thankfully! 

At 34 weeks the baby now weighs over 2.2kg and is around 45cm long. She is just filling out and getting rounder now! Obviously, at this stage last time, C was already 5 days old so I have an idea of how she looks right now - strange! 

This is a photo of C when he should have been 34 weeks exactly. It's so odd to think that there is a little baby roughly that size in my tummy right now!

My Second Pregnancy: 33 Week Midwife Appointment

Today, I saw the midwife for a 33 week check up. I've done so many of these that I know the drill by now. I wasn't expecting anything to be out of the ordinary as I'm feeling completely fine (which is a relief as I'm 33+2 and this is the exact stage that C was born!). 

My blood pressure came back at 117/64 - fine, baby's heartbeat was fine at 142bpm, bump was measuring at 32cm so nothing to worry about there. My urine was free from protein but I did have 2+ Leukocytes which could be a sign of infection. It has been sent of for testing so I should get the results soon. 

I now see the consultant at the hospital in 2 weeks time but I'm feeling very reassured at the minute. No pre-eclampsia this time - woo!! 

My Second Pregnancy: 33 Week Bump Update

I'm 33 weeks pregnant. This is the biggie for me. C was born at 33+2 so I think if I get past Wednesday I'll feel like I've accomplished something amazing! 

This week has, again, been tough. The baby's kicks are actually hurting and making me jump. I'm occasionally getting weird lower back cramps which is terrifying Chris because he keeps thinking I'm going into labour and heartburn just seems to be getting worse. Maybe she'll have lovely long hair!

Under my right rib still aches and it's proving tough to bend over to change C's nappy. He doesn't make it any easier because he gets really excited and kicks his legs which means nappy changes take twice as long!  

This week the baby weighs around 2kg (the size of a honeydew melon) and will measure about 44cm. I already know that she is head down and ready to come into the world. I have found that my ankles seem to swell but it does go away again so I'm not too worried that the pre-eclampsia may be back. 

Until next week! 

Project-B Pregnancy Subscription Box (30-34 Weeks)

If you are a regular reader, you'll know that throughout my pregnancy, I've been receiving Project-B's pregnancy subscription boxes (you can read my past reviews here).

I recently received month 8 (30-34 weeks) and I was super excited to see what was inside. This months theme is PREPARE which is great as right now I am getting ready for impending labour.

As soon as I opened the box, there was a lovely surprise of a 7ml sample of Weleda Pomegranate Firming Cream (RRP £23.95 for 30ml). This was a lovely treat in addition to the already fantastic products that were in the box.

"What are these fantastic products?" I hear you ask. Well, inside there was:

1. 2 x Montezuma Mini Bars [milk chocolate with butterscotch] (RRP £0.85 each) - These were really yummy. A nice little treat for a pregnant lady. Although they were milk chocolate I did think that they tasted a little like Bourneville. I'd never tried Montezuma's chocolate before but I will definitely buy it in the future.

2. Sample pack of Vital Baby breast pads - I am planning on breastfeeding this little one and, because I'm just so lucky, I am having little leakages already!

3. Laboraide Twin Pack (RRP £19.99) - This is the item that I was most excited about. I had heard of Laboraide back when I was pregnant with C and had planned on buying a pack. I didn't have a chance to as he arrived early and it was a C-section anyway! This time around, I am allowed to go for a VBAC and I cannot wait to try these out as I want to have as natural a birth as possible. They are a dental support device that are designed to be used during the first and second stages of labour to help reduce the pain by relaxing the jaw and keeping the mouth open. This in turn eases the neck and shoulders down to the core muscles. It can be used alongside TENS machines and gas and air too. It's gone straight into my hospital bag and I cannot wait to see how effective they are!

4. Femfresh Freshness Wipes (RRP £1.59) - These are small and discreet and leave you feeling fresh! Very happy to see these included.

5.  Benecos Nail Polish 9ml (RRP £6.95) and Benecos Natural Lip Gloss 5ml (RRP £6.95) - I'm not a huge girly girl but it is nice to see little make up treats. These are both natural products and haven't been tested on animals.

6. Weleda Perineum Massage Oil 50ml (RRP £8.95) - I actually told Chris that I wanted to use this oil a few months ago and he recoiled in horror - at least he doesn't have to worry about this sort of thing as he won't go through childbirth! The idea is to massage it into the perineal area 3-4 times a week from the 34th week of pregnancy in order to elasticise that area and hopefully reduce the risk of tearing in labour. I was so happy to see the full sized product and I will definitely be using this once I hit 34 weeks.

7. Floradix Liquid Iron 10ml - I wrote recently that my blood tests had come back showing that I was anaemic so this arrived at the perfect time!

8. Pukka Tea Bag samples - I do like trying new samples of tea but I have been drinking less due to having low iron levels as my midwife told me that they include tannins which can stop me from absorbing iron fully. I did enjoy these caffeine-free bags though!

I also received my usual four flash cards and the topics were:

Information on how my pregnancy is developing this month, a recipe card for salmon with pine nuts and lime (I love salmon so I am eager to try this!), staying active during pregnancy, and a hospital bag checklist (which came in very handy as it's what I'm in the midst of doing!)

Overall, I was seriously impressed with this box. The Laboraide alone won me over. For a £14 price tag, the items in this month's box total over £46!!!!! Unbelievable! Totally worth buying.

You can find out more about Project-B at their website, Facebook and Twitter.

(Disclaimer: I received this subscription free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts an opinions are my own.)

My Second Pregnancy: 32 Week Bump Update

I'm 32 weeks pregnant!

This week, there hasn't really been much change if I'm honest. Still tired, back is still sore. Pelvis is starting to hurt a little bit and I feel very heavy when I walk. I'm constantly having to tell Chris to slow down as he's walking too fast even though he'll only be walking at a reasonable pace. Her feet are still lodged under my ribs so that's hurting quite a bit. 

Chris had to bring me home Gaviscon the other day as the heartburn is gettin so bad now that it's waking me up. I never had this with C. I've also got new stretchmarks!!! :(

I've more or less packed my hospital bag. I only have little silly, fiddly bits to go in which I'll sort out this week. I will then do a post on what I've packed. I do think I've packed too much though! 

At 32 weeks, the baby is roughly 19in long weighing 3.9lbs (the size of a head of lettuce). From now on, I should be gaining about 1lb a week with half of that going straight to the baby. She now has fingernails, toenails and real hair! Amazing :) 

31 Week Midwife Appointment

Today I had my 31 week midwife appointment. Due to the pre-eclampsia last time, I see her every two weeks. Urine was free from protein and blood pressure was fine, as it has been throughout my pregnancy, thankfully! Baby's heartbeat was lovely at around 128bpm too. 

I got my blood results back from two weeks ago and apparently I am anaemic with my haemoglobin levels being at 97 so I need to be taking an iron tablet in the morning and at evening with pure orange juice to help me absorb it. 

This was the first time I'd had questions for her. Firstly, for the past few weeks I've had a dull "pins and needles"-like pain in my right rib and it only seems to get tolerable when I put pressure on it. She felt my tummy and told me that the baby is head down, her back is to my right side so the pain in my rib is her feet - lovely! 

My second query was that her movements seemed to have changed since late Sunday evening. Usually she is active almost every minute of every day but I noticed a real difference all throughout Monday and she only really started moving more last night but even these kicks felt a bit more "muffled" than usual. From listening to the heartbeat, she told me that movement does seem okay but that she was obliged to sent me to the maternity unit to be checked over. At the risk of sounding awful, I really couldn't be bothered. I knew I'd be there for ages and I hate feeling like I'm wasting peoples time. 

I got my whooping cough vaccine too and now my arm is really starting to ache - boo! 

I got to the Maternity Unit shortly after and a lovely student midwife checked my blood pressure, urine and baby's heartbeat again and then I was hooked up the monitor and I had to push a button every time I felt a movement. I felt so silly because as soon as the pads were put on my tummy, the baby mustn't have liked the pressure and kept kicking away! 

All in all, everything was fine. The doctor gave me a quick scan after and she told me that the baby's head is right down in my pelvis (and so is unlikely to move) and as she grows, movements may change but I should never have periods where I don't feel anything at all. I was given the phone number for the unit and told that if it happens again, to have something sugary to eat or drink and lie on my left side. I should feel around 10 movements in a two hour period. 

I did feel like I had wasted time but luckily they were lovely and said that it's never a waste of time if it's something like this!