I’ve really impressed myself with how regular I have been posting to my blog and exceeded my own expectations. However, with my circumstances changing I know that will be difficult to maintain. I have looked at my current schedule and played around with some ideas to find something that is manageable.
Featured blog articles
I really enjoy the way Word Press makes it easy to share others bloggers posts. It enables me to support other bloggers build their audience and to enable my readers to discover more great blogs.
Recently, I posted encouraging anyone that wanted me to feature them to let me know as I’m worried I’ll have limits time to find the articles myself. Some great bloggers have stepped up to help me continue this feature. If you’d like to be features, please comment on my ”Help Me” post.
This feature will continue to be fortnightly on a Monday.
Writing/Blogging/Books
My blog started off as being about writing fiction and it is still my passion to continue to cover this. Although, over the years this feature has become more varied and now covers blogging, books and literature festivals.
Through my son I have fallen in love with Childrens books all over again and I would like to cover this more in future and may even dare to do a YouTube channel *eek*. Let’s focus first on keeping the blog current and taking care of my young family.
This feature will be fortnightly on Tuesdays.
Beauty (organic/cruelty-free)
Originally, this feature started to support fellow fair skinned girls discover the palest foundation.
Then, I discovered leading brands were testing on animals so I started paying more attention to my products.
Then my son ate my make-up! I was horrified by the chemicals in it (luckily he was fine). A friend had gifted him organic baby products and he was the only one at baby group without dry skin or cradle cap and I started to question ingredients in products and switching to organic.
I will continue to share my finds fortnightly on Thursdays, although currently whilst on maternity pay I have cancelled my subscription boxes and it’s likely to include a few more baby products.
Personal
In recent months, I’ve started sharing more personal posts. These are likely to be on parenting as that is what I will be doing mostly over the coming months. It will also include goal setting and achievements.
These will be fortnightly on Saturdays.
Events (occasional)
Throughout the year, there are events that I enjoy taking part in like NaNoWriMo/NaPoWriMo. Or when I set myself personal challenges like 14 poems for Valentines day or to raise awareness of Mental Health month.
I hope to be able to continue to take part in these events and will post sporadically inline with the events requirements. These posts will be in addition to the above when taking place.
It’s a cruelty free beauty subscription box and contains a selection of five products – skincare, body care, makeup and occasionally a sweet treat too. Plus, a 50p donation from the sale of each box goes to an animal friendly charity (Animal Free Research). In addition, you earn loyalty points for each purchase which can then be used for money off future boxes.
The box came with an information card to tell me all about the products inside and their value.
Green People: Sun Lotion SPF 15 (sheet lists price as £6)
As a redhead, I do appreciate sun lotion although this SPF is a lot lower than I use. I will likely give this to my husband or wait until it is mot quite so hot to use.
The product has natural ingredients for UV filters, antioxidants and tan accelerator. It came with a booklet about their other sun products including a Childrens range.
Make-up Eraser: Mini Travel Cloth (sheet lists price as £5)
The sample version hasn’t got the seen edges and warns it may fray. Instantly loved the redhead mermaid on the packaging.
It is for removing makeup using only water. I’ve added it to my hospital bag as it sounds like a great idea. Although, I’m barely wearing makeup at the moment.
On their site they have other designs including some with pretty patterns.
They claim to give you almond shape eyes and can be used up to four times. I’m hoping to get a family pic done once baby is here and will use these lashes to give me that extra oomph at the shoot. They offer free shipping to UK and US.
La Ritzy: Black eye pencil (she lists price as £15)
I tried it right away and it gave a rich black colour and applied smoothly. It didn’t irritate my sensitive eyes. The brand is vegan and paraben free.
******
Reflect on previous box
This is how I got on using the products from my June box:
Zerreau: Coconut Towel Off Shampoo (sheet lists price as £3.99)
There were some great videos of others using this but for me it wasn’t great. It made my hair looking cleaner but I didn’t like the feel. I’m sure I’ll use it up but I won’t buy it. It’s not for me.
Dermadeli: Rejuvinating Toner (sheet lists price as £1.50)
It is empty! That’s got to be a sign that I loved it. I used it on hot days to freshen my face and on a few occasions my husband and son asked for a quick spritz. I plan buy this again – may even get the bigger size.
LaRitzy: NUE Eyeshadow Palette (sheet lists prove as £35.99)
I’m not in love with this palette and won’t buy again. I found the colours were not very pigmented and didn’t show up well on my pale skin.
Hurraw: Sun Lip Balm SPF15 (sheet lists price as £3.99)
I was very pleased with this product. The SPF causes a slight paleness to the lip but it feels good and I like that it has protection. This is a favourite.
I’ve not needed to use these yet but they are a useful product to have and will get used in time.
Chewsy: 100% Natural Chewing Gum (sheet lists price as £1.25)
This sticky gum tasted yum. It didn’t last long as I ate it quickly. I’ve not seen it in shops and I doubt I’d order it online but I would love to have it again.
Would I recommend?
I’ve cancelled my subscription – only because I’m not on maternity leave and need to be more careful with my spending. I will resubscribe to The Pip Box in the future as I really like the reward scheme, supporting a charity and discovering cruelty-free brands.
I plan to look back over my past boxes and work out what was great or not.
NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. You set yourself a word count goal and attempt to write often (ideally daily).
I thought NaNoWriMo was only in November. November is full of birthdays and we often take a family vacation which means I get very little time to write that month. It turns out there are now more months throughout the year to take the challenge and July is one of those.
Sadly, I did not achieve my goal of 25k. It was rather ambitious considering I’ve had a lot on this month with:
Noah finishing at both his nurseries (2 x sports day, graduation and leaver parties)
Taster days at his new school including homework
Continuing to work up to 39 weeks pregnant was exhausting most evenings I just wanted to sleep
Hypnobirthing classes were so relaxing, afterwards I was too chilled to write
Increase in midwife appointments as my due date nears
Things I hadn’t anticipated affecting my goal:
Noah catching a sick bug
My husband getting Labyrinths (swelling inside the ear drums)
Myself catching a cold and I can’t take any meds (a week on and it is almost gone now)
Referral on my last CIPD assignment so I had to work on resubmitting that
The opportunity to write for Ginger Parrot!
As I’ve not done this challenge before I had no idea what was a realistic goal. I decided on 25k as I felt that would be achievable and yet also challenging. Perhaps, ordinarily that would have been true but I hadn’t anticipated the germs about to invade my home or how tired pregnancy and keeping up with work and a 4 year old would make me.
Putting that aside, I am super impressed with what I have achieved *pats myself on the back*. I’ve also identified from my daily word counts that certain days I am more productive and other days I don’t write at all. It could be that these are the days that I am working on my blog posts.
At points, I fell back in love with my story and was excited and proud about scenes I created. Other times, it was a struggle and I know I’ll need to return to fix some parts lacking in lustre. I also discovered I don’t have to write my novel in chapter order, I can skip ahead and return to parts later and this sometimes makes things more clearer.
I also managed to keep up with my blog posts (just about), however, I have drafted a new schedule to reduce posting as I think blogging will be more challenging with a newborn. I’ve also agreed to keep writing for Ginger Parrot and they’ve added me to their team page – this is a big achievement for me and I don’t want to let them down.
Novel writing is my first love and I’m hoping that in the coming months I will find a way to make more time for this. I don’t quite know how yet but perhaps setting myself monthly word count goals would be a good start. I think I’ll start low and try to beat it each month…
*****
Did you do the NaNoWriMo challenge? How do you manage to juggle life and your writing goals? I would love to hear how you got on.
With my first I left packing my bag until the day I went into labour and although I’ve tried to be more organised this time, it’s still not fully packed.
My bag is an overnight bag using an old small suitcase, the sort you can take on a cheap flight as carry on luggage. I’m not planning on staying in longer unless there is a complication. If that happens, my hubby can bring me more stuff.
For labour
Hypnobirthing Parents’ Workbook: RRP £10.00
We bought this book as part of the free antenatal course delivered by our local midwives. Click here to read my article about hypnobirthing.
Neom: Aromatherapy mist – RRP £8.00
I wasn’t sure which scent to buy so got one of each to try. Most aromatherapy oils seem to be a pippet liquid oil or roller ball pulse point. I liked the idea of a mist as I can spritz the air or some fabric. I also got their mini hand creams to try.
Kindle fire: It was a gift but google says about £50.00
As my hubby has amazon prime we were able to download the music used during our hypnobirth course for free. It will also double up as entertainment as I can read, watch movies, play games and browse the internet.
Currently, these are my emergency snacks from my locker at work – I brought them home on my last day. I’m planning on ordering a graze box as I got free vouchers in my bounty packs. I really fancied JOM Candy but it’s not easy to buy.
Joseph Joseph: water bottle – £9.00 but I think I got mine half price in a sale.
The bottle never leaks and I like the clicks feature. Keeping hydrated during labour is very important.
Scarf: Bought years ago by a friend years ago when popular as sarong and shawls. These can be used during labour to do the Rebozo techniques.
Stay Cool Ice Towel: Whilst shopping for a fan I saw this and it sounds amazing. You just add water and it stays cool for hours. It is used by sporty people but I’m going to use it in labour. It is currently on order as I had to wait until pay day but I’m hoping it will arrive in time.
Travel brush & hair bands: When it gets hot, it is useful to tie my hair back. Also, handy to make myself look presentable when I get cleaned up afterwards.
For baby
M&Co: Seven piece start set – RRP £18.00
The trickiest thing is guessing what size your baby will be. With my first I had tiny baby and newborn clothes. He was 8 pounds 12 ounces and fit in newborn clothes for a week.
This time, all I’ve packed is a set from M&Co in size newborn. This set is great value for money and all you need. It consists of a vest, top, trousers, sleepsuit, two bibs and a hat.
Kit & Kin: Size 1, panda, pack of 20 – RRP £4.00
I got these eco nappies from Boots so I could collect my club card points. I’ve got a few different nappies but these are hands down the cutest.
Organyc: Cotton wool pads – RRP £2.48
Newborn skin is so sensitive and you should use only water to clean their bums for as long as possible. You’ll get told to use cotton wool balls but they can get stuck to sticky poo – the first baby poo is like black tar. I found the pads much better.
Naty: Sensitive wipes (unscented) – RRP £2.95
I plan to use cotton wool and water to clean her bum but packed these just in case things get messy. They are eco friendly and only use safe ingredients. I got them in an ambassador deal (click here to learn more).
The Little Art Collection: Poppy Muslim – RRP £12.50
Mopping up baby sick is one of the unglamorous tasks of being a mum but this beautiful muslin makes it so much better. It is super soft and I plan use it for swaddling, as a blanket or feeding cover up. It’s too pretty for sick (except if the bibs run out).
Hipp Organic: Combiotic first infant milk (6x 90ml booties with teats) – RRP £8.00
I’m planning to breast feed again but got these incase I can’t. If I’m going to give my baby formula I want chemical free and as natural as possible. In addition, these pre-made bottles are sterilised and ready when you are. With Noah, I kept these in my changing bag for emergencies like if a creepy man kept staring – thankfully it never happened. It did come in useful when I left him with my mum and a leaky bottle of expressed milk. The lid wasn’t on tight and my milk was lost, luckily my mum was able to use one of these.
For me
Happy Mama: Breast feeding nightdress – RRP £11.62
There was also a matching robe but I remember how hot the ward was in November, so I expect it will be hotter than hell in August. The less layers the better.
Cottons: Maternity pads with wings – RRP £3.95
Buying sanitary products is never exciting but I got mine from My Pure. This online store knocks £5 off of you buy five products (encourages you to stock up). In addition, they have a selection of free gifts if you spend £30 in one transaction. I got a Madara face peel mask (RRP £24) and the next time I chose the PHB Ethical Beauty pressed eye shadow (RRP £9.99). It certainly made me more excited to get my order.
Breast pad:
Lansinoh – free samples from bounty
Little lamb – £11.25 washable pads
Theraline Mamma Pads – £9 reusable invisible pressure pads (sticks to skin and prevents leaks whilst sleeping)
Last time, I found the washable pads brilliant as they were so absorbent and saved me money or having to keep ordering pads. The only issue I had was leaking in the night, so, I’m hoping Theraline will be the answer to that little problem.
Book: Who runs the world – RRP £7.99
I bought this at FBF after the author talk. It’s set in the future and about a world where a virus has almost wiped all men out so most women have never seen one. Click here to read my post about this book.
Note pad with pen: Various/Gifts
I don’t think I’m allowed to charge my kindle or phone at hospital (except for the purpose of hypnobirthing), plus there may be no WiFi! So, I will take some offline resources to enjoy.
Disaster Designs: Boho Make-up bag – £24.95
I actually don’t own a make up bag as I rarely take makeup out with me. This was a treat to myself and very pretty. I don’t intend to wear much makeup whilst in hospital, so all I have packed is:
Vapour: Concealer
Lue by Jean Seo: Blemish treatment
RMS: Signature set – Mod collections (contains master mixer, living luminizer, smile lip2cheek, spell lip2cheek and cococa lip/skin balm)
Pacifica: BB cream
Axiology: lipstick (shade The Goodness)
I recently got a lash lift & tint so don’t need mascara.
Disaster Designs: Boho Wash bag – £29.95
Whilst treating myself to the makeup bag, I had to get the matching wash bag which is so spacious. Inside, I will pack:
Bloomtown: Roller ball perfume
Salt of the Earth: Natural deodorant
Lucky Cloud: Balm Cleanser
Bespoke Aroma: Facial Mist (Toner)
Green People: Moisturiser & face oil
Concious Skincare: Shampoo & Conditioner
Pacifica: Body wash
Isla: Body oil
A’Kin: Dry shampoo
Pacifica: Deodorant wipes
Tooth brush & tooth paste
I’ve been collecting sample/travel sizes from my subscription boxes to save space in my bag. I also hope I won’t need to use the dry shampoo or deodorant wipes but they are just incase I need to freshen up and can’t wait to use the facilities (festival style).
Coming home outfit: I’ve packed a black nursing vest that doesn’t need a bra and a black floral maxi skirt with a stretchy waist band. I’ve packed three pairs of big comfy knickers.
My hubby can bring more if I stay longer but I’m so big now that most my maternity clothes are limited and in constant use. If I stay in, he’ll just bring me whatever’s clean (and may have to do laundry).
Coming home
Car seat: This time we bought a travel system and got the MeeGo Milano. The car seat is part of the package.
Baby hat: As it is August, I won’t be dressing her in a coat but she does need a hat (hospital rule) to be allowed to leave. As there’s one in the M&Co set, we’re sorted.
What have you packed?
Did you pack any essentials that I’ve missed? How late did you leave packing your bag?
Skin Organics Clean Beauty is a subscription box with a selection of non-toxic, cruelty-free, organic and natural products. These may be skincare, body care or beauty products. Their aim is to help you discover clean, green and cruelty-free products and brands. They dispatch on 20th of the month.
Cost: £19.00 (+£3.95 P&P) subscription, UK
What was in my box?
Rose
This months theme is Rose. Inside this box are nine products.
The card has details about all the products and discount codes if you decide to buy.
Lola’s Apothecary: Delicate Romance Perfume Delux Roll On (sheet lists price as £20.00)
This is a multi-tasking product that can be used a perfume, aromatherapy or body oil. It is packed with ingredients that are good for your skin and can treat dull dry skin, stretch marks, ageing, redness, inflammation and has antiseptic properties. It has natural sources of omega 3, 6 and 9 and Vitamin E.
It sounds very impressive and I looks so pretty with the dried flowers floating inside.
Odylique: Lip Liner – Rose (sheet lists price as £12.50)
First to achieve certified soil Association and Fairtrade standards for their lip pencils, this is 100% natural and uses sustainable sourced wood. I’ve not tried this brand before and on viewing their website I can see they have a baby range…
I haven’t used a lip pencil in years so I’ll probably need to look up how to use it to check I’m doing it right. It is a very pretty colour.
Green People: The price of the sample size is not listed on the sheet.
Damask Rose Facial Oil (full size 30ml is £29 on website)
Damask Rose Moisturiser (full size 30ml is £20 on website)
I do really like rose so I’m keen to try this oil and moisturiser. I do have a few oils on the go but if I throw this into my hospital bag to try when I am staying overnight as it is a perfect travel size. This product is something I’ve considered buying in the past so I am really pleased to see it in my box and to finally use it.
Weleda: The price of the sample size is not listed on the sheet.
Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash (full size 50ml is £3.95 and 200ml is £7.95 on website)
Wild Rose Body Oil (full size 100ml is £25.95 on website)
I’ve always admired Weleda because the brand brings good ingredients and very competitive and affordable prices. I’m looking forward to giving these a try. They would be ideal in my hospital bag but I do already have a wash and oil packed…
Zenon Kition: Floral Beauty Mist (sheet lists price as £9.99)
It is 100% pure rose water and can be used on hair or skin to nourish and soothe. It can help with acne and rosacea and to be used after cleansing as a toner or on hair to strengthen. It can calm the mind from stress, anxiety and sleeping problems.
At the moment, any facial mist is my best friend. I am spritzing like it is going out of fashion. It is all that is getting me through this heatwave. To know this product has all the additional benefits and is full of good ingredients is an amazing bonus that is going to make me feel even better using it.
Balm Kind: Alpine Rose & Lysine Lip Balm (sheet lists price as £12.00)
This product is fully of natural ingredients and very hydrating with a gentle shine. Ingredients can reduce the occurrence of cold sores. Checking out this website it appears to be their only product – I think it is great to be supporting the start of UK business and it has already won an award as Finalist in the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2018!
I don’t suffer from cold sores but I do love a balm. I did apply this today and it came out a little oily which may be caused by the heat. I am going to try it again and obviously share how I get on in a months time.
Alteya Organics: Age Defense Certified Organic Hand Cream (sheet lists price as £6.20)
This hand cream is designed to fight the signs of ageing and discoloration but I am eyeing it up as a useful changing bag essential. It is 100% natural and promises to be easily absorbed and non-greasy. I am looking forward to putting it to the test.
Would I recommend?
Sadly, this is likely to be my last box for a little while as I am about to go onto maternity pay. However, what a beautiful box to end on.
I love the scent of rose and hoping that all of these products will become firm favourites. I know I will get a lot of use out of the mist because every day at the moment I am misting to keep cool. I also think the hand cream will be incredible useful in the weeks to come.
All the products meet the promise of clean, green and cruelty-free – so if that’s something you desire, this is a great box for you.
Reflect on previous box
I’ve had a month to use the products I received and share my thoughts.
This is how I got on using the products from my April box:
Sadly, I have been a bit stressed at work and returning home too exhausted to even pamper myself which has resulted in some products not getting used as expected. In addition, the past two weekends my little boy has been ill which steals my time and energy. Hopefully, June will be a better month and I’ll find a little bit of ‘me’ time.
Sofia Latif: Facial Oil (sheet lists price as £20.00)
Currently, I have too many facial oils so I’ve not had a chance to try this out yet.
Bowe Organics: Organic Lash Oil (sheet lists price as £19.99)
This month I got a lash lift and tint but before I did I gave this go. I don’t think I used it long enough to really notice a difference. It is a yellow oil and feels very natural and very hydrating. It did not irritate my eyes so that is good. I think once my tint has gone I’ll give this another go to see if it does make my lashes longer and fuller. I put it on before bed.
The Cosy Cottage: Mango Butter & Lemon Foot Balm (sheet lists price as £5.00)
My feet have been swelling so badly in these final weeks of pregnancy and during a heatwave. My husband has given me a foot massage more than once to help and it smells good and brought the swelling down. I love this product… and foot massages.
Lucidlure: Allava Hair Mask (sheet lists price as £5.50)
I’ve not used this. It has been so hot my hair has felt sweaty and gross. The last thing I want to do is put a mask on it. I’ve saved this treatment for the end of summer when the heatwave is over.
Refreshing Peppermint Facial Mist (sheet lists price as £4.25)
I am loving this. Peppermint is a lovely refreshing smells that perks me up. In this heat, I am loving anything I can spritz on my face and cool myself down. It is so good!
Peppermint & Lemongrass Pulse Point Oil (sheet lists price as £4.25)
I honestly can’t believe that I have managed to catch a cold in this heat wave. I struggled through my last day at work and today but this product has made it possible. I am determined to kick this cold before the baby arrives which is any day now (due next Saturday)!
I’m not going to post an update every day as I think that will be too much. I thought every 5 days would be better but I’ve struggled with that so it has turned into updates every 10 days!
The goal
My goal is to write 25k in 31 days to finish my novel titled Glide. I’ve called the project Diamond In The Sky as this is what I am considering renaming the novel as.
Pregnancy is really catching up with me. I am so tired by the time I finish work and it is so hot in the evenings, all I want to do is lie on my bed and dream of owning a fan.
I did received some good news. An article I wrote for a publication was accepted!
Day 17
So, today the good news got better as they sent me a link of how my article would look for my approval. Plus, they asked me what I’d like to write next!
At work, I went to lunch with a group of colleagues. It was sort of a leaving lunch because it is the last time we will all be in the office at the same time before I go on maternity leave, next week.
I did manage to do a little blog writing on my mobile whilst I melted in the heat. I went to bed early and didn’t do any NaNo writing.
Day 18
I have left the gifts to the last minute so Noah and I were up early doing crafts before nursery. I was pretty impressed with what we did.
I had the afternoon off work to take him to his graduation party at the other nursery. It was a lovely little party but I still don’t think he understands nursery is coming to an end.
I’m so busy with all the activities with his nursery coming to an end and everything I need to do before maternity that I haven’t the energy when I get home to do creative writing.
Day 19
Today, was my son’s last day of nursery – we were up early making crafts for this placement too. I had a busy day at work as my colleagues suddenly realised I only have two days of work left!
I did receive some very good. My CIPD tutor let me know that all my assignments are now marked (including re-submissions) and I have passed. So, I can relax and focus on my baby and writing.
On that note, I wrote 576 words. I know it isn’t a lot but it is much better than the other days.
Day 20
This morning, Noah had another sports day – there is double of everything because he has a dual placement. It was out in the sun with no shelter and no where to sit. Noah wanted to visit his nanny afterwards but my feet were so swollen they looked like elephant trotters, so we had to go home so I could put my feet up.
It’s very hard to write upside down and it took me the rest of the day to get my feet to go back to normal. I was also incredibly tired and fell asleep for 2 hours in the afternoon. I’m lucky my husband was off ill otherwise who knows what my son would have got up to. As a result, I didn’t do any NaNo.
On a plus note, my husband and his best friend worked on building the nursery furniture which is a huge relief to see the room finally coming together.
Day 21
I’m 38 weeks pregnant today and booked in for some pampering. I felt so relaxed and happy afterwards.
Sadly, I returned home to learn there is a problem with the wall stickers I ordered for the nursery as the seller is in America. I spent the rest of the day coming up with a new theme for the nursery and looking for UK sellers that do the same sort of thing… with no luck and no NaNo progress.
Her walls will be white like the blank page on my computer screen.
Day 22
Today, I got straight on the PC and wrote 2k before doing anything. I sent my husband off in the evening for a rock climbing experience day which left me alone with the PC once the little man was in bed and I got another 1k done.
I now have a fan! Yay! Thank you mother-in law.
Day 23
I started the day full of determination to get home and do some writing but at work they were having building work which resulted in the air con being turned off and on the roof their are seagulls and their chicks and they are aggressive – so we can’t open the windows. By the time I returned home I felt like I was dying and wasn’t good for anything! To make matters worse I felt like I was coming down with a cold – despite the heatwave… is that even possible.
Day 24
Yes, it is possible. Today was my last day at work before maternity leave and I was streaming from my nose with my cold and sweating along with everyone else suffering in the heat. Most of my colleagues were on holiday as they had to use it up before the end of July. The one colleague that was in treated me to lunch for my last day which broke the day up and made it feel a tad more special.
When I got home, I couldn’t even put my son to bed as I was so ill and exhausted. I opted to sleep on the sofa as I didn’t want to keep my husband up with all the nose blowing. I was right – I didn’t sleep a wink.
Day 25
This was supposed to be the day that clawed it back! I really thought I’d have all day to write but I’m ill, haven’t slept, feeling very pregnant and it’s too hot. I spent a lot of time between household chores (nothing too strenuous) just roasting in front of the fan. I am so glad that Noah had holiday club as there is noway I would have kept up with him.
I did manage to take some pics for my blog that had to be done as the deadline for a scheduled post is in two days. I have struggled today but managed to add a few words to the count.
Reflection
Days 16 to 20 were pretty poor – partly why I didn’t feel motivated to do a 5 day diary for that period.
I’m really pleased with my day 22 progress which shows what I can achieve if I have a fan and time and feeling healthy.
I’m also really pleased about my article getting published. If you’d like to read my post about this achievement, please click here.
Fingers crossed I can crackdown these last few days and somehow still do this! It’s not over yet! I refuse to give up! I just need days like day 22.
Are you doing the challenge? How are you getting on?
Ginger Parrot is an online publication of news that often has a ‘ginger’ theme to their articles.
When I saw Ginger Parrot were looking for writers I decided to be brave and put myself out there. They let me choose my own topic and I decided to write about Orangutans, the endangered ginger primate. It wasn’t a topic I knew well so I had to do a bit of research.
Once drafted, I sent it over and waited. They liked it and said they’d contact the charity for images to use. Then they sent me a proof of what the article would look like for my approval & had tweaked a few words. I loved it and was so excited they wanted to use something I had written.
Every other Monday, I like to share an article by another blogger. This article is usually something I enjoyed myself and think my readers will enjoy too.
My baby us due any day now and I’m worried she’ll keep me busy that blogging…
Will stop!
Please help me. If you blog on any of the following topics, please comment and let me know as I want help finding articles to feature:
Beauty (ideally, organic or cruelty free)
Writing (ideally, tips or advice on fiction)
Reading (ideally YA or Children’s fiction)
Parenting (any useful advice or tips)
Blogging (share lessons learned)
In return, my followers will see your article and link to your blog. I will also tweet it too.
For the past two weeks my husband and I have been attending Hypnobirthing classes.
Last time, we attended a traditonal antenatal and I didn’t feel I got much more out of it than what I had already read. At the time hynobirthing was a private course costing about £300 (from memory). We couldn’t afford that.
This time, the NHS are offering it for free so I jumped on it. My husband wasnt’t sure he wanted to go as it all sounds a bit hippy to him. My midwife said it is for me and my birthing partner so he has to attend.
We were required to buy the book for £10, download the music and bring a birthing (gym) ball.
Our course was split over two days and was delivered by a local community midwife that has been in the profession for years. She covers shifts at our local hospital, so was very famillar with the wards we would be using.
Day 1
We started with an introduction to hypnobirth to help us understand what the course will cover and manage our expectations.
We then did some exercises to understand the power of the mind and the use of language to influence our feelings. On a white board we came up with positive language for labour to replace negative words:
We then were taught surge breathing and how to break the Stress Tension Pain cycle. This lead to understanding the hormones are bodies produce in response to situations and those that help labour and those that are counter productive.
After lunch, we covered the different phases of labour and what to do to help our body be most effective at each stage.
We then learnt another breathing technique called ’J’ breathing which helps to move the baby down and out.
We watched some videos of women ’breathing’ their babies out and making it look very easy. I got very emotional as it brought back the feeling when my son was first placed in my arms.
We ended by covering the benefits of delayed cord clamping which is when you wait until the pulsating stops – it is usually only takes a few extra minutes. We covered the different methods of delivering the placenta and told why the vitamin K injection is important.
Day 2
We covered how gravity is our friend. It is very important to keep moving in labour and stay upright as this helps move the baby down. We were shown why a bed birth is not the optimum method.
To use gravity, use:
A floor mat
A bean bag
A birth ball
A birthing stool
Rebozo (a scarf)
We we’re shown some good positions and how to use a scarf to move the baby. The techniques had names like ’shaking the apples’.
We then discussed the best position for baby. You want them head down, at the front (anterior) and on the left. The midwife used a skeleton diaphragm and doll to show us why. We were told babies move clockwise. Then she showed us some techniques to move baby into this optimum position.
We then did more breathing exercises and relaxation on mats to scripts read by our partners. Our partners we’re taught how to calm us if we are getting stressed and signs to look for. They were shown some massage techniques to help and we covered the power of touch.
We watched a video showing a supportive birthing partner to see the impact they have to improving the experience.
The midwife covered the other resources available to us at the hospital including other pain relief methods. She encouraged us that they are there if we need it and not to rule something out or be disappointed if our plans change.
We discussed resources to improve our environment and increase our oxytocin.
She told us about golden hour and the benefits of it. This when the baby has just been born and has skin to skin contact and often supports breast feeding (you can still do it with a bottle). It helps with bonding. If the mother needs medical attention, the father/birth partner can do this. Sometimes, it’s not possible if the baby needs medical attention.
Final thoughts
I really enjoyed the course and got a lot more out of it than I expected.
Firstly, it was brilliant quality time with my man. We were both so relaxed afterwards, it felt like we’d been on holiday.
Secondly, the course made me feel empowered and prepared for labour. I feel excited about labour rather than afraid it will hurt or could go wrong. I’m focussed on the positive affirmations.
Thirdly, I liked how informative it was and not pushy. There was no anti-talk. It was positive and inclusive of everyone. The techniques were backed by scientific facts explaining why it works (like our hormonal responses or the way a baby moves down).
The breathing has made my baby more active – she’s been lazy until now. I love surge breathing as I get to feel her wriggle about.
I like all the exercises and tips we received to support an optimum birth – oxygen, gravity, positivity. I feel my husband is clearer about how he can support me. He has written some positive affirmations to put up round the house like subliminal messages.
I would recommend giving it a go. The techniques you learn will benefit you for life – how to relax and be positive. The course also covers the other options so if hypnobirthing isn’t for you then you are still prepared.
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I plan to post after the big day on how my labour went so I’ll let you know if any of the techniques I learnt helped or not.
Have you done hypnobirthing? Do you use positive affirmations or relaxation in your life?
Back in June, I did a first impressions post of the Naturismo box I purchased. Click here to see the post.
I’ve been using the products for just over a month now and feel I am in a good position so say how I got on with using them and what I liked, or didn’t like. Here we go:
I won’t rebuy this. I like colour on my lips and this is too natural for me. It gives a little gloss but doesn’t last long. It’s not tacky and actually feels very moisturising.
I won’t buy this because it is so orange on me, it is more like a bronzer. The product is very pigmented so I think I would enjoy other shades by this brand and plan to check them out in future.
It feels more like a balm than a tint. The colour is a very pale nude and doesn’t last long on my lips. I’ll use it for natural days but I won’t rebuy.
The sample pot is quite small which makes it tricky to get the powder out. I like the little powder puff but I found I prefer applying it with a brush. It did highlight the dry skin on my nose so unless I need my make up to last a few hours, I didn’t find myself reaching for this. I don’t think I will rebuy this powder but I really liked having the opportunity to try it as it has been on my wish list for a long time.
I really like this cleanser. It didn’t make it into my hospital bag because I tried it once and liked it so much that I started using it every day and it has almost run out. I’d like to rebuy this but it’s not cheap. I found the zingy minty freshness really good in the morning and my skin feels so clean after using it.
I can never have enough black mascara. As my eyes are quite sensitive in this heat and keep watering I did have an issue with this mascara running. I had to go back to my trusty Pacifica waterproof version. However, I wore it on a night out and it was fine. I think I will keep it in the draw ready for the cooler months. I would buy this again.
This was the first empty. I really liked this toner and found it so refreshing. I would want to rebuy this product. I am also very tempted by their Glow AHA Tonic as it reminds me of Glow by Pixi. Now, I have found the brands products effective I am interested in trying more by them.
Tinted moisturiser: I suspected that this would not be light enough but I tried the tinted moisturiser and I really like. The colour is perfect and my skin looks so healthy. Its very sheer so I still need a concealer for blemishes but in this hot weather a tinted moisturiser is all I want. I am pleasantly surprised and interested in buying this again.
Healthy glow foundation:
Summary
I am pleased that I got to try these products out. It had helped me discover new brands and try items from my wish list. I have been surprised by some products and disappointed by others, however, at only £2.50 each it was a very affordable way to discover what is right for me.
Head over to Naturismo to see their current offers on a wide range of organic brands.
