My Baby Shower

I posted recently to say that i'd been planning my baby shower with the help of my mum. Well, Saturday was the day that the fun and games took part and it was a lovely day and a definite highlight of my pregnancy.

Here is me enjoying the day in the sun with my 36 week bump! We were very lucky that the weather was on our side most of the day and we managed to sit in my mum's garden and soak up a few rays!

I was 36 + 1 weeks on the day of the baby shower. Usually, it is advised to plan them for between 30-38 weeks and we did previously intend for it to take place a few weeks before however, life as it does, got in the way and it ended up falling last weekend. I didn't do anything too strenuous and, as it was at my mum's house, I didn't have to play host so it was a lovely chance to relax and enjoy some lovely company. I certainly wouldn't recommend having a baby shower any later than 36 weeks however it's obviously a personal preference and depends solely on how mummy-to-be feels!

As I said, it was held at my mum's house. This was simply for the sole reason that I live an hour away from all of my friends and family so it made more sense for me to travel there rather than 15/20 people travel down the M62. Space was also an issue in my little apartment so the logistics all pointed towards holding it in the family home. We sat in the garden for most of the day and then moved into the living room where mum had made sure she had lots of chairs, sofas and beanbags.

We didn't really have a theme of the day however, as we knew that I am expecting a baby boy, we bought lots of blue decorations so I suppose you could say that was the theme. I recommend Ebay for sourcing baby shower decorations as both myself and my mum found it a great struggle to get hold of anything baby shower related in any of the high street shops. You would think that with baby showers becomming ever so popular, these companies would cotton onto the idea however it seems that they still aren't mainstream enough. If you don't know what you are expecting or want to keep it a suprise then there are plenty of gender neutral decorations available online.

Other themes that you could do are; teddy bears picnic, english tea party, cupcake theme or flowers. I certainly don't think it's necessary to use a theme and I don't really think that your guests will care either way!

As it wasn't taking place at my house, I left the food preperation to my mum. As a professional chef, she was in her element and whipped up lasagna, stuffed potatoes and a range of salads/pastas. As the baby shower took place from 2pm - 6pm, we served the food at 5pm so wanted to ensure that it was more 'meal' like rather than a buffet. Other options could be finger foods which may have been easier however it is optional to provide food and you could simply opt for desserts or nibbles such as crisps. I know that none of my guests certainly expected such a lovely meal so if you are looking at keeping costs down, then do not fear if you can't provide a vast array of food. Alternatively, you could ask each guest to bring a platter of something which would enable you to provide food but cut the expense.

For desserts, we had my lovely Auntie who made Mars Bar cheesecake which was a firm favourite and a kind friend of mine who lovingly made a cake.

As well as lots of chat & catching up, we played a few games to break the afternoon up. If you look online, you will see lots of games available to purchase for around £3 to £4 per game however, it you have access to a printer, you can print off the same games for free! We played:

• Baby Bingo
• Baby Charades
• Old wives tales - Girl or Boy Quiz
• What do you call a baby...? (Animal quiz)

These can all be found by simply searcing on Google and printing off. Cheap and easy! Just a tip: Make sure you've got enough pens for all your guests as this was something we'd forgot and we had a mad scramble to find them! We bought little gifts for the winners such as smelly sets and chocolates (and maybe a few bottles of wine thrown in there for the non pregnant ladies!).

Another idea which went down a treat was that of baby shower favours. Of course, favours are optional and initially, I thought that it was a bit 'weddingy', however I felt that I wanted a way to thank my guests and commemorate the day. Looking online, there are lots of options that you can buy however this could prove expensive and impersonal. Instead, I made biscuits (well I lie, my friend made the biscuits!) and I wrapped them and wrote thank you tags.

I simply wrapped love heart shaped biscuits in clear cellophane (that i'd recycled from my maternity leave flowers!), tied with blue curling ribbon and added a tag that i'd cut out of a baby gift bag. Cheap and simple and a lovely touch to finish of the day and thank my guests.

I would most definitely recommend a baby shower to any expectant mummy-to-be, especially if you can get someone else to host if for you! I received some gorgeous gifts which I will show you in a future post.

Did you have a baby shower? How did you find it?

Planning 'The Ultimate Baby Shower'...

It's been a while since I wrote my last blog post so I send my apologies if anyone actually noticed that I'd gone AWOL for a while! There's no particularly extravagant reason for my absence; it's my first week of maternity leave and I've been taking full advantage of spending my days lazing around, so much so I lost all momentum to do anything other than lie on the couch eating endless packets of biscuits! However... I am back!

This weekend is going to be an exciting one as it is my baby shower. Baby showers are becomming more and more common and, when my mum mentioned hosting one, well who am I to turn down a day of lovely food, cakes, company and presents!

In some countries, a baby shower is a way to celebrate the pending or recent birth of a child by presenting gifts to the parents at a party. The term "shower" is often assumed to mean that the expectant mother is "showered" with gifts. Traditionally, baby showers were given only for the family's first child, and only women were invited. The original intent was for women to share wisdom and lessons on the art of becoming a mother.

My mum was keen to host and plan my baby shower as she didn't want to put any extra stress on me in the last few weeks of my pregnancy however, as a self-confessed control freak, I couldn't resist sticking my two penneth' in and taking care of some of the preperations! I've never even attended a baby shower so didn't really know what the event consisted of however, the website, www.theultimatebabyshower.co.uk proved a valuable tool and allowed the organisation to go without a hitch!

When should you have a baby shower?
There isn't a set rule as to when you should hold a shower however most take place between 30 and 38 weeks pregnant, with the majority at 35 weeks. Most women feel that they still have enough energy to enjoy it at this point. I'm 36 weeks pregnant although I still feel that I will be able to relax and make the most of being 'showered.'

If you are unsure or superstitious, it is fine to wait until after baby arrives and have a 'Welcome to the World' party. It gives everyone the chance to meet and greet the new arrival. This is something that we will possibly do once baby C arrives however I am going to make the most of having lots of attention lavished on me before baby arrives!

Where should I hold it?
The question of where to have the baby shower is often the trickiest and the one that can potentially put people off before they even start. It needn’t be complicated, this is where you really need to consider mummy-to-be and what her preferences would be.If it isn’t a surprise event then ask her what she would like. The majority of requests we receive are for relaxed, informal and cosy surroundings – think comfy sofas and mini tables in a library rather than a large chandelier clad ballroom!If the host or a close friend or family member has a large enough living room then job done! Baby showers at home are the most popular but don’t allow mummy-to-be to do any clearing up.If you would like a venue then the possibilities are endless. Venues can cater for afternoon teas, lunches, evening meals, buffets or cocktail parties – too much choice we know! Consider how formal you’d like to make it and go from there.

Themes
Baby shower themes are all well and good if you have the time and inclination to think of one and can handle putting this in to practice from invitations through to decorations etc. It can look beautiful if done properly or it can look terribly tacky if not executed with some sense of proportion!

If you would like a specific theme to carry through from invitations to thank you cards then these need not be too taxing. A teddy bears picnic theme is always a winner - red gingham table cloths, picnic baskets filled with scrummy teddy bear cookies, vases or jugs of wild flowers, not to mention the all important favourite teddy bears to accompany each guest. The teddy bears picnic theme always evokes those childhood memories and can look utterly charming.

The classic baby boy or girl themes can look lovely and will leave guests in no doubt as to what is cooking in mummy’s oven so to speak! Or a simple flower theme or cupcake theme can look very pretty.

Do I have to provide food?
Catering for a baby shower doesn't need to be a headache. The dishes you serve will depend on what you are trying to achieve.The most popular baby shower events we organise are afternoon teas. These usually last 2 to 3 hours with chatting and games being the main focus. The food usually consists of a variety of finger foods with some eye-catching desserts thrown in.

Games to play...
Some people cringe at the very idea of playing games at a baby shower whereas others think that games are what the baby shower is all about. Not a fan of the 'what poo (chocolate) is in the nappy?' game (Google it, Yak!), we have decided to play Baby Bingo, Baby  Charades and a couple of quiz games. These were all printed for free from Google quickly and easily.

More information can be found on www.theultimatebabyshower.co.uk.

This is NOT a sponsored post. I simply found the website VERY useful and thought that anyone planning their baby shower could eliminate lots of headache by using it! I will post pictures and let you know how the day goes.



Pregnancy Post: 35 Weeks

35 weeks pregnant

What's happening this week...

Your baby

• Your baby is around 47cm long now and weighs around 5lb. He or she is still gaining weight, and has lungs that are almost fully developed.
• The pupils will now dilate in reaction to light coming into your tummy.
• Your baby will be practising the suckling action, so they are ready to feed when born.

You

• You could have a sudden burst of energy over the next few weeks – but don’t overdo it. You may start to feel uncomfortable if the baby’s weight presses on the nerves in your legs and pelvis.
• As you gain weight, you might notice that you’re starting to waddle or lean back when you walk down hill. It’s normal for a change in pace at this late stage too.
• If you always feel full after a few mouthfuls, this is because your stomach has been squashed. Eat small amounts often as you may find this easier and more comfortable.
• You might be experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions. 35 weeks pregnant contractions are a sign of your body gearing up for labour. Some women describe them as tightening, or like period cramps. They usually last for less than a minute but can happen several times a day.
• In the last few weeks leading up to labour you may notice an increase in vaginal discharge. If you have a mucus discharge with a little blood, this is the jelly-like plug that seals the cervix, which is called the 'show'.

What to think about

• It is safe to drive at this late stage of pregnancy, but make sure that your seat belt is placed beneath your bump. Find out more about driving safety during pregnancy.
• Why not visit the hairdresser this week? It might be easier to get a good cut now rather than when you have a newborn. It could help with your relaxation too!
• It’s never to early to think about childcare if you’re planning to go back to work. Find out what options are available to you.
• Try to stay active. Swimming or walking are gentle exercises that might help you alleviate stress and keep your body in top shape for labour.

35 weeks: My experiences

I'd be lying if I said that this week has been a walk in the park, it hasn't. It's been a pain in the bloody arse! I'm trying not to moan and to simply enjoy the last few weeks of my pregnancy and not wish the time away but i'm really feeling it now!

I've had awful ear ache and feel knackered! Luckily this week so the start of my maternity leave so I'm taking full advantage of been able to rest before the little man arrives. My nesting instinct has gone into overdrive and i'm either laid on the couch eating endless packets of biscuits or frantically scrubbing my cooker! Pregnancy hormones, don't you just love them!?

Mr C is practically bursting at the seams; he can't wait to meet his son! We are all prepared for his arrival so now we are playing the ultimate waiting game!

Pregnancy Post: 34 Weeks

I've missed quite a few of these over the last few weeks so without further ado, here is my Pregnancy Post: 34 Weeks.

Your baby now weighs more than 2.2kg and is 45cm from top to toe. She's filling out and getting rounder – she’ll need her fat layers later to regulate her body temperature once she's born.

If you don't already talk to your baby, this is a good time to start – at 35 weeks her hearing is fully developed. Don't feel ridiculous if you're already chatting in baby talk. Some evidence shows that newborns pay closer attention to high-pitched tones.

If you've been nervous about going into premature labour, you'll be happy to know that 99 per cent of babies born at week 35 can survive outside the uterus (womb) – and most have no major problems. Although your baby's central nervous system is still maturing, her lungs are nearly fully developed by now.

Many women start to notice a tingling sensation or numbness in the pelvic region or pain as they walk. This may be caused by the pelvic joints loosening, ready for labour. If you're in pain or hips are sore, mention it to your midwife or doctor and check out our self-help tips.

This week I also had my 34 antenatal check up with the consultant and my 2nd Anti D injection. Baby C is still measuring bigger and, as a result of the growth scan last week, they have found that I am carrying too much water. This meant I needed a TORCH blood test to check for infection. I'm STILL waiting for the results but feel much more positive and trying not to constantly worry!

As I said, this was also the week that I had to have my 2nd Anti D injection.

What is Anti D?

All rhesus negative (RhD-negative) mums-to-be are recommended to have an anti-D injection between 28 weeks and 30 weeks of pregnancy. Your midwife will have carried out a routine blood test at your booking appointment to find out your rhesus status.

You're advised to have the anti-D, in case the baby you are carrying has a positive rhesus status (RhD positive). This will mean there's a mismatch between your rhesus status and your baby's rhesus status.

During pregnancy and birth there are times when your baby's blood may mix with yours. This could happen as a result of a small bleed from the placenta. Even if there's no mixing of bloods during pregnancy, your blood and your baby's blood will almost certainly come into contact during birth.

When your body detects your baby's blood within your circulation, it will treat it as a foreign invader. Your immune system will produce antibodies to destroy blood from your baby that it finds in your circulation.

This means that your body will become sensitised to RhD-positive blood. Your antibodies won't harm your unborn baby. But, if you become pregnant again, the fact that your body is already sensitised could be a problem for your second baby.

Here's why: once your immune system has made antibodies, it will be fast to react next time it detects RhD-positive blood. So if your second baby is also RhD-positive, your body will already know how to make antibodies in the event of another mix of bloods.

Your antibodies may cross the placenta and attack your second baby's blood, causing a condition called haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN). HDN can lead to your baby developing anaemia, jaundice and even liver and heart problems.

HDN can be prevented by an anti-D injection. The injection stops your body from becoming sensitised to RhD-positive blood. Anti-D destroys any blood from your RhD-positive baby before your body has a chance to make antibodies.

Anti-D is made from the plasma of human blood, given by donors. The manufacture of blood products, including anti-D, is strictly controlled. All donors are screened for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and HIV, and blood is only imported from countries that are free of variant CJD. The chance of contracting a virus through anti-D has been estimated to be one in 10,000 billion doses.

Occasionally, anti-D can cause a local reaction at the site of the injection or an allergic reaction, but this is rare. Just in case, your midwife may advise you to stay in the clinic for 20 minutes after having the injection.

The only circumstances in which you may not need the anti-D injection are if:

• You are opting to be sterilised or you are certain that you won't have any more children.


• You are certain that your baby's dad is RhD-negative, making it impossible for you to conceive an RhD-positive baby.

But if there is any possibility that you may become pregnant again, it's best to have the anti-D injection.

I feel at this point, that I should most definitely mention that these injections DO NOT HURT! As a complete and utter needle phobe, I was petrified at the prospect of having these injections. Idiotically, I 'Googled' are Anti D injections painful? and it seemed that EVERYONE said how much they hurt. I asked my midwife friend and even she agreed that they were very uncomfortable. This led to much horror and dread on my behalf when actually, I couldn't even feel it! I opted to have the needle in my bum cheek so maybe it was the raised levels of fat on my backside but I want to assure anyone who's come across this blog post by Googling the same questions, DO NOT WORRY! :)

Blog Challenge (31): Why do you blog?

This time last year I began to take an interest in fashion & beauty blogs that I'd seen on a social networking site. I soon became a vivid reader and would idly pass the hours browing them on my phone (usually when I was meant to be working!) and picking up tips on the latest fashion trends or beauty buys.

Fast forward to December 2011 and I found out I was pregnant and I searched for a new market of blogs to read that would provide me with much needed information. My interest in fashion and beauty fast became overshadowed by my desire to know what was the best pram to buy, how I should feed my baby, which pain relief would provide the best results etc etc. As a first time mummy, I wanted advice from people of a similar age who had been there, done that and got the t-shirt so to speak. I often found that blogs were a lot less informal than books and that they provided reall life recommendations rather than what was solely 'protocol' at that time. Now it may have been the hormones but I was often reduced to tears reading many of the blogs that I followed. Hearing a woman's birth story and that sheer emotion that was conveyed through her writing was truely magical and has provided me with even more excitement for Baby C's upcoming arrival.

I liked the idea of keeping a track of my own pregnancy journey so I never forget a moment. My own mother rarely kept anything from my own childhood; as a neat freak she wasn't the sort of organised mummy that kept pictures that I'd scribbled on a certain not particularly memorable day back the 90's! She has photographs of when I was a baby however these are stowed away in her loft behind years of accumulated old gym equipment and my teaching files, probably never to be seen again! I have no doubt that she loved her pregnancy journey however, after all these years, it's not something that we discuss regularly. I wanted to make sure that when Baby C is older, he can look back and see how much he was loved and cherished from the very moment we knew he exisited.

And from that 'A Whole 9 Months' was born. A blog to document the journey of my pregnancy and then hopefully (if I have time!) a way to store memorable moments from when my little man is growing up. If he wishes, he can look back at my blog when he's older and see how much his mummy adores him & hopefully that one day - before I got old and grey and started to wear smocks - that I was actually very cool ;)

Blog Challenge (30): Whats in your make up bag?

I am a big make up fan and will rarely be seen out of the house without it! I am a firm believer that, if you look lovely on the outside, you will feel lovely on the inside! I most definitely have a better day if I have done my hair and got my 'slap' on! 

Without further ado, here is the contents of my make up bag: 

1. Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation 2. Urban Decay Naked 2 Pallette 3. avon Bronzing Pearls 4. Numerous No7 Nail Polishes 5. Rimmel Mascara 6. Rimmel Eye Brow Pencil 7. Lancome Juicy Tubes Lip Gloss

Blog Challenge (29): Where have you travelled?

As i've said before, my mum is a bit of sun worshipper so as a child we had lots of 'sun' holidays to places such as Majorca, Spain, Greece and the Canaries etc. I am not really a 'culture vulture' so tend to opt for the same sorts of holidays when choosing my week away each year.

In 2007, I went to Newquay with a group of 10 girls. It was a typical girls holiday constisting of fancy dress, tutu's and LOTS of cheap wine!

2008 & I went to Magaluf with 2 friends on a 2 week extravaganza. Anyone that's been to Magaluf (especially as a alcohol loving teen!) will understand the need for another holiday right after it and that's why about 2 weeks after our return from Magaluf, we then jetted off to Murcia in Spain for a lovely chilled girlie relax consisting off a lot less wine, lovely meals and relaxing with a good book by the pool!

In 2009, I went to Llorett De Mar in Spain for yet another, girly holiday with my best friend Jess.

2010 and I was settled with Mr C and we went to Dublin for Valentines Day. It was gorgeous and we had a great time. I would most definitely recommend it as a place however it is VERY expensive! In the summer we then went to Lanzerote on a family holiday with my mum, dad, nan, grandad & my brother.

In 2011, I went to Palma Nova in Majorca for 3 nights with my mum & best friend as a 'well done on finishing your dissertation and not going mad!' present from my mum. The day after my graduation ceremony, Mr C whisked me back off to Lanzarote on a romantic week away for the 2 of us.

We have yet to have a holiday in 2012 as we opted for a baby instead! I am most definitely going stir crazy in England and NEED some sun! In the next few years, I hope to travel to:

Portugal - next summer for Baby C's first holiday & mummy's chance to rest and relax!

Australia

Italy

The Lake District