She Who Mums Wins

The last couple of weeks have been tough, we've had coughs, colds (all of us) and teething (just Rose) and everything that comes with those and I am happy to say we now seem to be coming out the other side and I have finally sat down and written this blog that has been going around and around in my head for weeks.  I seem to worry constantly about Rose's weight gain (despite her being lovely and chubby) and her nappies weren't as wet for a few hours this week and I went in to full military mode until they were back up to a weight I was happy with, don't mess with me and the wee! I don't know how I have had the energy to get through some of the recent days and feed Rosie sometimes 8 or 9 times in the day, as well as remembering to feed myself, but you know what you find it somewhere.  Rosie summing it up here, I ate that soup in the background cold and at speed whilst I held her hand because she cried if I didn't: I am so tired, I don't think

This post has taken so long to publish that Rose is actually now nearly 15 weeks but at three months I took a moment to reflect on what had changed over the last few weeks and what I now know to be true, that I probably didn't believe in those first few days.  Crying  Babies do stop crying, those first couple of weeks where they cry endlessly and for no apparent reason do end. To the point where when they are quiet for a time you think something must be wrong with them for them to have stopped! Now I know it's because they are letting you know everything is all a bit new and crazy and the only way they can communicate is to cry. Bathing them gets easier This was one of the worst times for me as Rose screamed like we were hurting her, to the point where I was sure the neighbours must have been able to hear her and it took us a long time to settle her down afterwards. This stopped after a week and is apparently normal, thankfully she now loves the bath!  People aren'

Now that I am on maternity leave and you can't hold an umbrella and push a pram at the same time I need a proper 'mum' coat with a hood for when Rose and I are out and about. I'm trying to be in the car as little as possible for 3 reasons: Walking off the mum tum slowly but surely Making sure Rose gets plenty of vitamin D Rose doesn't like being in the car (car seat is fine, I pull off and sometimes it feels like armageddon)  So far I have tried on multiple coats in the shops and ordered 9 online - with no success. I've tried Joules (which I was convinced would be 'the one'), La Redoute, ASOS, Seasalt and H&M. My pre pregnancy coats are too small and don't have a hood, and my maternity coat also doesn't have a hood and I am keen to wear as many non maternity clothes as I can moving forward as I miss regular clothes!  I started this blog several days ago and they take me so long to get finished that I did manage to get a coat this

I am fairly nervous to write this post as I know breastfeeding stirs a lot of emotions and opinions and so let me be clear that this is a post about how I have found breastfeeding, in the hope that it helps just one person, as I wish I had come across something similar before Rose arrived. Everyone chooses the best way to feed their own baby, the most important part being that the baby gets fed! This is just a few notes on my personal meandering down the breastfeeding road. When I was pregnant it felt like every medical professional I came across mentioned breastfeeding, or asked me if I would be breastfeeding, and subsequently ticked all the relevant boxes on my various records and paperwork. At the time I often said I would be breastfeeding just in case I would be in for a deluge of persuasion or information. I had every intention of trying to breastfeed but didn't see the need to discuss it further with these 3rd parties, and when Liam and I discussed it we both agreed no pres

A whirlwind few weeks with Rose, I can't believe she is now 8 weeks old, in some ways it feels like the time has flown past and in others it seems like a lifetime ago that I went in to labour! I found week 6 the hardest so far, I think I tried to do too much and I ended up late, sweaty and miserable to everything I attempted and felt like a bit fat failure on all fronts. I cried a lot and didn't feel good enough, and would then feel guilty and repeatedly tell Rose how much I loved her - it was a rollercoaster for everyone!  Week 6 me looking tired, unimpressed and stressed in the car!  The best thing I've read and which I now know to be true is that it is never 'just you' , anything that you are thinking, feeling, worrying about is something that you can guarantee other new mums are thinking as well.  I feel constantly judged, about how I hold my baby, burp my baby, feed my baby, dress my baby, transport my baby, change my baby... and the list goes on. A

Now that Baby Giles is here  I am selling some of my maternity clothes on eBay, they are all in good condition and I have tried to add accurate descriptions.  If you have liked any of the items on my blog over the last few months it may be worth taking a look and please share if you have any pregnant friends.  Brands include JoJo Maman Bebe, New Look and Vertbaudet and the listing will last for 7 days from today.  The link to my eBay items is here - Link to maternity bargains  These are a few of the items listed: Happy to answer any questions!  Thanks everyone!  Claire 

3 really is the magic number!  Last week I turned 33, it marked 3 years since Liam and I started trying to have a family and we are finally a family of 3!  It has been a rollercoaster of emotions, having a baby, not least because of the raging hormones which don't leave once the baby arrives. This week I've felt particularly emotional as it has dawned on me that Rose really is here to stay and that our dream has finally come true. One that I thought wouldn't be realised without a lot more effort and hope and so the fact that in the blink of eye Rose is here feels like a little miracle.  Being a Mum is really hard work and high fives to all of you that have more than one child! I had expected the constant crying, nappies and feeding but so far I have been pleasantly surprised that: I can leave the house  Rosie is already smiling   You can get by on not a lot of sleep You make lots of new mummy friends  Cuddles and naps solve a lot of life's problems

3 weeks in and the smells are getting more intense as the days bring more challenges and adventures! We've had sleepless nights and endless cuddles, as well as a mountain of nappies and lots of washing, a newborn is unbelievably time consuming and I have had to hold my hands up and admit that time no longer makes any sense and I should just go with the flow (harder than it sounds for me!). I am thoroughly enjoying the cuddles, and I get my fair share being off work, but it does mean I am there for more of the sharing of bodily fluids - more often than not baby puke!  I have now had it down my top, in my hair and on most of my postpartum outfits and so I have a certain odour about me these days, feel free to not mention it! You may remember I did a post on nursing tops a while back and loads of you suggested wearing a vest under all other tops and you were right it is really helpful, being a sweaty betty it's not great in the current weather but it means I can whip off a l

If you are like us and are at home with your first newborn you will feel like you want to buy anything that someone promises will make life easier - whether it's friends, family, the person in the next bed in the hospital or your midwife / health visitor.  Life with a newborn is relentless and you will find hours disappear in moments and the nappy changes and feeds seem constant, don't worry as you also lose hours to staring at the glorious human you made that is now the centre of your universe and everything they do is fascinating!  So what did we have / buy that made the first 2 weeks easier? Support Breastfeeding is not as easy as some mums make it look and it is not as easy as having a go and everything is peachy. There is a ton of support available so make sure you take advantage of it, don't shy away from discussing it, get all the support you can, it really will make a difference. 3 weeks in and I still don't have it completely nailed and friends and I ar