Winnie's Birth Story

Hello guys.

Sorry for the radio silence for the last 10 weeks. I've been busy adapting to being a mum of two.

I wanted to blog Winnie's birth story, as I love reading these and thought someone, somewhere, might like to read mine. Be warned, it is long...

So...Winnie's due date (14th May) came and went. I had a check up with the midwife booked in for Tuesday 16th. I had discussed with her that I really wanted to avoid being induced, because I was induced with Matilda. She said the two things known to actually work to bring on labour are nipple stimulation (an hour 3 x a day - ain't nobody got time for that!) and sex. So if anyone reading this is overdue - go try these things!

Wednesday morning, around 1:30am, I felt a gush and instantly knew my waters had just gone. I nudged a snoring Andrew and told him I was going to go downstairs, call the birth place and have some toast. The midwife on the phone at the birth place advised me to call back at 8am to see if my contractions had started. 8am came, nothing had started so I called anyway and I was advised to call back at midday, again to see if anything had begun. Needless to say, absolutely nothing. Just constant waters leaking and no twinges. When I called at 12, she asked if I could come in to be examined, as I was now at a higher risk of infection.

When I arrived, I was assessed and told my options. Either go over to the delivery suite and be induced immediately, or go home and wait until 9pm to see if I could go into labour naturally.
I decided to go home, I would have kicked myself had I not given myself the extra chance.
We went for a nice long stroll along the beach with Matilda in the sunshine, soaking up the last few hours of being a family of 3. By this point I was pretty tired too, having been up since 1am.

As you can probably guess, no contractions so off we headed in the pouring rain to Medway hospital to be induced. We were put on a ward to wait for a midwife to come and chat to us. Along she came and gave me a choice - be induced now or try and get some sleep and be induced in the morning. I jumped at the chance for some rest! Poor Andrew though had to sleep on a chair and we were sharing the ward with a serious snorer!

Now it's Thursday morning, 18th May. A midwife came round to us, at about 7am to take us to the delivery suite to be induced. I was so calm. 10:30am and Shani, our midwife, started with the drugs. We had the radio on, I was walking around (as much as I could given that I was attached to two monitors). At 2:30, my contractions started but they were mild and spread apart so I carried on eating wine gums and playing games with Andrew to pass the time.

Fast forward to around 5pm, with the contractions having built slowly over the last few hours, they were getting strong enough for me to not be able to talk through them anymore, but I just continued to breathe through it and use the birthing ball. I hadn't been examined at all as I was at a higher risk of infection. However, I knew deep down something was happening so I asked if I could be examined, and was happily told I'd made it to 8cms with absolutely no pain relief. I cannot tell you how amazing that felt!

At that point I knew I needed gas and air, and instantly felt that weird woozy head rush from the first inhale of that stuff! I love it. The back of the bed was fully upright and I leant against that on my knees, it just felt like the most natural position to be in. I told the midwife I needed to push and aside from the gas and air, visualising the baby made it so much easier to manage. I'd read about this in my hypnobirthing book which you can buy here.

At 6:02 Winnie's head was born, I felt her head and demanded Andrew look - God knows why I did that, poor bloke is probably tortured for all eternity now! Then at 6:06 she was out!

The rest of the story is just gross birthing of the placenta etc, which no one needs to read about!

WINNIE BLUEBELL STEPHENSON - 18TH MAY 2017 6:06PM 8LB

I didn't fully go for the whole hypnobirthing thing, I am too cynical. But I found some of the techniques so useful, I really recommend Sophie's book for any pregnant women. There are some excellent tips on dealing with late pregnancy and what to expect in labour. I want to tell my story as it is so positive. Some people are hell bent on sharing nightmares and scaring women, but it doesn't have to be that way. It is an absolutely remarkable and extraordinary experience.

Why I've Been Dreading Due Date

Evening everybody.

So today is due date for our second baby girl. And I've got a problem with this date and due dates in general. It seems to then give people an excuse to start telling you how you should be spending your time trying to expel this baby from your body. Let me start by saying, for my first pregnancy I was the girl drinking raspberry leaf tea from 36 weeks and consuming a pineapple a day, hoping to no longer be pregnant. I ended up going 12 days over and being induced so none of it worked anyway.

I've had such a wonderful pregnancy this time, I feel so lucky. Why would I want that to end? Yes, I desperately want to meet our little girl, to see who she looks like, how much she weighs. But, I'm not going to force it. My body has done something incredible and I'm pretty proud of it right now.

So why do people think they can tell me I should be eating a hot curry for dinner tonight? No thanks, I'm quite alright with spag bol. Why are they saying 'Oh you need to go for a long old walk, get things going!' Um, no actually I don't. My baby will come when she is good and ready.

Speaking of which, when writing my birth preferences with my midwife a few weeks ago, I have declined induction. If baby and I are perfectly healthy, I do not want any drugs to force labour. I had an induction the first time round and it was not fun. I want to know how it feels to go in to labour naturally if possible. This could be the last time I do this! I want the excitement of things starting at home. This is the trouble with due dates, if you go 12 days over said date, or less depending on where you live, you'll be booked in to be induced. After having a few sweeps first of course. I've declined those too. No sweeps, no inductions thank you.

Now I am well aware that not everything goes according to plan, hence why I have called them preferences. If I am told that the health of our baby, or me, is at risk then of course I will consider the options given to me.

But I think it is important for women to understand that there actually is a choice, you don't have to be told what to do.

Hopefully she will be here in the next few days anyway!

Chloe x

What's In My Hospital Bag

With due date looming ever closer, I wanted to do a post on the things that I have packed in my hospital bag. Well I say bag, what I really mean is suitcase!

Hopefully this post will help anyone else due to give birth soon that may be wondering on what to pack. There are lists available online, places like Mothercare etc, but this one will be more personalised and about the items that'll make you feel like you.

It is no joke when I say during my last pregnancy I was one walking tower of misery. Ashamed to say it, I've mentioned it before I'm sure but I did not enjoy it! This led to me not feeling like, well, me. My skin was dull, my hair was frizzy, I wore crap maternity clothes and lost all my confidence. I told myself this was not happening second time round! And this will carry on during labour and after birth.

What to give birth in? Well, last time I wore the frumpiest, ugliest nightdress I'd found in Peacocks! Labour isn't pretty and clothes are likely to get ruined, but I've opted for something much prettier. I still want to feel like me afterall. I found some really lovely pieces from George at Asda at fantastic prices.

I ordered the satin-esque robe above, it is lightweight but still luxurious and perfect for before and after labour. I also bought the soft feel nightdress in the same print, along with the satin two piece pyjama cami and short set. I sized up in all three items, to make room for feeding and skin-to-skin. You can find all of the items here. The nightdress will be the item I'll wear for birthing in, shorts just aren't practical!

Comfortable slippers are a must for walking around in, staying upright and keeping active is a great tool during labour, so I've ordered these slippers from Next.

I already have these in the chestnut colour currently, but wanted some new ones to take with me.

I've been using this face mist every day recently, it is so hydrating and has a beautiful scent to it. I'm taking it with me to keep my face feeling moisturised and cool, It is also multifunctional - I use it to spray my beauty sponge to help apply my makeup and it also great for giving life to products about to die. For example, my liquid eyeliner is on it's last legs, but a spray of this on the applicator helps bring the product back to life. Also great for using on any dried out cream eyeshadows!

I will be taking my makeup bag with me. This might sound stupid to some, but once you've given birth, there'll be lots of photos being taken and I want to feel my best. I'm at my best (I think anyway!) with a full face on. It's what makes me feel good and that is exactly what I'll want after labour. 

The first shower after labour is the best shower of your life! So I'll be making mine even more heavenly with this shower oil from Rituals. I cannot even begin to describe how amazing this smells and it makes my skin feel divine after using it. It goes without saying you won't be needing any products to use below the waist and above the thigh - warm water will be enough. But why not use something lovely everywhere else to start making you feel more human!

Other things that are coming with me include breastfeeding essentials such as Lansinoh lanolin nipple cream. I believe this product came from God and is what got me through the first few painful weeks of feeding Matilda. Also the disposable Lansinoh breast pads were the best I'd come across. I ordered both of those products from John Lewis as they had the best prices. I've got a feeding pillow from Mothercare and a pregnancy pillow from, wait for it, Aldi! Both will help keep me and baby comfy during feeds.

I've got a birthing playlist on Spotify to help get me through, I'm a huge music lover so I'm counting on this to help me deliver our little girl. Other essential items include wine gums, lucozade sport isotonic drinks and lipbalm. You'll need some big comfy pants for afterwards, I found some at George at Asda again and they weren't expensive so can be discarded of if need be. Don't forget maternity towels too, oh it is just so glamourous! 

If anyone else has recommendations on items to take please do let me know!

Chloe x

New In: Beauty

I'm the crappiest blogger going, I know.

I've got a mini beauty haul of products I am loving currently and which seem to be working wonders for my pregnant body!

First are two products from Garnier's SkinActive range - the tissue mask which I like to use once a week for a complete hydration injection to my face! I don't feel like my face has suffered this pregnancy, it can look dull at times but nothing a good mask can't sort! These were reduced to 99p a mask in Superdrug recently, so I stocked up. The night cream here is (I think anyway) a total wonder product! It was about £6, it has a wonderfully light texture so it is perfect for using every night. I wake up in the morning and can really tell the difference, my skin feels plump and looks dewy, it's a great drugstore night cream.

My hair is driving me mad at the moment! Ever since I made the terrible decision to have a full scalp bleach 18 months ago, my hair has never been the same. It breaks when I brush it, my scalp itself is much drier than it used to be and it looks as dull as bloody dishwater frankly! In comes this wonder mask, I'd seen Victoria from Inthefrow recommend this in one of her YouTube videos and Look Fantastic were offering Redken products at 20% off so I got this for £17.49 at the time. I use this once a week and I must say my hair feels a lot softer, doesn't break as much as it used to and has a nice smell to it. I think I probably need to use this for longer to get my hair back to it's old form!

Bit of a theme here now with all of these masks! This Body Shop mask is fab, has a lovely light fragrance perfect for sleeping in and is not greasy at all. When I wake, I have a slight residue which once washed off, makes my skin look radiant and feel so soft! I only use this once or twice a week, in between my other creams and masks! I've enjoyed a few products from the Vitamin E range so far as they aren't heavy on my skin. This isn't too thick, the pot says to apply a generous amount all over your face, rub in gently then leave it to sink in overnight - heaven.

Finally, a cult product some may say, the This Works pillow spray. Excuse the travel size spray! This has been helping me drift off to sleep throughout the final weeks of my pregnancy. I'm getting to the stage now where sleep is an issue, just because of the extra weight and the aching hips (I'm really not moaning here though, I've had the best pregnancy and will be sad for it to end!) 

A few sprays of this on my pillow before settling down for the night really helps me relax. So many people recommend this product, if you're someone that struggles to drift off at night why not give it a try?

Chloe x

Second Trimester Update

Hi. I've been pretty rubbish at posting, sorry about that. It's been a good few months. So I thought it would be good for me to give a little pregnancy update, share what's happened so far, how I'm feeling and then I'll try to post a bit more regularly!

Excuse the loo bomb! This was me at 21 weeks with a little bump just starting to show. I look a bit bigger now at 26 weeks, but that is partly due to me eating all the food and breathing out more!

I've been feeling so good this time around, it is weird how one pregnancy can be so different from another. I've had no sickness, no SPD, no general miserable-ness! Last time I didn't even want to talk about the fact I was expecting, which was such a shame because I had the most amazing prize waiting at the end of it. This time I've made it my mission to enjoy being pregnant. Maybe that mind over matter thing worked? Who knows.

Because I have been feeling so different, I could have sworn we would be having a boy come May. But no! It is another girl. And honestly I could not be happier! I know everyone says happy & healthy is all that matters, and I do agree. But having sisters is the best thing ever, mine are my best friends, we are so close. So to be able to give that to Matilda is just wonderful. As long as they actually get on mind you!

Here is our little pink bean a month ago at our 22 week scan.

Growing fabulously, looking all healthy and lovely. I find the scans so fascinating to watch, although it was an agonisingly long wait to find out what we were having, and baby wasn't playing ball, with me having to jump up and down a few times to get her to wriggle around so the Doctor could get the right measurements. Oh it was embarrassing!

We have a list of about 6 names so far, all of them are still old fashioned names that go with Matilda. trouble is, when we were expecting the first time, we always knew we would have the name Matilda, we'd spoken about it for years, before even getting married and trying for a baby. What do you do when you've used your favourite girls name and then find out you're having another girl? I won't give away the names that are on our list, in case we make changes.

In terms of being ready for baby's arrival, I've started to read a book on Mindful Hypnobirthing, I've not read much so I'll keep you posted on what I think. We also really need to start planning the second nursery, which means giving up my dressing room - oh the sadness! But its worth it. I loved making Matilda's room what it is so can't wait to do this again, just need to decide on a theme. Matilda's is clouds and stars in grey, white and pink, what can we go for this time? Suggestions welcome. We have a lot of things from Matilda's newborn days so we shouldn't need to purchase much. Although I am considering a Chicco Next to Me crib & a Sleepyhead, if anyone has used these and can talk me in to purchasing please do comment below.

Thanks for reading.

Chloe x

Then the two of us became three...

My fashion posts have been few and far between because I am having a baby.

Therefore I cannot be as fashion forward as I would perhaps like!

We found out at the end of July that we were expecting our first child, and shortly after this time, none of my clothes would fit around my expanding, well, everything. 

I've found some of the best maternity clothes on ASOS, so much choice and not too mumsy. Comfort is a big thing for me now being almost 6 months pregnant. 

I'll be posting my favourite maternity fashion picks and once baby is out, I can hopefully go back to my more stylish options!

Here is our little baby girl at 23 weeks sucking her thumb!

Any pregnancy and baby tips will be much appreciated!

Chloe x