Maternity fashion: The hospital bag

Seen as I recently did a post on hospital bag necessities I thought I should show you all some great pieces you can buy for your hospital visit.

I love these Pajamas from asos.ie for €39.44. The colours are lovely and the top is great as it's a nursing top. It's comfy and casual and great for once you get home as you will live in your Pajamas for at least a week! But these are nice for when you have visitors over and don't feel like getting dressed.

The double layered top is great for discreet nursing.

This dressing gown from asos.ie is €49.29. It's nice and light which I would recommend for the hospital as they tend to pump up the heat in there. I would only suggest bringing a fleece one if you intend on going outside during your stay. If this one is a little pricy then penny's/primark does a lovely waffle dressing gown for just €10

These nursing bras are the bees knees if your small chested like me (I can't say what they are like for big busted ladies)! I have 2 one nude and one black. They are comfy and easy to use. I'm still wearing mine and I stopped breastfeeding 3 weeks ago oops!!! They are €16 from asos.ie but have a look on eBay if you have the time to wait the same ones are only about €5 from China.

This style of underwear is what I would recommend these ones are from asos.ie but penny's and I'm sure many other places do the same style. I got these specifically for my hospital bag but ended up having to buy a second pack as I wore them for the last month of my pregnancy. They are so comfortable and I love anything that sits over the bump! These ones are €14 and penny's do the same for about €3 and its a much better choice than those horrible disposable ones.

I hope this helps as you start to plan your hospital bag. Remember comfort is your main priority for after having your baby so choose large sizes and stretchy fabrics! X

Getting ready for baby! The hospital bag.

At the 7th month of your pregnancy you should be starting to put together yours and the baby's hospital bag. And at 8 months pregnant your bag should be ready to go as baby could arrive any day as about 11% of babies are born before 37 weeks!
Here's a list of everything you, your baby and your partner may need during your hospital visit.

For Mammy:

1. A light cotton nightdress with buttons for nursing 
2. Comfortable underwear you don't mind throwing away 
3. Cotton Pajamas 
4. A light robe
5. Nursing bra
6. Going home outfit
7. Slippers
8. Maternity pads
9. Nipples cream
10. Breast pads
11. Pillow
12. Towels
13. Shampoo/conditioner 
14. Shower gel
15. Loofah
16. Toothbrush 
17. Toothpaste 
18. Face wash
19. Face Wipes
20. Flip flops for in the shower 
21. Deodorant
22. Phone charger 
23. Camera and batteries/charger
24. Hair brush and bobbins
25. Makeup (if you feel you will need it)
26. Snacks and water

You may not even need or use half of this! I was in hospital exactly 30 hours and came home with a bag full of things I never used but you can never be sure of what will happen in your labor and you could end up having to stay in for a few days!

I definitely recommend bringing a body/nursing pillows it's thanks to mine I could get comfortable when trying to sleep and feed.

If you are getting brand new slippers for the hospital break them in before you pack them. I spent a few very uncomfortable hours in labour in slippers that were too tight because they were brand new! 
Make sure your pyjamas are light as hospitals tend to be hot. And make sure you can nurse in them. I got a few pairs of cotton stretchy bottoms and a set of nursing vests.

Baby:

1. 5 vests
2. 5 baby grows/sleep suits
3. Hats
4. Miss
5. Nappies
6. Towel 
7. Wash cloth 
8. Cotton wool 
9. Blanket 
10. Going home outfit 

Bring a few sizes of baby cloths as you can't be too sure what size your baby will be. We wernt quite prepared of a 10 pound baby and he just about fit in the clothes we brought.

Hats are a necessity as baby can't regulate it's temperature in the first few days and you need to keep his brain warm. (that sounds wierd but it's true)

You may need more clothes and nappies depending on how long you stay but that's what daddy is there for, send him home with the dirty clothes and he can bring in some fresh clean ones. Have him trained to use the washing machine and he can even have the used ones clean by the time you get home!!! 

Daddy:

1. Socks 
2. Underwear 
3. T-shirt
4. Deodorant 
5. Change for the vending machine.

Child birth is strenuous and exhausting for daddy too and he may need a change of clothes for after. And if he is allowed to stay over night he will definitely need some fresh socks! 

Maternity fashion: Date night

We tried to get as many dates in as possible when I was pregnant as we knew once baby came our chances to get out would be less and less. Even if we were just going to the movies I still like to look my best and put some effort in.

Normally I never wear tight dresses as I hate showing my belly but I loved showing off my growing bump when I was pregnant! I love this dress from New look for just €29.99 dress it up with wedges or down with converse. 

This top is comfy and very stylish. Great with your skinny jeans and a pair of converse or ankle boots! It's from New Look and it costs €19.99

This dress from New Look is a steal at just €18.99. It's perfect for date night and transitions from pregnancy to nursing as the wrap over makes easy access for feeding. 

This blouse from asos is adorable. I love the floral print worn with a pair of cropped jeans and pumps. It's €50.70 so it's a bit pricer than the other pieces but being a blouse you will be able to wear it when nursing so you will get alot of wear out of it.

So now you know what to wear it's time to decide where to go on your date!! It doesn't matter where you go really just enjoy the quality time with your partner! 

My birth experience: Part 2

With Logan we assumed that because Corey was early that he would be even earlier as everything I read about second babies said they would be. So from about 38 weeks I was expecting to go into labor at any second and I can tell you that made the following 4 weeks very long and torturous. Any little niggle or bout of diarrhea I took as a sign of impending labor. But no even after trying all the normal treatments to bring on labor walking for miles, curry's, long drives, hanky panky and even trying homeopathic remedies (suggested by the midwifes), acupuncture and no less than 3 sweeps baby was not moving. 
I was booked in for induction on the Friday at 4 pm so that was my deadline to stay in the MLU. On the Thursday I scrubbed the car that we had only bought the day before, fit the car seat, had a hot bath and went to bed. At 2:45 am I woke to Corey standing over me which gave me a bit of a jolt. I sent him back to bed and noticed a slight twinge in my tummy. This continued every 5-7 min for nearly an hour getting more and more noticeable (I wouldnt say painful). At about 4 I decided to get up, move around and properly time the contractions. So I went and sat on my birthing ball with pen in hand ready to log my pains. I was bouncing lightly on the ball when BANG it exploded under me and I hit the ground quite hard on my bum. I sat there for about 5 min as I didnt want to move to fast but when I tried to get up I couldnt, so I phoned Niall who was upstairs and he came running without even answering the phone. It took a few min but I got up onto the couch and then my whole body started shaking from the shock. I was worried the fall or the shock could harm the baby so I called the MLU. They calmed me down and told me to come into the labor ward to be checked. So we had to get poor Corey out of bed at 4:30 am and drop him into his auntie and granny.
We arrived at 5 and I was monitored for about an hour and a half. The contractions were getting worse and could be seen on the monitor. The midwife decided to do an internal as I was dilated by about 4 cm so they decided there was no point in sending me home. Niall went and got the bags and a lovely MLU midwife came to bring me back to there ward. While waiting I got up as I was sore from sitting being monitored for so long and from then the pains started getting bend over the bed painful. 

Niall came back and made ooobbbaaa noises (starwars reference) during my contractions which at any other time I would have found hilarious but not while I was bent over the bed moaning in pain. The wonderful midwife and trainee midwife monitored me constantly checking my pulse and checking the baby with the doppler (which was cool as they had to keep checking lower and lower as the baby moved down). By about 9:45 am I decided I needed the gas and air and we moved to a yoga mat on the ground where I could be on all fours as my feet were hurting and I couldn't sit.
At about 10 they did and internal and I was 7 cm dilated and when I got back to my all fours position I had a huge contraction and my waters broke (Im cringing just thinking of it eekk). I decided the gas and air was doing nothing but making me feel sick, fuzzy and affecting my concentration so I stopped taking it and started pushing. It was much better and I felt I was in control which I didn't feel when I had Corey as I was so out of it from the gas. When the midwife said push I did when they said stop I did. It felt like it took a lifetime, like the pain would never end and I wouldn't be able to do it. I took chunks out of Nialls hand and he could barley hold me I was pulling back so hard. I cursed like a sailor and screamed bloody murder. Logan did his first poo and the Dr was called in with a huge space age machine just incase and a second midwife was called too. I was turned onto bottomless a seat for better positioning and a few pushes later Logan was born at 10:32 am a humongous 10 pounds 7 ounces. I wasn't

allowed touch him as he might breath in the menicom (the first poo) and he had the cord wrapped around his neck twice but he was fine! The midwifes were so good and calming all the way through and I was in so much control that I didn't tear at all!

I was brought to bed and once he was checked over and wiped down he was given to me for some skin to skin contact. I was given painkillers as the after birth contractions were very painful. Niall took him after a bit and I dozed for an hour as midwifes pottered about filling out form after form. I had a shower after 1 pm and then Niall went home to have a shower and get Corey to bring for a visit. We were moved to the smaller room that evening and Niall was given a cot bed to stay on. I had a few pains during the night but nothing solphadine couldn't fix.The next day after a few checks the midwifes were happy with Logans latch and our over all health so we were given a packet of information and a had a talk with another lovely midwife and we were free to go home.

My birth experience: Part 1

We had two very different birth experiences.

Corey arrived 3 days before his due date. I had no signs of labor that I knew of, but I had no idea what to look out for as I wasnt told. My waters broke 10 minutes after returning home from our first and only antenatal class at 3pm. We went straight into the labor ward in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital Drogheda. I was checked over and moved to the ward to wait for labor to properly kick in. We were lucky we were put into a semi private room that was completely empty.
We sat about in the bed and did nothing for a few hours ( I had no idea walking and moving would help move labor along). I had to request to be checked after about 5 hours to be told that first labors are slow moving and I would probably still be there waiting in the morning. They did the check and I was alot farther along than they expected and after that labor started moving swiftly along.
I started feeling pains at about 9pm so we went walking and even tried to get into a bath (as soon as I was submerged I had a contraction and it made it ten times worse so I got out). At about 10 I requested gas and air, by that point I had bitten poor Nialls shoulder during a particularly bad contraction so we felt it was necessary. We were moved to the pre-lobor ward where I was put on a birthing ball and given the gas and air (of which i took far too much).
By 10:30 I decided enough was enough and I wanted the epidural so we were moved to the labor room with my trusty gas and air at my side to be preped for the epidural. 20 minutes later still no anesthesiologist (it was a busy night for epidurals). I was checked again and we were told I was too far along for the epidural so it was just gas and air for me. 
I pushed, I screamed, I screamed and I pushed. I more than likely cursed Niall's name and nearly broke his hand. Most of it was a blur (the result of 2 and a half canisters of gas and air) and I dont fully remember it all.
Corey was born a big 8 pounds 7 ounces of adorable baby at 11:45.
I tore and needed 8 stitches given to me by a Dr I was convinced was singing Kanye West (gas and air again). 
Within an hour I was made get up and hobble leaning on my boyfriend for support covered in blood and who knows what else down the corridor to a shower room where poor Niall had to wash me down and dress me, and then request a wheelchair when I nearly collapsed in the shower. 
The next morning we were moved to the maternity ward full of new mams and there babies that I hid behind my curtain from. I stayed there for 4 days as I was breastfeeding and didnt feel fully confident and with Corey being jaundiced I was worried he wouldnt get enough milk to clear it.
Then after 4 days we were released into the real world.

My Pregnancy Experiences

Being pregnant at 20 and being pregnant at 28 were two very different experiences. They were so different infact we were convinced I must be having a girl in my second pregnancy! Which just goes to show how every pregnancy can differ drastically.
I suffered morning sickness with both babies. The first time up until the very day I reached the second trimester but the second time around it never fully went away. I suffered badly with it for 20 weeks but it was always there in the background making me feel nauseous unless I ate constantly up until I gave birth.
I suffered with terrible back pain, joint pain and hip pain in my second pregnancy that I dont remember having in my first. I couldnt sit or stand for long periods of time and sleeping was very uncomfortable for me.
I had heart palpitations and found it hard to catch my breath sometimes from around week 20 of my second pregnancy which never happened in my first.
I got very fat both times LOL. Even tho I promised myself I wouldn't in my second pregnancy eating was the only thing to keep the nausea at bay so I ate constantly. 
I was tired all the time and napped all day long even though i was sleeping all night too (broken up by the constant trips to the bathroom).
Luckily I never suffered with anything serious in my pregnancy (although I complained like I was going through the worst pregnancy ever and my fiance can vouch for that). Low iron was my only concern towards the end of my second pregnancy.
I put it down to age and I know I wasn't technically old at 28 having Logan but having Corey at 20 seemed alot easier!

Intro: First time mammy again!!

So I decided to create this blog to give me something to do between feeds and nappy changes, to keep my brain ticking over and prevent insanity from boredom! 
I also thought it would be great to have a different perspective on motherhood from someone who has done it once as a very young mother (at the tender age of 21) and is also a new mother (it feels like starting from scratch having my second baby at 28). 
So I have a newborn (6 weeks tomorrow) and a 8 year old and let me tell you its a whole different ball game this time around!!
I may not be the best writer in all the land but I want to write something relate-able to all mammy's out there nothing pretentious (seen as I needed spell check to spell that one for me).
I hope you enjoy this blog!