Theraline The Original Pregnancy & Nursing Pillow

There aren’t many products out there that I would say that you really need in pregnancy.

Sure, there are lots that are nice to have, like lovely yummy lotions and potions, new clothes, a nice new set of comfy PJ’s etc, but this product I really would recommend as a must have.

Theraline’s Original pregnancy and nursing pillow has been by my side every night since around 20 weeks. It’s become my best friend and without it, I’d be totally lost.

Did I mention this pillow can also be used once your little one arrives to help make nursing more comfy?

Oh yes, this pillow has more than one use!

The pillow itself is made up of millions of tiny, feather light micro beads which help to make the pillow malleable and allows it to conform to the shape of your body, whatever position you’re in.

Because it’s full of beads, it won’t ‘deflate’ after you've been laying on it for a while, or need plumping up like regular pillows can which would disturb your sleep and become really annoying.

Instead, it retains a constant level of support.

I think it’s safe to say that I wouldn't be able to get comfy in bed now without it.

It gives my bump, hips and legs the support that they really need and I have found, also stops me from rolling onto my back too much in my sleep, a position which isn't recommended due to the weight of baby resting on your stomach.

I place my pillow on its side, lay behind it, wrap my legs around one end of the pillow, rest my bump on the middle and snuggle into it. The relief I feel getting into bed and relaxing with this pillow is immeasurable!

I chose the pretty Little Yellow Flowers design for my pillow, but Theraline have a range of different designs and colours available, all of which are anti-allergenic, warm and breathable.

Now obviously, as Baby B isn’t here just yet, I can’t comment on its use as a nursing pillow, but rest assured as soon as I can, I’ll update!

Theraline’s range of pregnancy and nursing pillows are available from their website and cost £44.95 each.

(It’ll be the best £45 you’ll spend in a long time, I promise you!)

Bump Pic! 30 Weeks 1 Day!

This week I had my Whooping cough vaccine to protect Baby B from catching whooping cough in the first few weeks of his/her life outside my tummy.

The injection itself didn't hurt, but my god My arm felt bruised and sore for about a week afterwards! Still, small price to pay I know for their health!

I've finally succumbed to the dreaded tiredness and uncomfortableness of pregnancy now and I've changed my working hours to allow me to leave before the majority of the rush hour crush!

I now work 8:30-4:30, which has really helped- Leaving that 1 hour earlier means I can take my time getting to the station and tube, and I get home just that little bit earlier too, which I'm really grateful for!

On Thursday this week I went to the VIP re-opening of a Mothercare store on Oxford Street in London, where I met the lovely Myleen Klass who was talking about her range of Baby K clothes for Mothercare.

I felt HUGE stood next to her, so I grabbed a quick piccie then made my excuses and went and stood elsewhere!

I've noticed that I've started to get a pain in the top left hand side of my bump late in the afternoon, and can often feel some part of Baby B bulging from this area!

It feels a bit like a knee perhaps, but it really blooming hurts when he/she decides to move, leaving the top of my bump feeling bruised!

Bump Pic! 26 Weeks 6 Days!

This week  I am 26 weeks preggo and Mr B and I went to The Baby show at Olympia to hunt for some bargains!

I was really excited about going as until now we haven’t really done any real baby shopping, bar ordering the nursery furniture, so I was really looking forward to it.

It was, as expected, extremely busy there and I struggled with the lack of available seating and the huge queues for the toilets and cafes on site, even Mr B got the hump!

Seats, Loo’ s and cafes aside, there was a fab range of brands and products at the show and we picked up some great items at fab prices exclusive to the show!

We got...

A Philips Avent Digital Video Baby Monitor

A Gro Bag in a super cute Sleepy Circus print

Some fab WaterWipes

2 Bottles of Eisberg Alcohol free wine(nom!)

A super cute lamb baby soother

We were there for nearly 3 hours and I was ready to drop by the time we left but it was well worth the trip as everything we bough had been heavily discounted and we saved a good amount of money!

It was also the week of the ‘big storm’ and Halloween this week, and me and Mr B ended up being unable to get into work because of the ‘storm’ and train lines shutting down (touch!)

Normally for Halloween I make a real effort, but I didn’t want to splurge on a Halloween outfit that I wasn’t going to be able to wear again and the thought of getting all trussed up made me feel hot and sweaty! 

  We had a party at work and I made a bit of an effort (as you can see below) but I just wasn’t feeling it really.

Bump is starting to wear me out now too- by the end of the day it feels heavy and its starting to disrupt my sleep more and more- is it too early to start counting down to maternity leave?! 

Cantaloop Pregnancy Support Belt

Growing a baby is hard work and as it gets bigger, its gets pretty blooming heavy!

I have found myself on the waddle home from work, cradling my lower tummy as if trying to hold it up to help combat the weight of baby within!

It does look a bit odd, and I quickly got fed up of both the looks, and trying to carry my bag while trying to carry my belly too!

I’d heard about support belts and thanks to a bit of googling quickly came across a brand called Cantaloop, who specialise in maternity lingerie and sell a pregnancy belt.

Ok so the name did it for me, Cantaloop- it made me think of a big, sweet juicy melon and that made me smile as that’s basically my bump! Big and sweet! (Well, to me anyway... )

I decided to give their belt a go, unsure of what to expect.

Their support belt is designed to support your belly and back, offer warmth, comfort and expands as your belly grows.

The majority of the support comes from a thicker band around the back of the product, while the front is soft and silky, gently cradling your tummy.

I cannot express just how comfy this belt is to wear!

I just pop it on under my clothes and thanks to its seamless design, it feels like I’m not wearing it. It’s so soft and smooth against your skin that you can’t seen any lines under your clothes either!

I’ve found the support it’s offered my lower back amazing and it keeps me nice and warm which helps to ease my sore and tired muscles.

I’ve actually got one in every colour now and for £13.30, I’ve found it’s worth its weight in gold!

The Cantaloop Pregnancy Support Belt is available now from CMS Online.

Xpanda Bra! The Bra That Grows With You!

One of the most annoying and expensive side effects I’ve found thus far while being pregnant, Is the fact that I’m growing out of my bras every few weeks.

Now, bras, especially nice, comfy ones are not cheap, and its beggaring me having to upsize every few weeks as my bosoms continue on their seemingly, never ending growth spurt!

Where will it end?!

My first Issue is that I was a 34E before I got pregnant, and all big busted ladies out there will know just hard It can be to find pretty, or even practical bras in sizes above a DD on the high street.

Then there’s the price implications. Good bras are not cheap!

So, Imagine my joy when I came across a brand called Xpanda Bra.

 

Now chances are you’ve already guessed what’s so special about these bras already from their name, and yes, in a nutshell, these bras grow with you.

 

Xpanda Bra is a revolutionary new maternity nursing bra with individual adjustable cup sizes, so your bra continues to fit your body changes during and after pregnancy.

 

 AMAZING right.

These side clasps unhook to adjust the cup size!

  This bra is essentially, two in one. Unlike any other bra, you can adjust the cup size to accommodate fluctuating sizes in your breast, either due to pregnancy or breast feeding.

It’s really easy to do, using 3 hook and eye fasteners at the size, you can open up the cup to expand the size, or size down.

Adjust cup size as shown

 

Seriously, it sounds so simple yet is so effective!

The cups have two layers and are 100% cotton, making them exceptionally soft on your skin and have three hook and eye fasteners on the back, so you can adjust these accordingly to suit your changing shape too.

 The bra is wirelesss for extra comfort, but offers underwire level support, which is great when your boobs may be feeling particularly heavy!

The Xpanda Bra is also fab for nursing too, with no need to open the side cup adjustment after unhooking the maternity clip when breast feeding.

I am now a 36 F/G, which varies from shop to shop, so opted for a 36 F/G Bra.

The 36F currently fits on the smaller cup size, but I know in a few weeks I’ll be letting that bad boy out to accommodate my growing bosoms and it’s REALLY nice to know I won’t have to go and find another bra at that time!

I can also vouch for just how soft and comfortable they feel, giving just the right amount of support without feeling restrictive or tight.

As if all of those things alone weren’t enough to sway you, the Xpanda Bra only costs £28.99, which means you are basically getting two, fab quality bras for under £30!

Head over to the Xpanda Bra website to purchase one and for more info, including how to size yourself correctly!

P.S. Please feel free to thank me  once you’ve experienced the joy that is this bra! 

Bump Pic! 15 Weeks 6 Days

So le bump has officially popped, (a little!) !

Yes I do still have moments where I think I just look fat, but I'm starting to feel rather proud of my slightly protruding belly!

I decided that now is the time to start my battle against stretch marks, so I am religiously applying shed loads of moisturiser to my tummy and hips in the morning and evening. (Ok so its not that religiously and I do frequently forget it in the morning, but I'm working on it!)

Aveeno's Moisturising Creamy Oil is one of my favourite go-to products and I highly recommend it!

You can read my review of this little gem HERE. 

Weeks 13-15

So, these past few weeks have all been a bit of a blur of sickness, resting and being bored at home.

Thankfully, by weeks 14 and 15 I'm FINALLY starting to feel a little better! Yes I still retch for pretty much no reason at almost any time, but I haven't been physically sick in a while and I seem to be able to control the nausea much better.

These past few weeks have been so horribly debilitating, I never imagined I could ever feel that ill!

Still no real bump at week 13 but by weeks 14 and 15 there is definitely something there! I'll pop a piccie in my next post!

Im really excited as next week we have our 16 week Midwife appointment and get to hopefully, hear our little ones heart beat!

I can't wait!

My Maternity Style Q&A Over on the Kate Thomas Maternity Blog!

Hello Lovelies!

I wanted to take a min to let you know that yours truly has been interviewed by the Maternity brand Kate Thomas, and you can find my little Maternity Style Q&A over on their blog HERE!

Check out their maternity collection over at ASOS now too!

Sarah x