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!)

28 Weeks 4 Days: Baby B Has Hiccups!

At 28 weeks and 4 days, I had a peculiar feeling in my tummy for about 7 or 8 minutes.

I had felt it before but couldn't for the life of me figure out what it was. Basically, it felt like I had a throbbing pulse in my tummy, quite low down, way past my belly button, actually, more in my bum to be precise!

 It was a reoccurring feeling of pulsations, in an ongoing pattern which lasted for between 3-6 minutes.

 It felt really odd, I assumed at first it was the baby kicking, but it was too gentle for a kick and also it was in exactly the same spot time after time.

I had ignored it on the previous occasions I felt it but this time I was a little weirded out so decided to google it.

I didn't really know WHAT to google, so I actually typed the words ' Pregnant and have a weird pulsing in my bum'' (Yes, really...)  and guess what?

It turns out it is the baby hiccupping! How I hadn't thought that this could be the explanation  I have no idea, but there it was, and the more I thought about it, the more it made sense!

Baby B had bloomin’ hiccups!

It was Soooooooo sweet and made me feel extremely close to my little one, imagining them hiccupping away!

28 Weeks Pregnant & Baby Is Transverse

So Today I am 28 weeks and 3 days preggo and I had another midwife appointment.

I’ve been feeling extremely uncomfortable for about week now and was looking forward to speaking to the midwife to see if this was normal at this stage.

During my examination where she feels the baby, measures my bump and listens to the heartbeat, I made the mistake of asking what position my little on is in. Turns out part of the reason for my discomfort is that Baby B is currently Transverse. 

Cheers Baby!

Basically, it is laying across my tummy horizontally rather than head down, vertically. I have a head in one hip and a bum in another! GAH!

I was pleased as at least I knew my why the sides of my bump felt so uncomfortable, but felt mildly panicked as if the baby stays in this position, I won’t be able to give birth naturally, which terrifies me.

I was re-assured baby still has plenty of time to turn, so I’ll try and stay optimistic and hope that baby gets a wriggle on and moves out of my hips!

Sleep? What’s that?

So, pregnancy, I have a bone to pick with you.

I was under the impression that sleepless nights only came ONCE the baby had arrived. I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure that I didn’t sign up for sleepless nights just yet. So why do you plague me with them so?!

Sleep Issue 1: OK so firstly, I have to pee like, every 90 minutes. It’s pretty much clock work now. I know that If I go to bed at 10:30, I’ll be up at 12pm, 1:30, 3pm, 4:30 and then 6pm, just before my alarm goes. It’s not fun, but that on its own would be somewhat manageable, it’s all the other stuff too which makes sleeping so much harder!

Sleep Issue 2: The thirst. I realise that this could possibly be a contributing factor to Sleep Issue 1, but after various tests I have concluded that it matters not if I drink a thimble of water prior to going to bed or a litre of the stuff, the 90 minute rule will still apply. That said, why is it that I can make it through the day on a relatively normal quota of liquid, but by the time I lay my head to rest in bed, I’m suddenly possessed by a thirst demon that demands I drink my weight in water before I’m allowed to close my eyes? I find this just plain weird.

Sleep Issue 3.  I am hot. ALL the time. I’ve been sleeping in a sheet since about week 12 and it’s now November and I’m still in a sheet, terrified of the sweats that will inevitably overcome me should I dare to snuggle into a duvet. Even with just a sheet I’ve been knows to wake with a clammy neck, its grim. Aaah Duvet, you are banned from my side of the bed for the foreseeable, and I’m missing you so much!

Sleep Issue 4. Then there’s the sleeping on your side thing. For a (former) tummy sleeper like me, this is so un-natural and uncomfortable! If it wasn’t for the waking every 90 minutes to pee, I’d be awake having to turn onto my other said to remedy my dead leg, torso and arm, which is completely floppy from where I’ve been leaning on it. Joy.

Sleep Issue 4: Dreams. Oh the pregnancy dreams, they are pretty damn vivid and I’ve actually managed to wake myself up on more than 1 occasion because I’ve been talking so loudly, out loud to myself. (My poor hubby!)

So Pregnancy, a little heads up would have been great is all I’m trying to say, given that I had plans of storing up as much sleep as possible ahead of Baby B’s arrival!

And if one more persons utters the words ‘It’s your body’s way of getting you ready for the sleepless nights when your baby comes’, I won’t be held accountable for my sleep deprived actions!

Does any of this ring a bell with anyone else, or is it just me?!