BabyBjorn Carrier Review

When Noah was born, we realised quite quickly we were going to need a baby carrier. Firstly because Noah absolutely loves resting on our (mainly mine, shh!) chests, I think because he can hear our heartbeat & feel our warmth, it settles him quickly and he often falls asleep. Another reason was due to the hassle sometimes it can be to get his car seat in and out of my car, especially when people have parked terribly in bay's next to us and getting a car seat out can be tricky. Getting just Noah out & popping him in a carrier was looking much easier.
We did a little bit of research into which was the best carrier, but as I wanted one that would be super easy for me to put on when alone, I knew we'd have to go and test them. We headed to John Lewis and due to some terrible customer service we were left to ourselves to try some on. After failing with a couple we picked up the BabyBjorn Classic Carrier, I'd seen reviews but it looked pretty complex at first. I was wrong. Now we aren't the most DIY couple, but it's honestly so easy to get on.

The BabyBjorn Carrier consists of straps, which you pop over your shoulders like you would a coat, the carrier part then has three parts on each side. Each clip attaches to a clip on the straps. There is a clip at the bottom, middle and top of each side. You just clip up on side, pop you're little one in and whilst holding them use your other hand to clip up the other side. It truly is, extremely easy. There is lots of padding up top for your newborns head & neck, there is also adjustable straps either side so can ensure maximum comfort & security for them. I really liked the fact that there is instructions on the inside of the carrier, so you can be putting it on as you're following them. The carrier grows with your child as it's all adjustable, and once you're little one reaches the age where they can support their own head, you can change it so they're in a forward facing position, which will be perfect for Noah as he's super nosey. I can't complain about this product at all, Noah completely loves it and often falls asleep when in it, I'd definitely reccommend it.

                            

Three Weeks Postpartum Update

Oh my has time flown, it's been three whole weeks since I gave birth to little Noah pants. (Three weeks EXACTLY, as it's now 22:20) Boy has time flown. I remember those last few weeks of pregnancy feeling like forever, and yet my first few weeks as a mother have completely flown by.

It feels like we're getting into more of a routine with Noah now. Although it's hard as he's still only so little, he definitely has patterns of when he's awake and most active, just like he did when he was in my tummy. It did seem at first he was asleep all day and awake most of the night, but that faded after the first few days and now he's awake most of the day, with the occasional nap after his feeds. However he does like to be wide awake and agitated between 11pm - 2am, the last couple of days have been better and I think it's due to altering the way he sleeps in his Moses basket. All in all we are really blessed as he honestly doesn't cry unless he wants something (ie. a feed, his nappy changing, a cuddle).

I do fear we'll have trouble weaning Noah when he gets older as he absolutely LOVES his bottles & milk. He's currently on 6oz and finishes them all, his feeds are usually every 4 hours roughly, give or take 30 minutes. It's such a lot for a three week old baby, as most don't take that until they're around 6-8 weeks old, however Noah was much bigger than most newborns, weighing in at 9lb 13oz. He's not bringing anything back up so it's no real bother to us at the moment, if he's happy, we're happy.
Noahs' dislikes are anything that involves being undressed, so nappy changing is always a fun task. We usually try to change his nappy as his bottle is warming, as that way it's almost a little comfort for him afterwards. He also really doesn't like having a bath, I think again, it's more due to being undressed and maybe feeling a bit exposed and vulnerable. We picked up a cloth bath seat this week that hooks over the edge of his baby bath, from John Lewis. We're hoping it'll make him feel more comfortable and a little warmer in the bath.

After his paternity leave & some well places holidays, John goes back to work on Thursday so I'm intrigued to see how I'll feel then. We've had nearly a month by each others side so it will definitely be tough for me, especially doing all the night feeds myself, at the moment we take it in turn doing a night each. But I'm sure I'll get used to it in time. It's so bizarre how your body adjusts to everything. I was such a heavy sleeper, but now wake at any murmur Noah makes, you get used to the sleep deprivation & all kinds of motherly instincts kick in. We're so lucky with Noah as he is such an amazing baby, he's so, so good for us & minus my revisit to hospital when I was a week post-partum, I've had a speedy and easy recovery.

What to pack in my hospital bag?

I think packing your hospital bags has to be one of the most exciting parts of pregnancy. I must have read over fifty blog posts on what people packed, whilst trying to pack my own. From around 28 weeks of pregnancy I had mine packed, but on a weekly basis I'd redo them and add to them. In the end we settled for two bags, one for my belongings & a second for Johns' and Noahs'. It made it easier for John or my Mum to get things out as they knew which bag to look in. There was some things I took that were definitely not needed, but here is what I took.

My bag contained:
Two nightys - button down, easier to breastfeed.
Dressing gown - I get cold easily.
Deodorant
Slippers
Towel
Hand santizer
Paracetamol
Vaseline Lip Care
Hair brush & bobbles
Chargers - phone, iPad.
Coming home clothes
Maternity notes
Big pairs of knickers - Asda sell packs of 4/5 for about £4. They're comfy and I didn't mind if they ruined.
Sanitary towels - The night time ones, much more absorbent than maternity towels.
Toiletries - toothpaste, toothbrush, shower gel, dry shampoo, massage oil, flannel.
Small amount of make up (never used)
Socks (never used)
Breast pads (never used, milk doesn't come in till day 3)


Johns' bag:
T-shirt change for John
Deodorant
Toothbrush
His glasses & a spare change of contacts
Lots of snacks - haribo, cereal bars, chewing gum & sports drinks.
Change for car parking & vending machines
Camera

Baby's bag: 
Four sleepsuits - variety of sizes incase like me you have an unexpected chubba or vice versa.
Muslin cloths
Blanket
Nappies
Sudocrem
Newborn wipes
A dummy
Hats & scratch mitts
Coming home outfit & cardigan
Pram suit
Some ready made milk cartons (never used as the hospital do provide them if needed) 
Three vests (didn't really need them under his sleepsuits)

I think that was everything, but as I'm writing this post after Noahs' birth, I can't be 100% sure I've remembered absolutely everything we took. I would totally recommend Lucozade Sport as this really helped me gain some energy back after labour. A massage oil was also essential as I had most of my labour in my back, it helped when my mum rubbed my back with it during early labour. Hope this has helped anyone currently packing theirs.

My Birth Story


Sunday 8th December was my induction date, a full 12 days after Noahs' due date. I honestly never thought I'd go that overdue, everyone kept telling me he'd be born early and I was measuring always one or two cm ahead in my bump measurements, but it just goes to show you, everyone is totally different. I'd tried everything since his due date passed; pineapple, birthing ball, walking, hot baths and two sweeps. Nothing really worked, Noah was far too cosy being a baby bump.

I was booked to go into Kings Mill at 9am, so I did the normal call at 7:45am to the ward and they told me to make my way in. I was half dreading they'd say they had no room and I'd have to wait, infact when we arrived we heard them telling the woman on the phone booked for an 11am induction that she would have to wait, so I'd advise to get an early morning induction time if you're given the choice. If I'm honest I really wasn't too nervous, I had both my pre-packed bags with my (one for John & baby, one for me) along with my Mum and John who both accompanied me. I was given a wristband with my name and NHS number on it and guided to a room where my midwife Judith introduced herself. I had my own personal room, with my own bathroom and shower. The facilities at Kings Mill were truly amazing, the room was spacious and had it's own recliner sofa chair in there too. We made ourselves comfortable and I was strapped up to the heartbeat monitor & contraction monitor. Judith gave me an internal (which I was used to now after two sweeps) and a pessary. I had to wait for 30 minutes before I could move so the pessary could start to take effect. I found this quite hard because laying on my back REALLY hurt under the weight of my bump, but after around 40 minutes everything was fine and we were allowed to do as we pleased for a while. We made our way down the Costa Coffee downstairs and had a bite to eat, we then picked up some magazines & snacks from WHSmith and had a general wander round the hospital. I had already began to feel some backache but presumed this was from lying on my back with the monitor on for some time.



First stage
We made our way back to the room as it was around 12pm by this time, the ladies came round, asked what I'd like for lunch and then I tried to get some sleep. I remember vaguely drifting off a few times but then my back began to get quite sore and painful. It wasn't really a 'coming and going' pain, it was constant. I put my pyjamas on and constantly felt like I needed a number two (TMI, apologies) I was trying to go every 20-30 minutes because it really felt like I needed one. But whenever I got to the toilet the ache in my back was too much, I had to stand up. I felt freezing but when I looked in the mirror my face was very red, so I knew something was going on. My Mum and John kept telling me it was boiling in the room but I felt absolutely freezing cold. It got to around 4pm and I had to call the midwife and let her know how much pain I was in, she asked if I'd like a bath to which I eagerly agreed. I'd often had baths at home when I had backache and they always helped. John sat with me whilst I had a bath and it really did help. When I was in the water the pain really subsided. But shortly after when I went back to the room it came back with a vengeance. From 5 we must have been asking for the midwife but she was 'doing meds' which I found very stressful. A few other midwives came in and out but as the pain was all in my back they didn't seem to concerned because I had zero in my tummy. My mum could see how distressed I was getting, I was in tears because no one was coming to help me. My mum had to actually go and find Judith herself and tell her to come now. (yay for mum) When she came, she (reluctantly to be honest) examined me and I was a 'good 4cm' so I could go through to the labour ward across the hallway.

Second stage
I really don't remember much from here, the bit between now and pushing really is quite hazy. It was around 6:30pm and I had to stop a few times on my way over to the labour ward whilst my contractions were coming. They where all in my back, even though my baby wasn't breech and was in the correct position. When I got to my room (again, totally to myself, with my own bathroom & bath) I had to be strapped up to the monitor again as routine when you're moved over. I REALLY hated this part, but I had my nice friend gas and air to help me through, it took me a while to get used to how to use it and it takes a while to take effect so after about 30 minutes of half-heartedly trying, I asked for Diamorphine or Pethidine. It must have been around 8 at this point because I had a changeover of midwives. My midwife was now Hannah who was around 30 and so lovely. This must have kicked in almost immediately and inbetween contractions I was very chatty and slightly delirious, it was like being slightly drunk. Apparently I was saying things like 'I've never done drugs but these are so good, I might start'. At some point another midwife, who I think was more senior came in and said I was contracting very fast, and they may need to slow it down, but nothing came of that thankfully.  I also felt like I needed the toilet loads although Hannah told me time and time again, my bowels were empty and there was no way I could poo. I still felt I had to so eventually went to the toilet, it was then my waters broke as I sat down, literally like someone chucked a water balloon down the toilet. I was so out of it, I took it in my stride and told Hannah when I got back in bed, I think she was slightly sceptical but when she checked me I was fully dilated and ready to push. I was most comfortable on my side so they managed to keep the monitor on me that way and I had one leg in a stirrup. Hannah told me that whenever I felt a contraction to try and push through it. I truly feel like this is the easiest part of labour. I actually had something to do and felt like I was getting somewhere, I found it most frustrating when the contraction ended and I couldn't push through it. My Mum said I was pushing for around 60-90 minutes but it felt like only 10, time really does go SO fast. I kept asking Hannah to 'gestimate' how long it'd be till he was here. And at 9:55 she said she thought he'd be here by quarter past ten. I was squeezing the life out of Johns' hand and my mum was there to encourage me & to get me numerous cups of water which I was so grateful for because I couldn't of parted with Johns' hand for him to get it. As Noah was crowning, my mum sneaked a peak and shouted 'oh he's got loads of hair Emily' this definitely spurred me on as I really wanted to meet him. I did feel a slight burning sensation but you're so focussed you really don't take to much notice. Then at 22:20, Noah Young was born. He didn't cry at first just looked really shocked according to John. I was in complete shock myself as I didn't realise that push would be the final one. I was asking if he was okay as I really expected a big cry, but they said he was totally fine and happy.

Bump is a boy
The midwives cleaned him up and when doing this, he began to cry. They wrapped him up and handed me my little boy. He was so beautiful and perfect, and after John & my Mum had both stopped their tears, they both had a hold. I held him for around and hour and gave him his first feed. I did feel really nauseous though. I think this was due to the injection they gave to me pass my placenta. I thought I'd be really grossed out by the placenta business, but you're far too occupied by your baby to even notice. I did receive a third degree tear so had to have stitches, I didn't think I'd had a tear at all as nothing hurt but obviously I was wrong. After an hour or so, Noah was dressed and passed to his Daddy whilst my mum helped me have a bath & get changed (I was still very out of it). I did vomit a few times and remember saying to my Mum as my sick was swilling around the toilet bowl 'Ooo cress' because I'd had an egg and cress sandwich earlier on that day. I was wheeled back to the antenatal ward which again, I received my own room (really can't fault Kings Mill) and John was allowed to stay with my throughout the night. It was around 3am now and my Mum left for home. So we tried to catch up on as much sleep as we could, I was so exhausted I couldn't keep my eyes open, I was literally taking to people with them closed. We chose to go home that Monday afternoon around 4pm. I think the midwives would have preferred us to stay another night, but in truth I just wanted to be home. I did have to eventually go back in a week later, which I'll post about soon, but minus that I've had a good recovery and really do have the sweetest, most well behaved boy ever.






Pregnancy Update

How far along?  41 weeks. Overdue & not happy about it.

Total weight gain:  I'm not to sure, but I don't think I've put much on anywhere other than my bump which is nice.

Maternity clothes?  Nothing new at this stage, it'd be silly to buy something so late in my pregnancy although I will still wear my maternity clothes for a week or so after I've had baby.

Stretch marks? Oh yes, not just on my sides now, they're on the bottom of my bump where he's really stretched me. Still using bio oil and I do believe it works.

Sleep:  Sleep has been terrible these past couple of nights, my hips ache when I lay on one side for too long. And I'm up every hour / two hours for the toilet or a drink as my mouth gets SO dry!!

Best moment this week: Going to the midwife for my second sweep and finding out my cervix has began to move, so things are moving in the right direction.

Worst Moment This Week: My first stretch and sweep last week. That midwife was so rough, uninformative and I just felt terrible after it. Almost violated as I didn't really know what had gone on. She didn't explain much.

Food cravings: I haven't really craved anything during my pregnancy to be honest, I have ate whatever I wanted though and used it as an excuse, naughty me.

Miss anything?  Not going to the loo every hour in the night, and being comfortable in bed.

Movement: Still lots and lots. They're not like distinctive kicks anymore though. Just movements, rolling around & hiccups. 

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Nope, been lucky I've not really felt sick since about 24 weeks.

Gender: BOY!

Labour signs:  A few bouts of backache, emptying bowels (tmi, yikes), and lots of braxton hicks. Apart from that, nothing incredibly alerting.

Symptoms:  Same as above, still getting heartburn even though baby is fully engaged. 

Belly button in or out?  Sometimes it pops out, then it goes back in depending on where Baby Bump is in my tum. It feels so soft though, it's pretty funny.

Happy or moody most of the time? Ups and downs, I'm pretty content most of the time just a little impatient now. 

Looking forward to:  Baby bump becoming our baby boy. He should be a week old now so it's a little upsetting he's still not here with us.

Bump:  
(Will upload my bump picture when the internet is allowing me, silly thang)

Hello

Hello readers,

I'm new to the pregnancy & mummy blogging, but after reading so many helpful and interesting blogs' during my pregnancy, I decided to create my own. Plus due to the fact maternity leave gets a little bit tedious after a couple of weeks. For now my name is Emily, I'm 21, live in the East Midlands and me and my partner John (below) are expecting our little boy on November 26th. I'll post a pregnancy journal post, to give you all a small insight into my pregnancy.