babyurbeautiful

Win one of two Superdrug My Little Star Baby Hampers when we reach 1000 followers on Twitter! Follow us @babyubeautiful or like and share our Facebook page: babyurbeautifulblog

Here are some of the fab baby care items you can expect:

Fragrance Free Baby wipes- 79p for 56

Tested by CB. These were fine for mopping up after a wee, but not up to the job for a 22 month old's large poos, which should really be going into a potty by now (naughty bubs!). Would be fine for a young baby. They are good to carry in my bag to use as face and hand wipes, as they are great value and very mild (no irritation for bubs). Also like the flip-open plastic opening, rather than the sticker-style opening found on other brands, which often lose their stick or don't seal the moisture in properly.

Safety Cotton Wool Ear-Buds- 55p for a box of 50
Available from www.superdrug.com

These are ergonomically shaped for safe and gentle use, so that they don't go too far into the baby's ear. Brilliant! What a fab idea! Love these and will definitely buy again (once I use up all 50)!

Get following us on Twitter now! @babyubeautiful

The Babyurbeautiful Team

 I was only made aware of them from my company (when they finally decided to action the fact I was pregs at 34 weeks).

Anyway, we thought we'd let you know that if you sign up, you're eligible for a new baby/mummy mini pack. Perfect for the hospital bag! And as your penchant for Prada will now be replaced with a Primarni budget - it's ideal to save pennies at this imperative time. 

The site is great anyway with lots of tips and advice, and regular voucher codes and offers. So we thought we'd spread the love. 

Just send off your deets, or print off the voucher and take to Boots or Argos. Lovely!

Www.emmasdiary.co.uk

So, during my first pregnancy, I suffered terribly with nausea and exhaustion. I could hardly get myself out of bed at 9am to drag myself to my laptop (I was signed off by my doctor to work from home),  and then had to have a lunchtime sleep too! By the weekend I was so tired I had to sleep all weekend. I became a hermit- no need for maternity wear-except pyjamas. The baby was a girl.

This time round was completely different, so much easier, much less nausea and able to carry on nearly as normal- until now!! 

I'm 30 weeks pregnant (with a boy) and during the last few weeks I have started to suffer with the usual -'pregnancy woes'.

Exhaustion

One of the hardest things to deal with is exhaustion,  especially when working and looking after a 21 month old. I seem to be getting more tired by the day and since my 21 month old daughter isnow going to bed later- I am ready to hit the hay as soon as she does of an evening. Last night I was shattered but couldn't sleep due to a terrible pain in my lower back (see note below on Sacroiliac joints), and because I needed to pee every 2 minutes with bubs kicking me in the bladder. 

Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Nose Bleeds

Last week I had a 30 minute nose bleed which was pouring out and just wouldn't stop. Since then, if I even sniff I feel like it's about to start again. During my last pregnancy I suffered with nose bleeds badly. According to www.babycentre.co.uk the increase in pregnancy hormones progesterone and oestrogen dilates blood vessels while an increased blood supply puts pressure on the delicate veins in your nose. The moist linings (mucous membranes) inside your nose can also swell and dry out. This is often worse in winter, when colds are prevalent, and it tends to be warm and dry indoors because of central heating. I tried tipping my head back but it went down my throat and made me want to throw up.

Here is the NHS advice for stopping the bleeding (basically pinch it!):
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/nosebleed-pregnant.aspx#close

Plantar Fascitis

A few weeks ago I randomly awoke with an awful pain in my right heel which hurt really badly when I walked. After some googling I believe I have plantar fascitis which involves pain and inflammation of a thick band of tissue, called the plantar fascia, that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes. Plantar fasciitis is common in overweight people (that's me right now) and thus pregnant people due to the weight on the heel. Wearing flats actually makes this worse apparently, the suggestion is to wear shoes with slight incline. I have therefore been wearing wedge boots and it seems to have eased off. 'Shoe Therapy' from www.seraphine.com also make ballet flats specially designed for pregnancy, with a slight incline and other support, see here: www.seraphine.com/ballerina-bow-black.html

Cold Sores

Unfortunately I suffer from cold sores, probably the result of some teenage snog way back when grr. What a pain! Every time I get run down they pop up. I have one right now on my lip! Not very attractive! Cold sores are common and generally caused by the Herpes Simplex virus. I have decided not to use Zovirax this time which is my usual effective preventative method. The NHS advises using only if the doctor thinks it's really necessary during pregnancy.

Bruised ribs

Again the relaxin hormone making the ribs softer, but also bubs kicking me in them. Ouch!

Bleeding Gums

Constipation
Again I suffered more from constipation last time, possibly due to the fact that I am now vegan and probably eat more fruit, veg and fibre. However, I still get it on occasions, possibly due to taking iron in my Pregnacare supplement. During pregnancy, the muscle contractions that normally move food through your intestines slow down because of higher levels of the hormone progesterone, as well as the extra iron in your prenatal vitamin supplements. Don't take your own laxatives, go to the doctor to make sure thye are safe. Last time she gave me Lactulose, a sugary syrup. However, this time I am trying prune juice and a healthy diet.

Haemorrhoids
I have had a few instances of piles, also known as haemorrhoids, which are enlarged and swollen veins in or around the lower rectum and anus. Charming. When you're pregnant, piles can occur because hormones make your veins relax. The telltale sign is bleeding. I haven't tried any of the usual prescribed treatments yet though such as Anusol.

Nausea
Caused by the high hormone levels during pregnancy, nausea and morning sickness are more common at the start of the pregnancy. For some reason I seem to have been getting  this a bit again at 6 months, but I think it may be exhaustion related. People will suggest all sorts of remedies but I found that not too much water at once, and eating regular bananas helped me! The usual suggestions such as ginger or peppermint were no good for me.

Heartburn/Indigestion
This is really bothering me at the moment. According to the NHS website: 'Heartburn is a strong, burning pain in the chest that is caused by stomach acid passing from your stomach into your oesophagus (the tube that leads from your mouth to your stomach). When you're pregnant, you are more likely to have indigestion due to: hormonal changes that your body is going through, your growing womb (uterus) pressing on your stomachand the relaxing of the lower oesophageal sphincter (ring of muscle) that acts like a gate between your stomach and your oesophagus, allowing stomach acid to leak back up.' Last time I used to drink a glass of milk for it, but now being vegan, I have turned to the Gaviscon (get it free on prescription). I also find that drinking lots of water at once makes it worse, or bending/laying down soon after eating.


Thrush
I have a constant battle with thrush (candida) during pregnancy, getting it everywhere including bouts in my mouth, lush! Apparently the pregnancy hormones can disturb the natural balance, causing yeast overgrowth. Not keen to use the Nystatin prescribed to me by the doc afetr reading up on it and the risks, I have stuck to Corsodyl mouthwash for the mouth (get it free on prescription) and Canesten cream down below. You can also try cuting down the amount of yeast you eat in your diet, although it is not advised to carry out the full hardcore Candida diet during pregnancy.

Cystitis- Urine Infection
Another thing that seems to re-occur during my pregnancies is water infections, despite drinking tons of water. I have managed to avoid antibiotics by drinking loads of water and cranberry juice.

Never mind though, only 10 weeks more of all this and it will all miraculously disappear and be replaced by sleeples nights, breastfeeding issues and a beautiful wonderful amazing gift- my son.

CB

A little one to start but very worthwhile competition for many busy mums who will be very appreciative of having a chance to trial these excellent nappies and affordable Superdrug goodies.

We have TWO baby starter hampers with packs of nappies (of your choice size wise) from the Superdrug new My Little Star Range from newborn to mini to midi - whatever your child needs.

The affordable yet high quality nappies have been a godsend for us mumma's here at BUB. And we'd love to hear your thoughts too. There will also be baby wipes (we adore, see previous reviews), plus top to toe wash, cotton buds and petroleum jelly - the perfect first time mum essentials all in one adorable hamper.

So, all you need to do is get following us on twitter and retweet. 

@babyubeautiful which sadly has the 'ur' missing is our twitter handle.

Make sure you follow 'baby u beautiful' - once we hit 1000 followers, we'll pick 2 of you at random and get you to DM us with your details then show you off as the two lucky hamper winners - good luck! 

Xx

But then three things happened that somehow changed everything. 

Firstly we went on holiday where she got used to constant attention from my parents-in-law who tagged along, and also got used to sleeping in the same room as me and hubby.

Then we moved house two weeks after getting back to the UK, which meant two weeks of general disruption and Lucy not receiving much attention at all. And though she seems very happy in her new home I think maybe she is still unsettled when waking in a strange room every night.

Lastly, she has become a toddler over the past weeks and will imminently turn one. So who knows what physical changes are going on in that little body causing her discomfort. And of course she is still teething.

So all in all it's a pretty toxic combination for Lucy and consequently for me. She has only slept through the night once in about a month. All other nights she is waking between 3 and 5 times and won't re-settle if I leave the room.

So I'm pretty knackered and worse, it's showing on my face with more lines around my eyes appearing daily and an overall haggard look adding to the charm. 

Although I've now (finally) found my boxes of makeup, beauty products and toiletries, I haven't had time to unpack and organise them properly yet - along with pretty much everything else I own :-)

So all I have to keep me going at the moment are a bottle of Olay Beauty Fluid, a jar of Vaseline and two travel size tubes of Sudacrem that their PR people kindly sent me.

 
 

In fact those little tubes have been brilliantly handy both on holiday and during the move. The original formula Sudocrem skincare is obviously great for spot emergencies and nappy rash, but was also an excellent treatment for sunburn. And the new Care and Protect cream seems to be a good preventative, for spot breakouts at least. Lucy doesn't get a lot of nappy rash so I couldn't really tell if it worked as a preventative measure.

I've been using the Care and Protect cream before bed on my problem areas, after washing my face and applying the Olay. Then I slather some Vaseline around my eyes and frown lines (would prefer smile lines but whatever) and on my lips. Job done. 

I'm not sure I look any better in the morning but at least I'm keeping the old fizzog ticking over until I can bring in the big guns and the anti-wrinkle serum. I do love Olay products though so I might give some of their anti-aging stuff a try when I start getting paid again.

Somehow dealing with the lack of sleep seemed easier when Lucy was a baby. Perhaps it was just that I expected to not get much sleep back then but, probably unreasonably, I expected to get more sleep as she gets older.

Time to crack out the books on sleep training I guess.

RL xx

Trouble is, in the last two days I've not been able to find any of my beauty products or toiletries. The removal men, though very nice, failed to appreciate the importance of these items and ignored my careful labelling, putting them somewhere I have yet to find. 

Luckily I have some dregs left from my travel goodies to tide me over for the basics but I'm not keen to venture out into my new town with Lucy without slapping on a bit of make up and whatnot. I'm hoping to make some new friends here but that'll never happen if I have my 'haven't slept in days' scary Walking Dead face on. Seriously, moving house is not kind on skin. 

Worse, we don't have internet access yet so doing a bit of next day delivery online shopping isn't an option unless I do it on my phone which is always a nightmare.

So tomorrow I must brave box mountain to find my buried treasure. Wish me luck ladies!