How To Make Having a Baby Less Expensive

Originally published on 21st May 2013. Last updated 17th April 2015.

Babies... They cost a bomb. Why is it people forget to mention that part when you first decide to have that little bundle of joy? But fear not, there is hope for your bank balance yet. Whether you're currently expecting a new arrival to your lives & home (in which case, congrats!), or you're already the proud owner of a expensive little bundle, here's my top tips for cutting back on the spending when you think your finances are otherwise doomed!

• • •

Buy baby clothes second hand.
The sad fact is, babies don't stay small for long, especially in their first year of life. You'll find that every couple of months you'll be replacing their wardrobe with the next size of clothes - this makes buying baby clothes second hand a great idea. You'll find a lot of the clothes you buy can be hardly (if ever) worn due to the simple fact that one size of clothing will only last a baby few months maximum.
The variety of places to buy second hand baby clothes are endless. Jack & Jill Markets & NCT Nearly New Sales, eBay, Gumtree, selling forums on baby community websites (my favourite is The Selling Place on Baby Centre), charity shops... All are a goldmine for finding bargains on threads for your little ones. And to really save your pennies, sell on the clothes when you're finished!

Top tip: Be aware of postage costs when purchasing online. Recent price hikes with the Royal Mail mean eBay bargains can turn out to be more expensive than first thought, simply to do with the additional postage fees.)

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Borrowing from family & friends.
If you have friends and family with their own little ones, the easiest way to save even more on clothes - amongst other baby necessities - is to ask for or accept hand-me-downs. And unless your family is a bit of a Scrooge, they'll usually give you items for free; there's no better bargain than that! Just be sure to return the favour to your generous loved ones when you're finished with your own baby bits & pieces, and don't pass on large objects (cots, prams) to other people without checking with the original owner first.

• • •

Consider longevity & resale value.
When choosing our pram, there was two main competitors; the Bugaboo Bee & the Silver Cross 3D. In terms of cost, the Silver Cross was a clear winner, with the Bugaboo coming in at nearly double the price. However I did a bit of research and found that the Bugaboo came with rave reviews - it was a long-term use pram due to it's light, pushchair nature, it's ability to 'grow' with your baby, and it held a good resale value. The Silver Cross however, the reviews weren't so great, with most people admitting they ended up replacing their pram with an alternative, lighter model at some stage or another (which meant more additional cost), and the resale value was poor.
We opted for the Bugaboo knowing it was built to last and we'd get our money worth. In the end we sold it on for a good price, after it had first served it's purpose with both boys without failing on us even once.

Top tip: For an even better deal, do your research and buy second hand.

• • •

Choose to breastfeed & baby-led wean.
I'd love to say my choice to breastfeed was based on wanting to provide the boys with the best possible start in life, but to be perfectly honest, that's a complete lie - I chose to breastfeed because it's free & any additional benefits was a bonus. To me, it doesn't make sense to spend £40+ a month on formula milk when my body can produce a more superior version for nothing. Cost was also a contributing factor in choosing to follow Baby-led Weaning, as your baby eats what you eat, without the extra jars of purée and rusk biscuits, so it incurs no too little additional cost.

Top tip: Even if you can't breastfeed, why not consider using donor milk? There's many ladies out their happy to offer up their freezers full of breast milk for babies in need and most won't expect anything but thanks in return.

• • •

Consider using cloth nappies. It might seem like a step back in time but cloth nappies are making a come back. The intital outlay can be expensive, with nappies ranging from £5 to £20+ each but after you've got a good collection of nappies (roughly 24 for full time use), in the long term you'll save yourself at least £1000 per baby, in comparison to using disposable nappies. Not to mention your carbon footprint and that cloth is overall better for your little ones bottom. And like baby clothes, cloth nappies can be bought second hand and sold on when you're finished.
Kitty Kins is a great website to help you get to grips with the world of cloth.

Top tip: Why not buy a few pre-loved nappies before investing in a whole supply of cloth. This means you can try a few different brands and decide whether cloth is for you, without spending as much upfront. And if you don't get on with them, you can sell them on. I like eBay & Babycentre Pre-loved Cloth board for second hand nappy bargains.)

• • •

Take advantage of your local Library & Toy Library.
In an ideal world, the boys would have a bookcase full of different stories and styles of books, but in reality, books are expensive. I take John & David to our local library every few weeks to see what they have to offer. It's also a fantastic way to assess how much they like a particular book before buying a copy for ourselves, saving us from purchasing hundreds and one books that don't hold their attention.
Our library also hosts a weekly toy library where you can go play with & borrow toys. Again, great for try-before-you-buy but also to let little ones have a bit of variety in their play without the expensive price tag.

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Join baby clubs.
You'll find the majority of major supermarkets and chemists have some form of Baby Club offering freebies, advice & money off vouchers. Aside from the barrage of emails & junk mail, you can get yourself some good bits & pieces from joining a Baby Club, from free gifts, too money off vouchers. Some to look out for are Bounty, Boots Parenting Club, various supermarkets and even some baby brands. It can be a great way to test out products without paying full price for them, so less money wasted on products you're not a fan of and more money saved on those you do like.

Top tip: To avoid excessive junk mail, set up a separate email address to join Baby Clubs.

What are your top tips for saving money with a baby in your life?

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Hand, Foot & Mouth

Aside from being ill at only a few weeks old, we've been very lucky with David. He's only had one minor tummy bug and a couple of snuffly noses, which is the complete opposite of John who had been on antibiotics for a number of chest infections by this age. That was until a few weeks ago when David picked up Hand, Foot & Mouth.

I'd read a little about Hand Foot & Mouth back when John was younger and had developed a couple of spots around his mouth (which actually turned out to be cold sores), so I knew the symptoms but was still surprised when I picked him up from nursery one night to find that the one little blister on his chin - which I assumed was due to a combination of his dummy & teething - had multiplied in what the nursery said was only the past hour.

It was unsurprising really as the days prior David had an unexplained fever and had been off his food & milk, a sure sign that he is definitely out of sorts! If like us, you find yourself dealing with a wee one with Hand Foot & Mouth, here's my top tips for identifying Hand, Foot & Mouth (HFM) & getting through it!

• • •

Blisters. In retrospect, David was ill with HFM before the blisters appeared but it was impossible to know with what until those blisters flared up; the fever, being out of sorts & off food are all signs of HFM but can also be signs of other illness. The blisters will appear as quickly as chicken pox do but will generally be secluded to around & inside the mouth, the hands & the feet (hence the name!). Some unlucky, poor wee soles may also have blisters flare up right up their legs & onto their genitals. Similar to chicken pox the blisters also appear to be filled with fluid and often burst, leaving an open sore.

Contagious. Like most childhood illnesses, HFM spreads like wild fire. When David had it at nursery, all the other babies had it too. Thankfully, it generally only affects younger kids and by some miracles, John didn't catch it too. Because of it's contagious nature, it does mean you'll need to keep your wee one off nursery and out of baby groups until the blisters have healed. Annoying when you know they more than likely caught it there, but it's important to consider those wee ones who may have compromised immune systems & couldn't deal with HFM as easily.

Diagnoses. Given the secluded nature of the blisters with HFM, it's quite easy to self diagnose. However, if you're unsure of any symptoms or wish to have a professional diagnoses, speak to your pharmacist. Given the nature of HFM, unless your wee one has other health issues, there's not a lot a doctor can actually do so save yourself the long appointment waiting times and head to your pharmacist as a best & first port of call.

Treatment. Again, like most childhood illnesses, there's no cure for HFM and it's simply a case of letting it run it's course. Most wee ones will have had the temperature & been out of sorts before the blisters appear so generally fever monitoring & control is to be considered then. But in terms of the blisters, there's not a lot you can really do.
If your wee one if over a year old & really itchy with the blisters, you can speak to your Pharmacist about a oral antihistamine but it's important to not put creams on the blisters, given the location of them; hands & feet end up in wee ones mouths numerous times a day after all!
One ointment I did use with David however was a little coconut oil, dabbed onto any particularly sore looking blisters, mainly to keep them clean & act as a barrier but also taking into consideration coconut oil's magical healing abilities. Plus it's all natural & completely edible, so no worries!

Goodbye Finger Nails! This is one that's less talked about but when you do some searching, it's actually a common after-affect of HFM. Since having HFM, David has lost a finger nail. Like I say, it's not hugely known about so I can't say for sure but my theory is it's due to blisters underneath the nails causing them to come away. Thankfully David has only lost the one finger nail but I've read of many babies losing quite a few, including toe nails.
If this does happen to your wee one, let them be. The nail will come off in it's own time with little intervention. And any attempts to help it on it's way are likely to cause unnecessary pain. If like David, you find your wee ones nail is almost off but they're catching it & in pain as a result, wrap a loose finger bandage around it and pop on a glove or mitten over it for a few days (remembering to check it routinely). This will allow the final part of the nail to grow out without your little one ripping the dead nail off. A soak in the bath can also be a enough to let that nail drop away.
And don't worry! Like a normal finger nail injury, the nail should grow back normally, with no long term affects.

David has had a mitten on one hand for the past day. When he had Hand, Foot & Mouth, he got a blister under one of his finger nails and its gradually been falling off. Yesterday it was just hanging there & he kept catching it and getting upset. I popped a little bandage over it but he just chewed that, so the mitten went on top. He looked quite funny channeling Michael Jackson. Today it finally came off, as did his mitten. Back to normality with a nasty looking finger. Poor bubba. #babiesofinstagram #vscocam #throughachildseyes #drivinginmycar

A photo posted by Amy Lorimer (@amylorimer) on Oct 10, 2014 at 3:17pm PDT

Disclaimer: As with any posts of a similar nature, I'm not a Health Care Professional. All advice is based on our own experiences and if you're ever unsure of any aspects of illness, such as Hand, Foot & Mouth, please consult your doctor.

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Birth Plan - The Second Time Around.

As a first time Mum, one of the biggest & most daunting things you have to consider is your birth plan. With so many options available these days and so many things to consider, it can seem like a minefield of epidural's, episiotmoy's and vitamin K. Where do you even start?

With the birth of John, I did vast amounts of research on what pain relief I'd like, what interventions I wanted to avoid and how I'd like things to go after the actual birth. And this is how my Birth Plan panned out;

Birth Companion.
Iain (partner & baby-daddy) and Christine (my Mum).
I would like Iain there at all times.
Pain Relief.
Relaxation & breathing, birth ball, gas & air, TENS machine and birthing pool. Ideally would like to avoid opiates but open to try if really struggling with pain. Do not want epidural unless things become completely unbearable.
Monitoring.
Intermittent monitoring unless otherwise needed.
Interventions.
As few as possible - I really do not want to have an episiotomy or forceps. Avoiding c-section unless completely necessary.
I would like things to run as naturally as possible so would like to avoid induction or breaking of my waters.
Delivery Positions.
Would like freedom to move into comfortable position - like the idea of squatting.
Discovering the Sex.
I would like Iain to reveal the sex to me as opposed to the midwife doing so.
Delivery of Placenta.
I would like a managed 3rd stage labour.
I would like Iain to have the opportunity to cut the umbilical cord, although I'm aware he'll probably decline.
Feeding.
I really want to breastfeed so skin-to-skin contact as soon as possible and would would appreciate assistance in breast feeding if needed.
If for any reason I'm unable to have skin-to-skin contact (eg. emergency c-section) it's important to me that Iain have the opportunity to have skin-to-skin until I'm able to.
I do not wish for my baby to be formula fed.
Vitamin K.
I would like my baby to be given vitamin K as a single injection.

Now, some people will tell you having a Birth Plan is pointless and only sets you up for disappointment, which if you're going to write things such as "I want my baby to be born at 3.09am, after 24 minutes of pushing and exactly two shots of diamorphine", then sure, you're maybe being a bit too specific. But I think with a Birth Plan it's important to be clear on your ideal birth but flexible and open to the fact that things might not go to plan.

For example, with Pain Relief, I was pretty sure that for various reasons I didn't want an epidural. That wasn't to say that if I ended up in labour for 4 days straight and the pain was more unbearable than I thought, that I would want the option to have become unavailable. I made a point of listing my preferred pain relief in steps of willing to try, with epidural being the final option. In the end I had half a shot of diamorphine and otherwise stuck to gas & air. An epidural was briefly mentioned but I really didn't think I was at the stage of needing one.

What I'm trying to say is, with a Birth Plan, be clear but open to change. That way you won't be overly disappointed if things don't go to plan.

So what will I be doing differently this time around? Well, over all I was very happy with the birth of John, however there is a few minor tweaks I'll be making.

 

 Birth Centre. I'll be requesting to give birth in Birth Centre at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary as opposed to the Labour Ward. With John we started off in the Birth Centre but unfortunately had to be moved to the Labour Ward for monitoring. The difference in the rooms is phenomenal and I'd much rather stay and birth in the beautiful big rooms of the Birth Centre than be stuck in a poky wee room on the Labour Ward. Of course, there may not be a room available in the Birth Centre but we'll just cross our fingers that there is!

 Pain Relief. If I learnt anything from last time around, it's that I deal with pain quite well. The only moment pain relief was brought up during my first labour was when the midwife said, "I don't want to mention it because you've not asked - like how I wouldn't want to ask if you were ill and not showing symptoms - but do you want to consider pain relief?" Cue my Mum & Iain discussing epidural and diamorphine. At that moment I agreed to try a shot of diamorphine but if I'm perfectly honest, did nothing for the pain (not that I'd ever turn that magical stuff down if offered again!) and I didn't ask for any more - gas & air was sufficient, even if only a distraction.
So this time I think I'll follow a similar route - going as far as I can on as little pain relief interventions as I can. I'll also be prepping myself with positive affirmations & birthing knowledge, inspired by the beautiful Jess at Life With Malakai.

 Water Birth. With John, I never actually made it into the birthing pool before being transferred  to the Labour Ward. This time I would love the opportunity to get into the pool and reap the benefits of water as pain relief. I'm unsure how I'll feel once actually in the water but I do like the idea of a water birth, especially considering I seem to be suffering with SPD this time around.

How have your birth plans varied from pregnancy to pregnancy?

Don't forget - you can vote every 24 hours!

The Great Dummy Debate.

Who knew a small piece of plastic could cause such conflict! Inspired by a recent debate at my Birth Board on Babycentre, I've decided to share my thoughts & experience on dummies.

I've said it many times before -- before I was actually a mother, I was the perfect parent. My child would be a dream; they'd never cry, they'd sleep through the night and they'd never have a dirty piece of plastic in their mouth to comfort them. I'd judge parents for giving their babies dummies and I vowed to never be one of them. Oh, how naive I was!

John was about 8 weeks old when my Health Visitor suggested a dummy. "It is possible that he's not hungry but is in fact using you as dummy." Nonsense I thought, no child of mine would need a dummy, I'd rather he used me as one... And we carried on how we were. Then my Mum started; "Have you thought about trying a dummy?" Nope, never, not necessary.

John was around 3 months old when he started to suck his fingers. At first, I thought it was extremely cute -- my little boy was learning to self settle and it was much nicer than his face being covered by a piece of plastic. Then I recalled my own childhood. I had sucked my thumb for nearly 9 years. It was a great comfort but a bad habit, one that was hard to break. My parents had tried numerous tactics to deter me from shoving my thumb in my mouth but nothing worked. And it wasn't as easy as just cutting it off. I knew what comfort a it could bring but I also knew of the torment that comes from other people when they see a grown child sucking their thumb.

I remember in P3 of primary school, sitting at my desk finishing a task. I was behind on my work compared to everyone else and my cruel teacher called out for me to "stop sucking my thumb" and "grow up" whilst simultaneously blaming my thumb sucking on my slow work. All eyes were on me and the sniggering and comments are still clear to this day. That was one of many experiences where I was singled out for sucking my thumb. I knew I didn't want John to suffer the same.

One day as we walked around Asda, I nipped down the baby aisle. I stared at the dummies, feeling resentment and fear. What if we end up with a worse off habit? What if he stops sucking his fingers in a few weeks, then the whole situation could have been avoided? I hesitantly threw a package of dummies into the trolley, ensuring that if we were going to do this, we'd at least get the orthodontic ones.

It took me a few days to actually give John one of the dummies and despite my disappointment, he took to it straight away. And the difference was obvious -- he started sleeping longer periods, settled to sleep without breastfeeding and was no longer wanting to feed 24/7. OK, so maybe they're not that bad.

When we started giving a dummy, I'd always said I wanted it gone by John's 1st birthday -- it seemed like a reasonable request and by that time he'd hopefully be sleeping through the night regardless. Well, at 1 year old he still wasn't sleeping through and he still had a dummy. Now at 18 months old he might well be sleeping through but he still has his dummy. And I'm in no hurry to take it from him. The thing is, John finds his dummy a comfort. He's never adopted a favourite cuddly toy, nor did he take to the idea of comforter blanket. His dummy helps him sleep, aids in soothing pain and is the little piece of home that he can take to nursery. Who am I to take that away from him? Don't get me wrong, we'll obviously take it away from him at some point but the decision is now to wait until he can understand why he no longer needs it and when he is old enough to seek comfort from elsewhere.

Dummies were one of the many parenting decisions that were different from my initial expectations. Based on our experience with John, I won't be rushing out to purchase dummies for baby no.2 but I also won't be so stubborn in terms of using one if I feel this little one would benefit from it. I've also learnt that dummies aren't the devil and not to judge other parents that use them.

And who knew a dummy could cause such humour? Thank you to my friend Hannah for John's moustache dummy!

How-To: Sun Care For Little Ones.

I don't know about where you are but here in Edinburgh, the sun has finally decided to shine!

Anyone that's been around me on a sunny day will know just how obsessed with sun protection I am. Sun cream, sun hats, sunglasses and long sleeves - it looks like I'm on a mission to avoid a tan but really I'm just extremely cautious. My family knows all to well the devastating effects of melanoma and being so easily preventable, I'm determined to protect myself & John against sun damage in every way possible. Here's my top tips to being safe in the sun with your own little ones.

Avoidance is better than cure. The best protection available is to simply avoid sun exposure, particularly between 11am and 3pm when the sun is at it's hottest. And when out in the sun, to choose to sit in the shade as opposed to direct sunlight. But of course this isn't always possible - life goes on whatever the weather! Here's some further tips on how to protect your little one when the sunshine can't be avoided...

Slather on the Sun Cream. There seems to be a bit of debate on if /when a baby should be wearing sun cream, due to the ingredients possibly not agreeing with babies sensitive skin but in my opinion, as long as you go for a cream designed for babies & children (often using milder ingredients) then the pros of being protected outweigh the cons. It's recommended you use a minimum SPF15 but personally I wouldn't opt for anything under SPF50 for John (or myself for that matter) as I can feel confident he's getting the best protection. It's also important to check your sun creams UVA rating which should be at the very least 4 stars.
I also recommend you research how to apply sun cream correctly. All too often I see parents smear a small amount of cream across their little one, rubbing it in far too vigorously. If not applied correctly, you'll be sacrificing some of the protection sun cream can offer. Oh, and reapply often, regardless of your sun cream claiming to last all day. Here's a great video by the NHS on how to correctly apply sun cream.
(Tip: My personal favourite in baby & kids sun cream is Banana Boat who offer SPF100+ creams, sprays & lotions).

For goodness sake, cover them up! It's a very British thing to strip down the moment the sun comes out. Iain is forever teasing me for wearing jumpers & trousers when it's 20°C outside but I'd rather protect my skin than worry about getting a reasonable amount of wear from my one pair of shorts (not to mention I still feel the cold despite the warmer atmosphere). And the same goes for John - his summer wardrobe is nearly non-existence and what he does have consists of long sleeved tops and light weight trousers. The British weather is rarely hot enough to over heat and it's easier to remove an extra layer of clothes than it is to deal with a screaming little ones who's suffering from sunburn.

Sun Hats are essential. Not only will they protect your little ones face, ears & scalp from harmful rays, they'll also provide some shade from the sun. Sunglasses aren't always practical for little ones - in other words, they'll just pull them off! - but a sun hat can also offer a decent degree of protection for your little ones eyes, not to mention they'll be more comfortable not having to squint to see.

Are you careful in the sun? Or do you need to brush-up on your sun care habits? Why not share your own tips for safe sun exposure!

Review: The Best Disposable Breast Pads

As it's National Breastfeeding Awareness week, I thought it'd be appropriate to review one of my breastfeeding essentials - breast pads!

Ah, the glamorous world that is breastfeeding! Something that's beautiful to experience but does have its downfalls - namely, leaky boobs! The majority of breastfeeding mothers will require some kind of breast pad to offer protection against an embarrassing wet shirt, particularly in those early months as your supply becomes established.

After 16 months (& counting) of breastfeeding, I no longer need to use breast pads on a daily basis but I've tried them all at some point or another. So here's  my reviews on the market leaders, helping you know which are worth their weight in gold and which are fit for the bin!

Boots Maternity Disposable Breast Pads (RRP: £4.29). These were the first breast pads I used from day one, unaware that the quality of breast pads could vary greatly. Being naive, I thought breast pad that leaked was something normal and these ones are notorious for this. I found that at times I'd need to replace them up to 4 times a day, including throughout the night. Granted I did suffer from oversupply in those early days but in terms of reliability these don't score great with me. They also crinkle (loudly!) under your clothes and are extremely large.
However what they do have on their side is cost. At only £4.09 for 80 individually wrapped pads, they're great value. I'd still recommend them for purchase - particularly if money is tight - once your supply is a bit more predictable but definitely not a winner for those early, particularly leaky days.

Johnson's Baby Nursing Pads (RRP: £3.29). What first surprised me about these breast pads is that they're not individually wrapped, like all the others mentioned here -- not great for bunging some spares into your changing bag for an emergency. They're also a lot smaller than the other breast pads I've tried but are beautifully soft & well contoured, making then great for sore & cracked nipples. In terms of absorption, they fair pretty well. But my favourite thing about these breast pads is that they're barely noticeable under clothes -- perfect for when you want to avoid the flying saucer under your top look.

Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads (RRP: £5.61). These have to be the market winner! The absorption level is unbeatable and size wise, in comparison to the large Boots breast pads and small Johnson & Johnson ones, these are the perfect in between. However, they'll cost you -- at £5.61 for a box of 60 they're not cheap. That being said, they can easily last an entire day so don't require changing as often, meaning a box will go further than those of their competitors.

Philips AVENT Disposable Day Breast Pads (RRP: £4.50). I didn't try these breast pads until later in our breastfeeding journey, something I regret as they quickly became my favourite on the market. Available in two different absorption levels (daytime and night-time), for a company that primarily sells bottles, AVENT have put a lot of thought into their breast pads. They're very similar to the Lanisnoh ones in design but the price is a lot more affordable, particularly if you need to use

Share your opinion! What's your favourite breast pad brand? Do have have any experience in the ones mentioned?

My Hyperemesis Diaries: Recovery

This post is the third in a 3-part series on my experiences living with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. You can see my posts on Diagnosis and Treatment & Hospital, here and here.

Kate Middleton was hospitalised in early pregnancy thanks to Hyperemesis Gravidarum.

Possibly the hardest part to deal with in terms of Hyperemesis Gravidarum is the not knowing when it'll get better. At least I can take comfort that it will end but whether it'll be within the next few weeks, or months from now, is yet to be seen.

I've had varying opinions from a number of doctors; some saying things will improve by the second trimester at 12 weeks, some believing 16 weeks was more realistic. And then I read of ladies who've been so bad that they're still being sick whilst in labour. So far, I'm still suffering with no real end in sight. I have good days & bad days, and thankfully the bad days are becoming a lot less frequent.

At the moment I'm on a great combination of anti-sickness medications which means I can live day-to-day without being ruled by Hyperemesis. The only problem is that without them, things are unbearable. I've recently tried to cut out one of my two anti-sickness tablets, Cyclizine, but had little success. Within a few days of reducing the dose I found the nausea started to slowly creep back in. Out of pure fear I upped my dose back to the familiar and realised I clearly wasn't ready yet.

Due to the success of my combination of medication, last week I was able to return to work, although the exhaustion is still crippling me. Life has to go on. At least with my first pregnancy, when morning sickness was an issue, it was just me -- I could lie on the bathroom floor all day if I really needed to. But now, now I have John to care for and he has no grasp on the concept that Mummy isn't able bodied. He doesn't care that my body is crippled, feeling poisoned -- all he knows is that being in the house all day is boring and that when he's hungry he wants to eat, regardless of whether I do or not. This is where family support has been crucial, particularly on my bad days. I couldn't have done any of this without Iain, nor without my Mum coming to clean my house and taking John to give me a break.

If I had to give advice to someone suffering in a similar situation to my own, it'd be take it a day at a time -- even an hour at a time on those really bad day. Try not to search for the end as you'll just upset yourself when the time you'd thought things would improve passes you by. Seek help if you're really suffering -- like I've said before, I was extremely lucky to encounter great Health Care Professionals but not all are as good, so if at first you don't succeed, request a second opinion. And of course, your support group will be your biggest help -- not just in real life but it's great to have one online too. I'm part of the Hyperemesis Gravidarum support group on Baby Centre and having other women who truly understand your inability to face reality is invaluable, especially on  days where you're bed ridden and in need of a moan (which can be often!).

Extra for the Experts.
• Pregnancy Sickness Support.
• Help HER.
• Baby Centre Hyperemesis Gravidarum Support Group.

Have you ever experienced Hyperemesis Gravidarum? Share you're experiences with me! A problem shared is a problem halved...kind of.

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My Hyperemesis Diaries: Treatment & Hospital

This post is the second in a 3-part series in my experience of living with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. You can see my post on Diagnosis here.

The weeks following my diagnosis of Hyperemesis Gravidarm were an emotional mixture of tears, sleep-deprivation, and the relentless feeling of being poisoned. Every evening I cried myself to sleep, just wishing to feel well enough to look after my son. "Why did I decide to do this? This isn't fair on John, nor Iain," who had found himself taking over care of the house and our little boy, all by himself. As much as I hate to admit it, I questioned if we'd made the right decision. Although I'd never consider terminating a pregnancy due to Hyperemesis, early on in my sickness-clouded pregnancy, I did decide this would be the last time I go through pregnancy, regardless of the outcome.

In my first pregnancy, I had been prescribed Cyclizine to ease my morning sickness and it was a life saver. Knowing it was a safe option for use in pregnancy, I asked my GP for it as soon as I started to feel ill in my second pregnancy. Given my previous experience with morning sickness & the fact I had John & work to juggle, my GP was happy to prescribe it. I took those 3 little tablets a day and expected the same miracle that I'd experienced last time. However, it wasn't the same -- the sickness still crept through. I started to become so ill that I couldn't keep water down, never mind anti-sickness tablets.

I took myself back to my GP and explained that I was still being sick & was in fact in a worse state as a result. This time they prescribed Prochloperazine, another stronger anti-sickness tablets suitable for use in pregnancy.

I've now had two hospital visits courtesy of the dehydration associated with Hyperemesis. The first being around 7 weeks pregnant -- I arrived at the hospital in the morning and spent the entire day having cups of water forced upon me. That first time I got home by the evening which was a relief when I'd been told to take an overnight bag, just in case.

The second visit - at 11 weeks of pregnancy - turned into the best part of a week stuck in a bed on the ante-natal ward. I had bag after bag of fluid pumped into me via an IV, and jag after jag into my bum of anti-sickness medicines. Half way through my hospital stay I was being sick continuously and it seemed like I'd never get home. But thankfully, after a few visits from very understanding, Hyperemesis experienced doctors, we had a better combination of anti-sickness medication that seemed to be working.

At this point in time I'm on a combination of Prochlorperazine (10mg 3 times a day) & Cyclizine (1 tablet 3 times a day). and at 16 weeks of pregnancy, I'm trying to cut out Cyclizine from my daily medication, mainly due to concern of taking so many tablets during pregnancy, as despite being reassured what I'm taking is safe for pregnant women, I'd still like to medication-free. So far my dropping Cyclizine has been successful and I'm hoping its a sign that my Hyperemesis is improving and I'll not be medication-dependant for the next 24 weeks. A girl can dream, right?

Read on... My Hyperemesis Diaries: Recovery.

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My Hyperemesis Diaries: Diagnosis

I've been reluctant to write about my Hyperemesis Gravidarum due to a combination of wanting to pretend it's not really happening, with a bit of "what's the point - I'll still be suffering regardless". However, having spent a lot of time reading other peoples experiences and researching it to death, I've decided to share my own thoughts & feelings on the subject in a series of posts, in case someone else finds themselves in my shoes. This is the 1st in a 3 part series of my Hyperemesis Gravidarum experience.

In beginning of my first pregnancy, I felt rotten. Around 6 weeks in I was suffering from morning sickness -- it was awful. I found myself munching crackers in bed, knowing if I got up before doing so, I'd surely be sick. Certain foods & smells were guaranteed triggers but thankfully I still had some go-to solutions (such as super noodles & love heart sweets) which helped keep the nausea bearable. I went through 4 weeks of morning sickness before a much welcomed improvement around 10 weeks. And apart from the occasional food aversion, I was fine for the following 30 weeks.

Cue my second pregnancy. I felt much more prepared -- older & wiser. I expected morning sickness, and although I didn't exactly welcome it with open arms, I felt like it'd be easier & more bearable knowing it'd only last a few weeks. So when the sickness started to kick in at 6 weeks, I took myself along to my GP to see if I could get some Cyclizine; the anti-sickness medication I was prescribed first time around.

But things were different this time.Those 3 little pills a day just weren't helping, and I wasn't feeling the instance relief that would allow me to eat again. I was still nauseous and still being sick. I carried on this way for a few days, trying to juggle Johns daily routine with cautiously lingering near my toilet. But when it got to the point that I couldn't even peel myself out of bed to be sick (thank goodness for buckets!) and John found himself eating another cheese sandwich for his tea, I knew this wasn't just normal morning sickness.

I dragged my exhausted, nauseous self back to my GP. Whilst there, I broke down. I'd only been sick for a week but I already felt like I couldn't do it any more. The constant nausea which never lets up, the feeling like your crippled insides have been relentlessly poisoned. The sickness with an empty stomach, that burned my throat & nose. But the hardest part was the lack of energy. I could easily sleep 20+ hours a day -- I couldn't even stand long enough to shower myself or prepare John a cooked meal. What was my body doing to itself? Why couldn't I cope with this pregnancy? I'd already done it before without such difficultly...

Thankfully my GP was understanding and gave me a prescription for a stronger anti-sickness medication, and signed me off work. That was the first of many sick notes with the words "Hyperemesis Gravidarum" scrolled on as my reason for being unfit to work.

Read on... My Hyperemesis Diaries: Treatment & Hospital.



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Perfect Presents for a 1st Birthday.

1st Birthdays -- the beginning of the end of babyhood and the start of turning toddler! Whether it's for your own little one or one who you happen to think is extra special, here's John & I's tried and tested favourite gift ideas.

1. Vtech First Steps Baby Walker. Whether this gift is suitable or not will depend on if your 1 year old has taken those magical first steps. For John, we all assumed he'd be on his feet long before his birthday, however he proved us all wrong and didn't let go until closers to 14 months old. John was given his cousin Sophie's Vtech walker around the time of his birthday -- he already had one at his Granny's house so we new he was capable of running around like a mad-man with it. It didn't take long after having 24/7 access to his walker for him to have the confidence to walk unassisted. And even now he still loves to push his around the house.

2. Wooden Geometric Stacker. By a child's 1st birthday, they'll be well into working on those fine motor skills. Iain recently got John a similar stacker to this and boy, does he love it. He's forever bringing it to us to get involved in playing and to offer him praises when he gets the shapes back on. Plus he thinks it's hilarious when Iain puts the shapes into his mouth and pretends to eat them.

3. Little Tikes Mobile Push 'n' Ride Car. For John's 1st birthday, his Granny & Papa got him a Little Tikes Trike but after a shot on a Push'n' Ride Car, we're all in agreement that one of these is better suited for John's age group. He recently had a shot of one at a soft play and I can hand-on-heart say that he showed no interest in any other toy -- to the point he cried when we tried to take him off the car and show him what else was available. Getting him to leave the car and go home was not an easy task! We're now in the process of getting John his very own one to have at Granny & Papa's house.

4. ELC Chunky Keys Keyboard. John received one of these keyboards from his Uncle, Aunty & Cousin for Christmas and straight away, we knew he'd love it. We'd been meaning to get him something similar for a few months, after seeing how much he loved a similar toy at Iain's Aunties house. This keyboard is particularly good as you can control the volume (always a good thing!), plus the keys light up when the music plays or when a little touches them, making it even more exciting to play with.

5. 50 Piece Colourful Wooden Box Set. We bought John a similar set of building blocks to these for his first Christmas. I knew I wanted to get a toy that would last him a few years, with plenty of opportunity to use his imagination. Now his blocks get used for everything; stacking, building, throwing, sorting and even the guinea pig gets the occasional one popped into his cage. John's blocks are played with every single day and I know they'll be appreciated for years to come.

6. Ikea Busa Play Tunnel. My parents picked one of these up for John on a whim and it did take a good few months for him to warm to it. At first he didn't really understand the concept but now it's one of the first toys he heads for in morning. He has the most fun with his tunnel when Daddy's home as he'll enthusiastically follow John in and out the tunnel and drag him through the house whilst sat inside. And my favourite feature is the fact it flattens down on itself and is secured with Velcro, so easily stored out the way.

7. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Board Book. Or any board book! When people asked me what to get John for his Christmas & birthday I always replied, "books." The thing is, books can be expensive but I still wanted John to have plenty of them to hand so they made the perfect gift, especially given how much choice their is out there.

8. Happy Hooperz. This was the kind of gift Iain & I had planned to get John for his 1st birthday after he showed an interest in the one at our local soft play. To our surprise, John's Granny also thought it'd make a great gift and got him one for Christmas! When he first received it, John was a bit too small and his feet didn't quite touch the ground but after he grew a little, he realised just how fun it can be. His bouncing is still stationary but I know it won't be long until he's jumping around the house on it. Plus it's pretty cute when you come through to find him sitting on it staring into space or just watching TV.

What are your little ones favourite toys?

Would they make a good gift?