Baby Carly Olivia Moore is Finally Here!

It's been just over a week since my last pregnancy update and I am so pleased to be able to finally say that baby Carly is now here!

I went into labour last Thursday 15th during a reflexology treatment. My contractions slowly got closer and closer together and I finally allowed my mum to persuade me to go into the maternity hospital at 10:30pm by which point my contractions were 3/4 minutes apart and I was 3cm dilated.

I had the gas and air after about half an hour and tried out the birth pool, although I had to get out quite quickly after the baby's heart rate slowed and I needed to be attached to a monitor for awhile. At around 3am I was examined and had my waters broken (I definitely still had high fluid levels as it went EVERYWHERE!) which really sped things up.

On gas and air

I was in a lot of pain and had a shot of pethidene to help me cope. I went from 4cm to 10cm dilated in around an hour and the midwife didn't believe me when I told her I was feeling pressure and needed to push. I had to stop using the gas and air as the pain was so intense and I needed to concentrate on getting my daughter our. After she eventually examined me it was time to push and within ten minutes I had my baby girl in my arms!

She was born at 4:34am weighing 7 pounds 15 and a half oz. It all went by in such a blur that I was pretty overwhelmed and couldn't quite believe I finally had my baby girl! Tim and my mum were amazing birth partners throughout and so encouraging. Tim cut his daughter's cord and got very emotional. I had a bath and got changed and we left the hospital at 9am, it was all very straightforward.

Our perfect little family <3

Since she has arrived I have been settling into being a mummy to two children. Cameron is loving being a big brother and keeps giving baby Carly lots of kisses and cuddles. I am so happy to have my little family complete and am looking forward to our first Christmas all together as well as finishing planning our wedding (just got to slim down before dress shopping!).

Why Date Night is Important

I don't often write about my relationship, apart from my recent updates regarding our engagement. However, I have recently been thinking about the difficulties of keeping a relationsip special during pregnancy. Let's face it, being pregnant doesn't exactly make you sexy. The first trimester saw me stop exercising because I felt too sick and tired. In fact, Tim was lucky if I made it out of bed long enough to say hello to him when he came round to see me. And being in bed all that time didn't mean more sexy time. In fact, quite the opposite happened as doing what had gotten me into that position was the last thing on my mind....

The second trimester came and I thought things would get better but the sickness remained for a few more weeks, and even after it had gone and I had gotten enough energy back to get out of bed and start attending an antenatal exercise class once a week, I still didn't feel affectionate towards my poor boyfriend (soon to be fiance). I had started showing very early on and by the middle of the second trimester I resembled a small whale (now growing to look more like a pretty large whale). My old stretch marks suddenly darkened and became much more prominent, and walking even a short distance became my Everest. Things were not looking great.

I question Tim's sanity about proposing to me when I hadn't exactly been number one girlfriend in recent months, but I am very glad he did. It has come at a fortunate time, for as I reach the end of the second trimester and can almost see the finish line, albeit very far ahead, I have regained my mojo so to speak and am starting to embrace my new pregnant figure. As a result I have become more affectionate and am feeling more loving.

I think something that has managed to keep our relationship going through the sometimes tough times during this pregnancy has been date night. This was originally going to be weekly, until I realised that this would soon start costing a lot. It is now once every few weeks and doesn't have to be fancy, in fact I prefer it to be as low key as possible now I am the size of the aforementioned whale. This week for example, Tim and I went to our local Pizza Hut and then rented a film at Blockbuster, which we watched back at my house with a bag of popcorn.

Date Night doesn't have to be too expensive, it doesn't have to be too impressive. The main thing is that we both make the effort to put aside other things in our life to spend the evening together and talk. Tim doesn't live with me yet and I often don't see him during the week, and as we don't really talk on the phone, it is nice to catch up on these nights and chat about what has been going on whilst we've been apart.

As I am often dressed in leggings and a vest top these days it is nice for me to have an excuse to stretch out one of my pre pregnancy going out tops, teamed with my trusty black maternity trousers and to pamper myself and make an effort with my makeup for Tim. It shows him that I still care and want to look my best for him, and it gives me a confidence boost.

dressed up for date night at 25 weeks pregnant

We are fortunate to have my mum who is more than happy to have Cameron for a few hours every so often to make date night possible. I hope that once the baby comes we will still be able to make time for date night as we will need the break more than ever then. so that we can truly get away from being 'mummy' and 'daddy' for a bit and just be Emma-Louise and Tim again.

Going out for date night :)

How to Write a Birth Plan

Somebody on one of the many pregnancy related Facebook groups I belong to at the moment was worrying as she was late on in her pregnancy and hadn't even thought about writing a birth plan or packing her hospital bag.

Now, without trying to sound smug, I am ridiculously organised in everything and have literally been having to stop myself from writing my own birth plan until I reach 20 weeks! Of course, a birth plan isn't essential. You can go into labour without one and often even the best made plans can go out the window when the time comes as baby is firmly in charge (Cameron's labour was totally different from my original plan).

However, I think it is always a good idea to have at least some idea of what you would like to happen in labour in regards to pain relief, birth partners, cutting the cord etc. When you are finding it near impossible to even breathe through the pain of contractions, you won't be in a fit state to start reeling off your requests and might not even be able to answer basic questions. Having a written plan will ensure that as far as possible, the medical staff will be able to do things the way you want.

Writing a birth plan can be daunting, especially if it is your first baby. I would advise going online and doing a quick google search. This is all I did and I came up straight away with two templates which I have printed out ready for when I let myself start thinking about the birth!

I like how in depth the NHS template goes as it allows you to think about aspects of the birth which you might not have even considered such as delivering the placenta and vitamin K injections. It also includes a section on special requirements such as religious customes, special needs or the need for a language interpreter during labour.

Another good template is the HiPP Organic one which, although shorter, still has a lot of detail and is great as it looks a bit less scary and more down to earth. I aim to fill in both templates as a starting point and then from there write up my own personalised plan which I will make sure I have a copy of with my notes.

Also, don't be afraid to speak to your midwife about your birth plan prior to the birth. They will be able to answer any questions you might have about things such as the vitamin K injection (which can be administered to the baby via drops rather than the injection if you wish) and what pain relief would be best suited to you. It might also be comforting to talk to a friend or family member who has been through labour before (just make sure you let them know you don't want a horror story but advice on what you might want to write in your birth plan!).

Ruining the Surprise or Wanting to be Prepared?

Ever since I started properly showing, the question has been asked not only by friends and family, but also by complete strangers. As soon as I've confirmed that yes, I am indeed pregnant and haven't just been overdoing it on the pies, they all say "are you going to find out what you're having?"

My answer comes quickly and naturally. Yes I am going to. For me it was an easy decision.

As someone who loves to be organised, writes to do lists for everything and hates not knowing what is happening it just makes no sense for me to not find out the sex of my unborn baby when the option is right there. That isn't to say I don't understand why some people do want to wait to find out or that I judge them, although I do find it incredibly frustrating when the people doing this are my nearest and dearest (my best friend had a baby this Spring and opted not to find out the sex, the anticipation almost killed me). 

I admit that I am impatient, in fact this is one of the first reasons I give as to why I am going to (hopefully, it isn't always a definite after all) find out the sex in a couple of weeks. Because this is the thing. Upon answering the 'will you find out the sex' question, apparently a straightforward yes or no asnwer isn't enough. You have to justify your decision to those asking. There is a strong divide between those parents who want to know before the baby is born and those who don't.

My reasons are simple. I am impatient and like to be organised so to me it makes sense that I can find out as soon as possible allowing me to get everything I need for the baby before it arrives and decide on a name. What annoys me is when people who would/are/have waited to find out the sex of their own baby feel it is their place to say things like 'why would you ruin the surprise?' or 'it's so much better to wait until the baby arrives to find out'. I accept that people may have these views but I don't, and I shouldn't have to have them thrust upon me or have people attempt to make me feel guilty for my choice to find out.

The surprise aspect always makes me laugh anyway. Having gone through childbirth before, I can honestly say that going through such intense pain and then suddenly having a screaming miniature human thrust upon you is a big enough surprise!

I found out that I was having a boy with Cameron for the same reasons I have already mentioned, but also because with that pregnancy I was alone and, as he wasn't planned, I also didn't feel like I was bonding with my unborn child as much as I would have liked to. By finding out that the baby was a boy and being able to start calling him Cameron, I felt so much closer to him already and didn't feel as alone going through the pregnancy.

For me, whether I will find out the sex isn't really a question. It is something I want, and hope I will be able to do and isn't open for discussion.

What are your opinions on finding out the sex before giving birth?

Think you Might be Pregnant?

As this pregnancy was planned I assumed I would be able to tell that I was pregnant as soon as it happened. However it was actually my mum, who knew I was trying, who first said she thought I could be pregnant as I had been having some pretty strong mood swings and getting more tired than usual. I didn't quite believe it though so was still shocked when I took the pregnancy test and found out I was indeed carrying baby number two. With Cameron as he wasn't a planned pregnancy, I had no idea I was pregnant to start with and the first thing that made me think I could be was my missed period.

There are all kinds of different early pregnancy symptoms to look out for and Liz Moore, a midwife from HiPP Organic has given some advice and answered some common questions about early pregnancy:

"Your pregnancy is calculated from the first day of your last period and lasts around 40 weeks. Fertilisation of the egg is generally considered to be around 2 weeks after the first day of your last period, so you are likely to actually fall pregnant around the beginning of the official ‘week 3’.

Missing your period is the first sign of being pregnant. However, there are other reasons for a missed period such as stress, illness, extreme weight loss or gain, coming off of oral contraceptives.

The best way to confirm your pregnancy is by taking a pregnancy test. Human Chorionic Gonadatrophin is a hormone produced by the developing placenta and can be detected in home pregnancy tests from around the time of a missed period.

Other signs of early pregnancy include:

• Morning sickness nausea with or without vomiting
• Tiredness
• Breast swelling, tenderness, tingling
• Frequent urination
• Mood swings
• Constipation/diarrhoea
• Increased sensitivity to smell
• Strange cravings
• Persistent metallic taste in mouth
• Changes in libido

Is bleeding at the start of pregnancy common?

Some women believe they have had an early, light period which is in in fact an implantation bleed. Implantation bleeding is vaginal discharge which contains a small amount of pinky or brownish blood caused by the fertilised egg and sperm embedding in the uterine wall. It can occur 6-12 days after ovulation. Only 1/3 women experience this.

When should I start taking folic acid?

If you are hoping to become pregnant, or suspect you may be pregnant, remember to take a daily 400mcg folic acid supplement (and continue it until you are 12 weeks pregnant). Folic acid helps to reduce the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have taken a positive pregnancy test, book an appointment to see your doctor to confirm the pregnancy and find out about antenatal care. You will have your first antenatal appointment with the midwife between weeks 8 and 12. If you haven't already checked to see if any medications that you are taking are safe to continue with during pregnancy, now is the time to do this".

Thanks to HiPP Organic for providing the information for this Blog post.

Active Antenatal

As you may remember, prior to finding out I was pregnant for the second time, I had been reguarly attending an exercise class for mums which I absolutely loved. My early pregnancy was pretty stressful as I had bad cramps and even went to A&E because they got so painful. After the cramps came extreme exhaustion and nausea which only left recently. I do feel like I could exercise again now but sadly don't feel I would keep up with the intense workout I was used to with the class anymore so am now having to find other ways to keep fit before the birth.

Walking



Getting some practise in for when this will be me!

I am planning on doing a lot of this, especially now the weather has improved. During the day I often get extremely bored so me and Cameron will be doing lots of walks by the seaside and around our local parks.













Prenatal Pilates DVD

As soon as I reached my second trimester I ordered this DVD off of Amazon. It does say you can use it throughout all three trimesters but I was a bit wary of exercising at all before twelve weeks due to my symptoms so waited. I have since used this DVD a couple of times and will definitely be using it more often as my pregnancy progresses. I have always loved the Ten Minute solution range and have about six of them from pre pregnancy. This DVD is great as it is targeted specifically to pregnant women so you know that the exercises are completely safe for you (although of course as with all exercise DVDs you should still consult with your doctor prior to using to ensure it is safe for you personally).





Antenatal Exercise Classes

I actually haven't started these yet but I have been looking in to them and told myself that 16 weeks was the perfect time to start getting back out there at a class tailored for pregnant women. I have found a few in my area and think I will be trying out the aerobics class first as it is the most similar to the class I was going to before.











Are you pregnant? Do you have any other exercise you find good for pregnancy?

My Pregnancy Summer Staples

So in a recent post I was moaning about a lack of nice clothes for pregnant women. I decided to go on the hunt with my remaining birthday money and stock up on some staple pieces for my summer wardrobe (hoping and praying the weather now stays nice!). The main things I seem to be wearing are floaty summer dresses and maxi dresses.

Summer Dresses

Although I do have some summer dresses from previous years which are suitable to be worn during pregnancy, these are my newest additions. The blue one is a maternity dress whilst the white it not. Both are from H&M.


Maxi Dresses

I loved maxi dresses in my last pregnancy and the great thing with these is that you don't even necessarily need maternity versions as most styles can accomodate a growing bump. Again, I have some maxi dresses from the last couple of years but these are my latest two. The floaty style is from a small high street shop in my local area whilst the block print dress is from Sainsbury's.

My Evening Maxi

On Friday I went out for my mum's leaving meal for work. It had been a hot day and I didn't feel like wearing my usual black maternity trousers for the meal so when I spotted this gorgeous leaopard print maxi in New Look I knew it would be perfect. Although it isn't from their maternity range, my growing bump fitted in fine and I felt confident I was less of a whale and more of a yummy mummy wearing it.

My new 'Heels'

The only problem with maxi dresses is how long they make them. I am by no means short at 5'6 but a few of my dresses do skim the ground if I wear my flats. Being pregnant I don't like to wear my heels even for an evening out as I feel off balance and uncomfortable so I decided to try and find a shoe in between. I saw these black wedges in Dorothy Perkins and was really pleased when I discovered they were in the sale for £20. They give me that extra lift I wanted whilst not being high. They are also casual enough to wear during the day if I wanted to. Love them!

I also took to the internet shops and am waiting on a couple of orders from ASOS and New Look Maternity. Here's what I ordered:

ASOS

I don't always want to be wearing dresses so when I went on a hunt for some maternity denim shorts that weren't knee length (surprisingly hard!). I fell in love with these ones and can't wait to pair them with vest tops and flip flops on the beach!


New Look Maternity



I wanted a couple of basic vest tops to wear with my new shorts or my maternity jeans if the weather turns colder but in my local New Look store they only ever had big sizes left. Online I found these bright blue and white ones in my size so had to get them. The Special Delivery slogan t-shirt is gorgeous and I love wearing slogan tops during pregnancy so it's great for me.

Cameron: An Update

I feel like I haven't posted about Cameron in months, bad mummy...

He has grown up so much in the last couple of months, he is no longer my little baby but a proper little boy! He's now 20 months, not much longer until he turns two!! He has been talking for almost a year but he only recently started saying lots more words, chatting to people and himself all the time and stringing words together to start making sentences. His favourite words at the minute are: mum, nan, dad-dad, car, milk, juice, please, ta, night night, bye and my favourite and his most recent: love you! I seriously could not be happier with his progress and I am so proud of him.

He is such an affectionate litlle boy and he will happily come and give me cuddles especially when I've had a tough time with pregnancy hormones and am in tears. He is great at taking his afternoon naps now as well and will voluntarily go and get into bed and go to sleep for a couple of hours which gives me a lovely rest as well.

I want to start looking into him going to nursery for a couple of days a week once he turns two, not because I need him to but because I feel it would be good for him as he still doesn't socialise with other children very often and I want him to be confident when he starts going to preschool etc. He loves his second cousin Spencer who has just turned three and follows him round and plays with him whenever my aunt is down to visit.

Cameron is on the verge of potty training now. He is in pull up nappies which he takes off when he has done a wee and he has even managed his first wee on the grown up toilet (it would seem he has skipped the potty in favour of using what the grown ups use). I would love for him to be out of nappies by the time the baby comes so it is great that he is showing signs that he is almost ready now.

Pregnancy, the 2nd Time Round

When my boyfriend and I decided to start trying for this baby, I assumed I knew what I was letting myself in for, having already done the whole 'pregnancy thing' before. However, just 6 weeks later I was stood staring at the positive pregnancy test not believing it had all happened so fast. In fact, I was so shocked that I had to take a second test just to make sure the first was telling the truth.

Since then I have found it really weird trying to get back into the frame of mind I adopted when I was pregnant with Cameron. Things have felt completely different, though my mum assures me that I was actually very similar last time round, I obviously just can't remember. The main thing I can remember from last time was the first half of my pregnancy seeming to fly by whilst the second half dragged. This time I have felt like each week takes a month so am definitely feeling that come 20 weeks things are going to reach snail pace.

This time round I have been feeling so much more tired. I think this could be to do with the fact that I now have Cameron to amuse daily on top of the pregnancy nausea, exhaustion and mood swings. I have also started showing so much faster than last time, with a bump which made wearing normal jeans impossible by just 9 weeks. I am now 14 weeks and in full maternity clothing (more on my annoyance at this in a future post). Luckily the 'morning' sickness has now gone but I still find it a struggle getting my energy levels up each day, and find myself in my pjs by eight each night.

my bump at 14 weeks 2 days

The other thing that is much more apparent this time round is my stretch marks. As they never went away from when I lost the baby weight, the old ones are still there and now the new bump is pushing them back out again making me feel very unattractive. I didn't get any in my first pregnancy until I went overdue, so having them from this stage is weird. I will be attempting to at least stop them from getting worse with various lotions and potions (watch out for future posts on how this goes), any suggestions for creams that actually work would be great!

Enough of the moaning though. I know that pregnancy is a blessing and I would take all of the annoying symptoms and side effects for this baby. I'm currently counting down the weeks until my 20 week scan where we will hopefully be finding out the sex of the baby (yes, I know apparently there's no greater surprise than the surprise of finding out the sex at the birth but I like to be prepared and I want to go shopping!).

The Power of Ex

I was reading an article in the latest issue of Glamour magazine on thinking about what you have learnt from your past relationships, and I found this really interesting. I am the first person to slag off my ex boyfriends but, as the article suggests, I looked past the bad things and how the relationships ended and instead focused on what I have taken from these relationships which have shaped me as the person I am today.

My first boyfriend I started going out with when I was fifteen years old and I was with him on and off for the following two and a half years, finally splitting up with him just after my eighteenth birthday. The relationship was filled with cheating, arguments and making up and breaking up. What I came away with from it was the knowledge that I didn't need a man to survive as I had thought at the start of the relationship. It showed me that it was better to end things with someone who wasn't right for you than to stay with them for fear of being alone (something my mum had figured out just ahead of me when she finally ended her second marriage to my brother's dad). I also learnt more about myself. I learnt more about what I liked and didn't like and what I didn't want from a man (most notably that I didn't want to be cheated on and treated badly again).

I had around a six month gap before going out with my second boyfriend, a guy I had met on my Uni course in October and had started speaking to a lot over the Christmas break. We went out for eighteen months, but the cracks had started appearing after the first year together and things were awful between us by the time we finally split in June 2009. I learnt from that relationship that I should never settle for someone because they were a safe choice, someone who would calm my slightly wild ways and make me a better person as ultimately all it did was make me treat someone badly, which I am not proud of. I also learnt that I shouldn't change who I am to please someone. I had spent the relationship pretending I had a secret love for heavy metal when really I couldn't stand it!

After that relationship ended I ended up starting a long distance relationship with a guy I met through my work placement. He lived in London and we both worked long hours but managed to see each other once a week most weeks. We were together for six months before I ended it for fear of getting hurt. We were most probably about to get back together when I discovered I was pregnant with Cameron (we presumed at the time it was his baby but in fact he was the result of a short rebound relationship). As he never wanted kids, things went from bad to worse and we never recovered from it. Although most of my friends and family would say this was my worst relationship, I disagree as it taught me the most and was right at the time. I had been with someone who I couldn't be myself with for a year and a half before him and this guy allowed me to be totally myself. When I was pregnant and hormonal I ended up opening up to him more than I have ever opened up to anyone and so I also feel that he knows me the best. Most importantly I learnt what I wanted from a relationship and from life itself. He never wants kids or marriage and they are both things I definitely want. I view having children as the biggest achievement you can have and am very proud of where I have got in life so far. I also learnt that sometimes being with someone who isn't Mr Right but is Mr Right Now, isn't necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes it is the break from serious relationships you need to reassess what it is you want and to have some fun.

Ultimately all three of my previous relationships have taught me important life lessons and made me more aware of who I am myself, and the person I want to be with. I feel all three of them have helped me on the path to find my current boyfriend who I couldn't be happier with. I know some people are bound to be critical of the fact that I have been with him for seven months and am three months pregnant but I don't care. We both want children, I didn't want a big age gap between Cameron and a sibling, and we both knew early on how serious we were about each other. This is right for us so I don't care what anyone else thinks.

Have you learnt anything from your past relationships? Do you agree with me that your past shapes your future and helps make you the person you are today?

An Update: My Birthday Week and Very Exciting News!

This last week has been an exciting one. Last weekend I had my highlights done and then on Monday and Tuesday I had Minx toenails and acrylics done in time for my birthday on Wednesday.

I must admit that I wasn't looking forward to it much this year as I don't like the idea of being 23. That just sounds really old to me. Cameron was with his dad in the day so I took advantage of the peace and quiet and went to have my eyebrows threaded before an afternoon of shopping. In the evening I went out for a meal with my family, Cameron and my boyfriend which was nice.

My presents :D

With the boyfriend

My gorgeous little man

On Thursday I had a hospital appointment. There's nothing wrong with me though. The reason for my appointment was that I am expecting my second baby and I had my twelve week scan! I have suffered with bad nausea and exhaustion with this pregnancy, which is one of the main reasons I have not been feeling like blogging as much lately. The scan went really well and it was so nice seeing the baby with my boyfriend and Cameron there with me. The baby was very active and we saw them wave and kick their legs in the air.

Baby number 2 due in November

12 weeks 4 days baby bump

On Friday my boyfriend took me to stay at a posh local hotel and we went out for a lovely Italian meal before a walk along the pier and back to the hotel room to relax in front of the TV in peace. I had a really nice time. Last night I had some of my friends from school round for pizza and we had a great time catching up and exchanging birth stories.

Overall this week has been a hectic one but I have enjoyed celebrating my birthday and happy news with friends and family.

Topic Tuesday: Smoking During Pregnancy

I know I haven't written one of these posts in a long time, but this topic is something that I feel extremely strongly about and as it has come into the news recently I wanted to have my say about it. If you haven't heard, Stacey Solomon of X-Factor and Iceland advertisement fame has been in the news over the last few days due to the revelation that, at seven months pregnant, she still smokes around three cigarettes a day.

The photo of Stacey smoking recently which sparked the huge debates

Due to the massive (in my opinion, totally deserved) backlash from the general public, Stacey has now been stripped of her Mum of the Year title and will no longer be running for this year's title either. I used to really like Stacey, I even wrote a post on how she had helped me come to terms with my PND, however, to me this is disgraceful behaviour on her part.

Stacey appearing on This Morning today to talk about how ashamed she is of her smoking

Today I came across hundreds of people, mainly women and even more shockingly, other mums, standing up for Stacey and justifying her actions on both Twitter and Facebook. I couldn't actually believe some of the things people were saying in her defence:

"Don't get why everyones havin a hissy at smokin while pregnant? There's people out there that do drink/drugs while pregnant!" 

 

"People are being harsh on a sneaky cigarette whilst pregnant, nobody is perfect!" 

 

"She smoked while pregnant? My mum smoked through all three of her pregnancies, get the fuck over it"

"I think it's harsh that the press have made be stripped of mother of the year for something, most mums do it..." (sic) 

 

That last one was the one that left me with my mouth open wide at how ignorant some people are. 'Most mums do it', really? I don't know anyone who smoked whilst pregnant. I am glad I don't. It makes me sick to think of the damage cigarette smoke does to an unborn baby who is powerless to stop their mother from poisoning them.

Don't get me wrong. I am not totally anti-smoking (I would never smoke myself but I can understand people become addicted to the habit), however, when you find out you're pregnant, whether planned or not, you owe the baby inside of you to stop smoking no matter what it takes. Of course it may not be safe to go 'cold turkey' as some of the pro-Stacey comments have been suggesting, however, Stacey is now seven months pregnant and found out a long time ago that she was expecting her second child. She has had plenty of time to stop smoking totally and I for one definitely don't feel that she should be applauded for 'making an effort at all' and cutting down from ten a day to 'just' two. For a start, she is already a mother to a little boy so in my opinion she shouldn't really have been smoking in the first place, let alone that many a day, and secondly because she obviously hasn't tried that hard to have only got to that stage of the quitting process in several months!

Before I found out I was pregnant, I had been drinking quite a bit of alcohol (it was over Christmas and New Year and I went to a lot of parties). As soon as I found out, I stopped drinking entirely. Although Cameron was not planned, I knew I didn't want to put him at risk no matter what. I felt extremely guilty about the alcohol I had drunk in early pregnancy, but I knew there was nothing I could do about it by then but stop drinking anymore and fortunately, Cameron was perfectly healthy when he was born. Some people are saying that non smokers have no idea how hard it is to quit but I am sorry, I find this an unacceptable excuse. If you are willing to carry a child in you, you must be willing to do everything in your power to stop anything from harming thatg baby. If those who aren't even pregnant are able to find the willpower to quit then there is no excuse for a pregnant woman.

Some are saying that the only reason Stacey is being targeted is because she is in the public eye. In some ways this may be true, of course we would not be as interested if it were someone who we didn't 'know' as we do Stacey. However, I would feel exactly the same way if I were to see a heavily pregnant woman smoking regardless of whether she were famous or not. On top of this, Stacey should be setting a good example as she IS in the public eye, and she gave up her right to not be subject of this kind of discussion about her actions when she decided to go onto the X-Factor. Everyone knows that once you become a star of reality TV you give up your privacy. She wasn't complaining about invasion of privacy when she was photographed recently at the Baby Show and given huge amounts of free baby products was she?

What probably disgusts me the most from all of this is the women who have commented saying that they smoked during their pregnancies and they have perfectly healthy children so what's the problem? One woman on MAM's Facebook status this afternoon said this:

"I smoked during both of my pregnancys i no they say u shudnt but both of my children and there both in perfect health giv her a break it never causes a big issue when a non celeb does it" (sic).

At least Stacey has been on This Morning today saying that she knows she is wrong for smoking during pregnancy and that she is ashamed of herself. These women actually have no shame for what they have done, putting their childrens health at risk. I find it disgraceful that there are women like this who have children when others aren't able to have kids at all.

I'm sorry if I have offended any of my readers with this post but it is something I feel very strongly about. I will not change my opinions.

Growing Up AKA Becoming a Mummy

When I started this Blog I decided on its name because I wanted to write about the huge change in my life I had gone through becoming a mum. Motherhood is something that you cannot prepare for. No amount of baby books and antenatal classes can get you ready for the change you will experience when you hold that baby in your arms for the first time and they look into your eyes.

The moment I met my little man and my life changed forever

For some, admittedly, the transition is bigger. If, like myself, your pregnancy was unplanned and you had been used to a totally different lifestyle, it might seem like your whole world has been tipped on its axis. For me, I had got my crazy partying days out of the way back when I was eighteen, but I was on my placement year at University. I was working part time and had just come out of a six month relationship which had gotten serious very fast, with a whole lot of drama due to a big age difference and him living in London. I was in a weird place and drinking and eating too much, not getting enough sleep and not really knowing who my real friends were.

A few months before I fell pregnant

Falling pregnant was probably the best thing that could ever have happened to me. If I had not have found out I was pregnant and been forced to start taking care of myself and making sensible plans for the future, then I would have probably ended up back with my toxic ex boyfriend and wasting my time away. Instead, I was eating properly for the first time in years, spending quality time with my best friend and my mum, and preparing for my final year of University, more determined than ever to graduate and make something of myself.

With my mum at her graduation when I was 7 months pregnant

When I had Cameron in September 2010, I was a much stronger person and, although as I say motherhood is not easy to get used to, I have really enjoyed learning how to be the best mum I can be to Cameron. Every day I learn something new from him. He is amazing and makes me re-evaluate my way of thinking. Before he was born I would think nothing of going out and drinking or walking alone to my car, but these days I am much more streetwise because I know that there is someone depending on me. He makes my world complete.

My gorgeous little boy

I have also managed to lose weight since having Cameron, I am a stone and a half lighter than before I was pregnant and so much healthier. I eat more sensibly and recently stopped drinking totally. I still like to take care of myself but have to be more creative with my time. I can put on makeup in record time, and can make my hair last four days without washing it if necessary (dry shampoo and curling my hair really help)! I don't spend much money on myself anymore so make sure when I do treat myself I get something I really want and will use again and again.

I like to take care of my appearance still, it's part of who I am

I like being a 'yummy mummy', but being Cameron's mummy is the most important thing to me and the most important job I will ever have. My aim is to make him proud of his mummy and I work at it everyday.