Tag: mum

4 min read

Zoe

Let’s have a catch up

Zoe

December 6, 2021 4:59 pm December 6, 2021

4 min read

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4 min read

I have just finished off my Lucozade and i’m already thinking when it will be ok to have my next coffee. I feel like caffeine is literally my fuel nowadays….

I have just finished off my Lucozade and i’m already thinking when it will be ok to have my next coffee. I feel like caffeine is literally my fuel nowadays.

Hi, how are you? Has it been a while? I think it has?

Work Rant

In September I landed a part time teaching role at a high school. What led me to this decision you ask? After having the dream life of a stay at home mum, I decided to it would be fun to make my life a million times harder and throw myself back into work.

In all seriousness my Computer Science TikTok account was thriving and I forgot how much I not only enjoyed Computer Science but inspiring others too.

Fast forward a couple of months and here we are. One overworked mum of two living off caffeine, deadlines and pressure.

Ok, I know, I’m making it sound like a nightmare and it really isn’t that bad.

For a first time in a long time, I have been able to pay my way…to an extent. The freedom of being able to go and buy makeup when it is empty and not feel guilty about preferring a high end version of foundation is sadly what keeps me going. Over the past couple of years I had been blaming pregnancy and becoming a mum for losing my sense of style when in fact it was my finances (maybe a little bit mumsy syndrome too).

So this catch up has turned into me offloading about my work. Sorry. My final words on that matter is, I am very proud to be showing Molly and Frankie I work but, I was not expecting the work load that comes with it. Think of it as squeezing a full time job into part time hours. But, aren’t all jobs on overtime nowadays?

Private Account

I switched my Instagram account to private in September. Now, don’t get me wrong. I was very sad to do this at the time because I love to blog and turning private felt the same as pressing delete account.

Since I had no other option as I do not fancy having my students at school know all about my life, I have been keeping positive.

I’ll share with you now the good side of a private account:

Follower requests – I can see how many creeps are trying to look at my children.
Validation – I have truly understood what it is like to post what I want when I want without worrying about engagement.
My day is my day – I can do anything without feeling the need to take a photo or press record and sharing it with everyone.
Over consumption no more – I don’t worry about me or the children outfit repeating or needing to take a photo of a new product or recording huge hauls.
New hobbies other than blogging.

Professional Artist

Exploring that last bullet point further, let me talk to you about my new hobby. I started painting just for fun. I encourage you to do it. It is one of the only things I can do where I completely switch off from anything else. My issue is that when I start something, I have to try and be the best at it. I go into obsession mode. With painting, I have accepted that i’m not perfect and my sketch books are just for me. so it is kind of like therapy where I am learning to not care and just have fun.

If you fancy giving it a try, my favourite type of paint is Gouache. You can have it watered down to be like water colours or think like Acrylic.

And that is all I have been up too. If I can think of any life changing moments from the past couple of months that I have forgotten I will tell you on my IG.

Love You

Zoe

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3 min read

Wellness

Should you tell your daughter she is pretty?

Zoe

July 22, 2019 12:44 pm July 22, 2019

3 min read

1533 views

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3 min read

When the question “should you tell your daughter she is pretty?” first reached my ears, I was really confused. I started to question myself if I was doing the right…

When the question “should you tell your daughter she is pretty?” first reached my ears, I was really confused. I started to question myself if I was doing the right thing as a parent and began learning to understand the reason why so many parents of daughters today are avoiding calling their daughter pretty.

Mole is incredibly cheeky, she loves to dance and waves her arms to the music. Her favourite thing to do is to shout out different animal names or the noises they make when she sees them on TV or in her books. In my mind, Mole is the most beautiful person I have ever seen. My heart is incredibly full for her. But, I have decided that I am going to make a conscious effort to stop telling her she is pretty.

Here is why:

Every single morning, when Mole was dressed, the first thing I would do is give her a big hug and tell her how pretty or beautiful she looked. Once I realised I was doing this without thought, I caught myself saying it through out the day too. The more we talk about a topic to our children, they begin to understand that this topic is important. It could be anything from manners to sharing. Basically, I don’t want the topic of physical appearance to be something that Mole understands as important or more important that any of her other qualities she has.

Living up to expectations

Always making a point to someone that they are pretty or clever will give them the mentality on what they have to live up to. They can get stuck in a comfort zone and waste time and energy worrying about this. When instead, they could be spending their time and energy into being more knowledgable and opening themselves up to a full range of experiences.

What I do to boost my daughters self esteem:

I focus on praising her process rather than the outcome. I will praise her for her hard work and time and effort she has spent on something. This may even be when she is older and has spent time on her hair. Commenting on that rather than just saying “You look pretty.”
I Tell her how much she matters to me. Showing and telling her how important she is to me and how much she is on my mind will make her feel amazing and loved.
I will look at her other qualities. Make them stand out whilst also using words like “pretty” and “beautiful” so she can gain a wider understanding of how beautiful and pretty doesn’t just have to be based of physical appearance. E.G. “Mole you are beautiful for being such a good friend and sharing your toy.”
Asking her lot’s of questions. Not only does asking your little one lot’s of questions help to boost their memory and language skills. but, asking questions really shows that you have an interest in their life. I love to ask Mole questions on where her favourite toy is or which animal am I pointing at.

So focus on your values and how you can get them across to your children. Becoming aware of your words will help you to stop focusing on how looks are more important than how your child behaves or thinks. Even when it is unintentional.

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3 min read

baby product reviews Travel

Maxi-Cosi Jade lie-flat car seat/carrycot review

Zoe

May 22, 2019 12:04 pm May 22, 2019

3 min read

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3 min read

When I first heard about a carrycot style car seat I was rather skeptical. How could this possibly be safe? How does this work? My vision was so wrong. I’m…

When I first heard about a carrycot style car seat I was rather skeptical.

How could this possibly be safe? How does this work?

My vision was so wrong. I’m almost ashamed of how daft my preconceived idea of this was. Especially after doing more research and finding out it is actually safer than most car seats on the market today.

Maxi-Cosi Jade Carrycot Carseat

The Maxi-Cosi Jade is the first lie-flat car carrycot certified to the new i-Size car seat law.

Is the Maxi-Cosi Jade Carrycot Car Seat safe?

I’m jumping in straight to the safety regulations. I feel thats the most important part of a car seat.

Installing

The Jade offers proved head and neck protection and slide impact protection. There is a unique Slide & Go installation on the ISOFIX base. This makes it easy to install the Jade car carrycot correctly and safely as it does not rely on guiding seatbelts.

You can see and hear the confirmation that you have installed the Jade car carrycot correctly too as there is light and sound feedback.

Your baby will also be secure inside the carrycot as there is padding and straps to fasten your little one in safely.

Position

The car seats position will be facing sideways across your back seat, so your baby’s head will be closest to the middle. This way, your baby will have greater protection against side-impact crashes.

Unboxing

Unboxing the Jade I was pleased to see I was not going to be building anything. The quality of the product is amazing. Squishing my hands down inside to test the comfort I was happy to find that it was so comfortable and soft to touch, with an extra inlay added for even more comfort.

I wanted to climb in myself and go for a nap!

There is a hood attached too which provides sun protection and is great to have down when baby is sleeping.

What is best for newborn babies?

In your standard car seats, babies sit in an upright position or on a slight tilt. Because of this, it is recommended that babies can not be in their car seat for longer than two hours at a time because their breathing might be compromised.

You may be thinking “I won’t be in a car for two hours”, but this rule also stands for babies in car seats attached to their pram.

The Jade lie-flat carrycot car seat avoids your baby’s air flow from being restricted as they can lie flat and are not sitting upright trying to sleep scrunched.

So, if you’re travelling for longer than two hours or plan to use the car seat attached to the pram, this may be for you. I plan to use my Maxi-Cosi Lila pram.

Newborn babies need a lot of sleep. The carrycot car seat will be a comfortable sleep for them and as the car seat can be attached to a pram as a travel system, your baby will not be disturbed and can stay soundly asleep.

Price

The Jade costs ?199
Maxi-Cosi 3WayFix Base costs ?199

The car seat will need to be changed when your baby reaches 9kg.

Additional Features

Safe and easy ISOFIX installation in the car
Slide & Go installation to the base
Washable cover Comfort
Comfortable soft touch newborn inlay for added comfort
Sun protection
Soft mattress for supreme comfort for baby Safety
R129 safety
Impact absorbing material
3-point safety harness General
In car repositioning
Long-lasting value with 3wayFix base

Find out more about the Maxi-Cosi Jade here: https://www.maxi-cosi.co.uk/car-seats/jade

Product was gifted. All opinions are completely honest and my own.

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1 min read

Entertaining

Smyths Toy Story Party

Zoe

May 18, 2019 1:37 pm May 18, 2019

1 min read

3828 views

1 Comment

1 min read

Can you remember the excitement as a child, when you visited the toy store? Butterflies in your stomach, eyes hungry for whats inside, the gasps at every latest toy! I…

Can you remember the excitement as a child, when you visited the toy store?

Butterflies in your stomach, eyes hungry for whats inside, the gasps at every latest toy!

I really want that experience for Mole. Visiting Smyths Toy Store bought back so many happy memories, of what it was like to be that excited child again. I think it is easy to get caught up in the online world, getting delivered toys, that you can miss out on fun experiences with your child and what it is like to visit the toy store.

No attention should be put on age when one thinks of toys. There?s something about toys that nurtures happiness in people.

Smyths Toy Superstore have gone the extra mile to ensure that your toy store experience is rememberable!

Toy Story Party at Smyths

They are hosting a Toy Story party at every local Smyths Toys Superstore, in celebration of the new Toy Story 4 coming to cinemas in June! There will be FREE face painting, DJ’s and a FREE Toy Story 4 minis, stickers and posters given away. You even have the chance to win a ?50 voucher on the hour, every hour from 9am to 1pm!

When is the event?

Saturday 25th May from 9:00am

Where is the event?

Every Local Smyths Toy Superstore

Find out more and other event details here.

1 Comment

3 min read

baby product reviews Toddler Product Reviews

Maxi-Cosi Lila Pushchair (with Duo Kit) First Impressions Review

Zoe

May 13, 2019 3:09 pm May 13, 2019

3 min read

6837 views

5 Comments

3 min read

I wasn?t expecting to have been on the hunt for a new pushchair a year later after having Molly, but, with the new addition to our family arriving in September,…

I wasn?t expecting to have been on the hunt for a new pushchair a year later after having Molly, but, with the new addition to our family arriving in September, we have had to find a new pushchair that works with our expanding family.

Maxi Cosi Lila

What makes the Maxi-Cosi Lila the Pushchair for you? That depends on your particular needs but, what caught my eye and sold me was this:

The next best place after your arms

My goal was to find a pushchair that can easily transform from a newborn to a toddler whilst also having the option for a second child. That way, my newborn baby will have a comfortable ride and so will my one year old. The Lila pushchair has an optional Duo Kit attachment; therefore I can either have the pushchair set up for both my children, just my new born or just my toddler, saving my lot’s of pennies in the long run.

Easy to use?

Budget aside for the moment, my biggest question to myself was, how easy is the pram to use? Especially with the added duo kit? As the thought of having two children under the age of two fills me with the instant thought of chaos, I need everything in my life to be simple and stress free as possible.

When the pushchair arrived I was pleased to see it was all easy enough to assemble myself. If there were any extra pieces, it was a simple click on. E.g. the wheels simply click into place. I was able to complete the full pushchair and duo kit set up whilst Mole was having her nap. Win.

The duo kit is a separate stroller that clicks onto the frame of the Lila pushchair without any force. I couldn?t actually believe how easy it was.

The Lila Pushchair is a one handed fold down, which folds down completely flat, allowing it to be inserted into my boot without taking up too much room. I have the Audi Q3 and there is enough room for the Lila pushchair and the stroller/carrycot attachment on top (plus a few bags of shopping).

The pushchair has options to either face me or be forwards facing. Mole prefers to be forward facing

as there is more for her to look at but I can?t wait to have my newborn facing me for that added bonding time.

An extra bonus is that the Maxi-Cosi Jade Car Seat attaches onto the Lila too, so I wouldn?t have to wake my baby up if he is still sleeping.

Maxi-Cosi Lila Cost

Lila Pushchair: ?549

Duo Kit (Sold Separately): ?199

Maxi-Cosi Lila Features

Transformable seat with multiple recline positions for use from birth
Reversible seat
Reversible, thermo-regulated mattress: breathable mesh for summer time; soft warm fleece for winter time
Integrated nap keeper to create additional shade
Big UPF 50+ canopy with peek-a-boo window
Rain cover and bumper bar included
Maxi-Cosi genuine 5-point harness
4 shock-absorbing suspensions
Light reflectors on the canopy
Fast one-hand folding
Automatic lock
SmoothRide long-lasting wheels: new bi-material wheels for greater durability
Front wheels can be locked for more manoeuvrability
Removable shopping basket for easy access without excessive bending
Easy-braking system
Transforms into duo stroller for children close in age (sold separately)

Maxi-Cosi Lila has been kindly gifted. All opinions are real and honest.

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4 min read

Finance

Don’t Suffer | Get Help With Debt

Zoe

May 8, 2019 8:30 am May 8, 2019

4 min read

2158 views

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4 min read

Take control of your finances and get back on track. Today there is more help than ever to stop your debts spiralling out of control. It is frightening enough having…

Take control of your finances and get back on track. Today there is more help than ever to stop your debts spiralling out of control. It is frightening enough having debt without it getting worse.

With this advice, you will gain confidence and an understanding on the starting point to getting your debt back on track.

Where to start?

Many people will bury their head in the sand at the first sign of debt. Unfortunately, this is the worst thing to do as this will not solve your financial problems. You need to admit to yourself that you are in debt. Admitting to yourself is one of the most important steps.

One of my favourite methods is to start by writing down everything you currently owe on loans, credit cards etc. That way, you will know exactly how much debt you are in.

Prioritise payments that need to be paid off first and payments that are actually manageable. Having order to your financial situation will stop you feel like you are drowning in your problems.

If you are in a relationship, talk to your partner about your current financial situation. Off loading the pressure and working as a team on how to get back on track will give you more support.

Debt Solutions

Here are some more debt solutions on offer:

Professional help

You may have tried to speak to your creditors about your debt struggles and nothing has come from it. Seek professional help.

There are many charities out there today that want to help you. They will provide free help and advice to getting your finances under control.

You can also contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau for a manageable repayment plan and they help you discuss your situation with your creditors.

Individual Voluntary Arrangement

An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is a formal agreement between an individual and the unsecured creditors. An insolvency practitioner or debt advisor administers it.

Why? Well, if you are struggling to sort out an arrangement to clear your current owed payments gradually through a debt repayment plan, an IVA is something to consider.

IVAs last for five years. During this time, you will pay an agreed amount to your creditors. Once that period of time ends, any remaining debt will be wiped out.

Do I Qualify For An IVA?

To obtain an IVA, you must fit within the criteria.

A minimum debt level of ?5000
A minimum of 2 credit lines e.g. 1 credit card and 1 loan.
A regular income
The ability to pay a minimum of ?90 per month into the IVA
An IVA should offer a higher return for your creditors than bankruptcy
You must live in England, Wales or N.Ireland.

You will not be able to borrow again during your IVA.

Bankruptcy

If you cannot clear your debts any other way then this option is a last resort.

You can either be forced into bankruptcy by your creditors or apply for bankruptcy yourself.

If you owe ?750 or more, a company can apply for you to be declared bankrupt. It is however, only recommended to those with unsecured debts of ?50,000 or more.

When you declare yourself as bankrupt, other assets such as your home or your car, can be used to pay the people you owe money to.

Bankruptcy lasts for around one year. The bankruptcy will be noted on your credit file for six years. Meaning you will not be able to apply for any further credit and you will be unable to get a current account that offers an over draft. Any accounts you have, your bank will freeze them and as you may not be able to open any new accounts, you will struggle make or receive payments.

This may seem daunting. But, for some people this method has been their last resort to get out of debt.

Remember to always seek professional advice before proceeding with an IVA or bankruptcy.

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3 min read

Wellness

5 Maternity Rights You Need To Know

Zoe

May 1, 2019 8:00 am May 1, 2019

3 min read

1670 views

6 Comments

3 min read

Do you know the 5 things your Employer is forbidden from doing while you are on Maternity leave? Knowing your own rights whilst planning and going on maternity leave is…

Do you know the 5 things your Employer is forbidden from doing while you are on Maternity leave?

Knowing your own rights whilst planning and going on maternity leave is critical. I?m not saying that employers try to catch you out on purpose for their own benefit. Sometimes they can make a simple, honest mistakes. But, not knowing your legal rights on maternity leave could cost you.

To put that to a close, whether your employer deliberately or unintentionally makes one of these mistakes whilst you are on maternity leave, they are breaking the law.

1. You have to tell your employer as soon as you know you are pregnant or else you will not get full maternity pay.

Wrong. You are only required to inform your employer at least 15 weeks before your due date.

Your employer is allowed to ask for your maternity leave in writing which I believe is acceptable and a good reference for you later down the line. Please do not feel you have to inform work as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed by the doctor.

2. Redundancy

Making you redundant in attempt to avoid maternity pay is wrong. You are entitled to statutory maternity pay if:

You have worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks by the completion of the 15^th week your before your baby is due.

You were employed for part or all of the qualifying week (15^th week before the baby is due)

You earn at least an average of ?116 in the two months prior to the end of the qualifying week.

3. Give you less than 52 weeks of maternity leave

You are entitled to 52 weeks of maternity leave.

Considering that you are not classed as self-employed or a worker. The length of time you have worked for your employer should not be considered.

The 52 weeks of maternity leave is made up of the 26 weeks of ordinary maternity leave (OML), and 26 weeks of additional maternity leave (AML).

4. Deny you changing your return to work date.

You have to give your employer at least 8 weeks notice. You are allowed to change your return to work date. In some cases this cannot be helped as you may be refused nursery placements or other child care plans could fail leaving you no choice. So it is important to remember to have everything in place 8 weeks before returning.

5.Refuse to provide you with flexible working arrangements

If you opt to return to work at the end of your maternity leave your employer must make effort to accommodate you after you return to work. E.G. You may want to go back on part time hours, or have one day a week where you can work from home.

If returning to work is a struggle, having a chat with your employer may help as they may find hours to accommodate you.

Being Smart

Employers nowadays are aware of the laws and they do comply with them. A lot of employers want you to talk to them about your maternity leave concerns so you can both be in a position of understanding where you both are at.

Unfortunately there are also bad employers that don?t? follow the laws.

Use the information above to protect your rights.

If you need more information on your maternity leave rights, there is personalised guidance published by the GOV.UK website. You can find it here.

6 Comments

3 min read

Motherhood

5 Things NOT to say to new mums

Zoe

April 17, 2019 8:00 am April 17, 2019

3 min read

1686 views

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3 min read

I had a good think back at what was said to me during pregnancy and after pregnancy and had a chuckle at some of the things I was asked or…

I had a good think back at what was said to me during pregnancy and after pregnancy and had a chuckle at some of the things I was asked or told. Admittedly, i’ve even said some of these to new mums and had an unwelcoming response.

Let’s see if you have ever received any of these comments!

Do not ever say to a new mum that you “feel tired“. I can tell you now, no matter how tired you are from an unusual late night or early start will be nothing compared to the tiredness that a new mum feels. Believe me, they are thinking in their head all of the reasons why you should not feel tired and they do.
“What is your babies routine?” I was asked this one so many time whilst Mole was a new born. I don’t mind the question so much now, but as a new mum, I felt it added a lot of pressure on to me to be perfect. It was also impossible to get Mole into a good routine with her reflux being so bad.
“What’s his/her name?” The majority of the time, Mole was always referred to as a boy. To be honest, I didn’t mind so much as it was an easy mistake to make. Babies all look the same when they are newborn. Mole wore unisex clothes and had no hair. However, I can see how other mums can take offence. There has even been times when Mole has been dressed head to toe in pink and still has been referred to as a “he”. I’m going to stick to questions like “What’s baby’s name?” or “What’s your name?” looking at the baby in future.
“Have you tried feeding her?” when your baby is crying. Oh my word. Am I the only one who has been asked this question? Of course I have tried feeding my baby! What do you think I have been doing all night! This was so annoying when Mole’s reflux was really bad. She would cry so much and I felt like I was being given an abundance of advice that I really didn’t need.
“It’s just the hormones.” Blaming my hormones on my right now is not exactly what I need as a new mum. I remember just thinking, “I don’t care if its the hormones, I need a hug and a little help around the house.”

So do any of those comments sound familiar? I think it is super easy to forget how intense being a new mum is. I’m 12 months on now, and due to me being pregnant with baby number 2, I’ve only just started to remember things.

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4 min read

Travel

A Fun Family Day Out at Intu Potteries

Zoe

April 14, 2019 7:28 pm April 14, 2019

4 min read

1946 views

2 Comments

4 min read

This Blog post is part of a paid collaboration with Intu Potteries (AD) Deciding on what to do for the day as a family can be challenging. We don’t exactly…

This Blog post is part of a paid collaboration with Intu Potteries (AD)

Deciding on what to do for the day as a family can be challenging. We don’t exactly live in a country that is blessed for good weather and we are not all made of money. It can be a challenge finding a day out for the whole family that does not cost an arm and a leg and all family members can have fun.

Until I went to Intu Potteries…

Intu Potteries have hit the nail on the head when it comes to fun, free, family activities

Intu Potteries have hit the nail on the head when it comes to fun, free, family activities. I thought my shopping days were long gone since becoming a mum. I tend to have a browse online when I get a quick 10 minutes. No way did I think I could take my toddler around a shopping centre for the day without a few tantrums.

Why is Intu Potteries different?

Apart from over 80 shops, 6 restaurants and a 9 screen cinema, Intu Potteries understand exactly what I need as a mum:

Parent and Baby room
Parent and Baby parking
Fixed ?1.50 Parking rate on Sundays
Soft play
Affordable lunch locations with Kids Meal Deals
Fun buggy rides
Family club
Safe Hands scheme

Soft Play

Soft play in the middle of the mall is a perfect place to let Mole out of the pram and let her stretch her legs before hitting the shops again. Giving us both the perfect reset.

You can see by the look on her face and the sound of her cheerful laughter that she is having the best time. It is always nice to see other mums there too, as you can have a good natter whilst watching the children.

Soft play has been purpose built. It is a free 30 metre square play area, with room to jump, move equipment around and play games. You can also see your child where ever they crawl or run off to inside the play area, giving you peace of mind.

Fun Buggy Ride

You can hire a fun buggy from as little as ?2 at the customer service desk on the upper floor. There are plenty to choose from but I am sure your child will choose for you like ours did.

Honestly, at first I was a little hesitant to put Mole in the buggy. I thought she would try and climb out. She hates the pram too and I assumed that she would behave the same way. I was wrong. Both Mole and Oscar were as good as gold in the buggy. There was a real sweetheart moment from Oscar when he had his arm around Mole whilst cruising and tooting their squeaky horn!

From a Mums perspective, they were actually really easy to control and drive around. I found that Intu Potteries had plenty of room in the shops for fun buggies, pushchairs and wheelchairs.

There was a real sweetheart moment from Oscar when he had his arm around Mole whilst cruising and tooting their squeaky horn!

Affordable Lunch

I love a good cafe lunch when out with my family or friends. Debenhams Restaurant was affordable with hot meals at around ?5 and it had a fantastic kids meal deal where you could choose 5 products. (As a mum, this is heaven).

You will know that having 5 different options of food for your child to have a good munch on not only keeps them entertained whilst you dine, but also, if they are in a fussy eating mood, you have other options to fall back on.)

Parent and Baby Room

Not to exaggerate here, my first thought when entering the parent and baby room was “oh wow!”.

Clean, calm, spacious. I have never been in a parent and baby room before where they would be my 3 words to describe it.

My first thought when entering the parent and baby room was “oh wow!”

I loved the fact that Jay could come in the changing room with me to give me a helping hand and he even said he would feel comfortable and confident enough to change her in there himself. A God-send really because usually I have to do it as changing facilities are usually squashed in the female toilets.

In the baby room, there was a fully equipped station to feed your baby, nappy dispenser (we have all been there i’m sure when we accidentally forget a spare nappy!) and a private nursing room complete with a super comfy nursing chair.

I can not actually wait to take Mole to Intu Potteries again. We have had a lovely day out on a friendly budget. If you are in the Staffordshire area, I would highly recommend you check Intu Potteries out for a great, affordable, family day out.

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2 min read

Health Pregnancy

Eating For Two Calorie Myth In Pregnancy

Zoe

April 10, 2019 8:00 am April 10, 2019

2 min read

1712 views

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2 min read

“You can eat for two now!” … hmmm not quite. This is a huge, common response when you announce you are pregnant. It’s like it is used as an excuse…

“You can eat for two now!” … hmmm not quite.

This is a huge, common response when you announce you are pregnant. It’s like it is used as an excuse to eat whatever you want and how much of that you want. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good treat, and have definitely been treating myself a lot more than I usually would when it comes to food. But, the whole “eating for two” is a myth. Any you may be shocked to find out how many calories it is that you actually need extra whilst growing a baby. The Guardian states that around 15-20% of pregnant women now are overweight or obese.

The old fashioned way

Talking to my mum or grandparents about pregnancy almost turns into a battle of different beliefs. It’s like you can’t mention that you had a work out in the gym to them without their jaw dropping to the floor and you get a lecture about how you should be taking it easy. I even find myself telling them that I only went on a light walk, when really I was squatting my near enough my own body weight on my back as a warm up.

When it comes to diet, they have a strong belief that you should be eating for two. I mean, my baby is currently the size of an avocado. Why would it need a full portion of food?

What you should be eating

According to the NHS, there is no need to eat for two during pregnancy, even if you are expecting twins or triplets. The original idea behind eating for two was to increase your energy.

There is no need to eat for two during pregnancy, even if you are expecting twins or triplets

During the first 6 months of your pregnancy you do not even need to only drink full fat milk, another common myth.

Only in the last 3 months of pregnancy do you need to increase your calories by 200 a day. When you work it out, that isn’t actually a whole lot extra. Most people consume more calories a day than recommended too, without adding in the extra.

It is recommended that you should do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. Swimming and walking are a great way to keep fit. If you already are a physically active person like me, you will have more of an idea on how to tone your workouts down. Obviously it isn’t advised that if you have never been inside a gym before to start now and complete a huge workout. You should start off with no more than three 15 minute workouts a week.

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