Review: Diono Baby Organiser

A couple of weeks ago, I was very lucky to be offered the chance to review a rather handy Baby Organiser from Diono. This was a brilliant find for me, mainly because our changing bag is huge and bulky. The thing that attracted me to the organiser was the fact that it's multi-use: it can be used as a bag to carry, a bag to attach to the back of a buggy or an organiser that can go either on the buggy or the back of a front car seat. As we're planning on getting a car in the summer, I figured we'd get a lot of use!

Image: Diono

As you can see, the bag can be unzipped to hang on the back of a buggy or car seat (which I think would be massively handy for journeys with older children as well; you could stuff it with sickbags, snacks and games etc!) The bag can be zipped up with the pockets either inside or out, depending what you prefer. I've used both and must say that I like having the pockets on the outside- it's really quick to grab what you want!

You can see that we were able to put quite a bit into the bag, although it is really easy to overfill because it's so roomy and I was overenthusiastic! I'm not entirely sure we've quite worked out the best way to attach the bag to the handles of the buggy, but to be honest, it's small enough to be stowed away in the shopping basket underneath.

I also think this looks really smart and compact. The material is lightweight and easy to clean. I also really like that there's a zip on the inside when the bag is in this format. It's very handy for sticking your phone/purse/keys in safely.

If I could change anything about the baby organiser, I'd like it to be in a bright colour, but that's just personal taste! I can see this being very useful as D grows up and his needs change. A very flexible product!

You can buy Diono 3-in-1 Baby Organiser here for £15.99

Bump update: week 37

So the last couple of weeks have been a bit of a nightmare, truth be told! On Wednesday I'll be 38 weeks and I am suffering!

After the disastrous consultant visit (I wrote about it here, and also wanted to express my thanks to those who commented and tweeted after that post) I then went further into anxious mode, until my MW appointment last Wednesday. As ever she was completely supportive, horrified that the consultant hadn't listened to what I had explained and brushed me off as a 'first time worrier', she got right on the phone to the hospital to make me another appointment with a different consultant, who I met last Monday, and who agreed (yay!) but said that it had to be signed off by a second doctor (he then helpfully gave me a prescription for some iron tablets with someone else's name on, cheers doc!) BUT I am seeing the 2nd consultant tomorrow morning, so hopefully my months of not knowing will be over!

And as for symptoms...
We went through some new symptoms (itchy body, including feet and some slight swelling in uncomfortable places) and my general tiredness levels, my MW took some blood and advised me to call the next day at 5pm, however by 10am the next morning I had already had a call from the hospital asking me to call back to discuss my results, worrying, but super quick service! SO it turns out my iron levels had dropped lower than they were last time they were checked (30 weeks, I think) even though I have been taking Feroglobin iron supplements and eating well, and the blood test that measures liver function was also low, (as recognised by the itchiness, which is very scientifically clever!) so that needs some tablets, but I said I already had consultant appointment on Monday, and could I wait and sort it all out then, the answer was yes, as long as the baby is still moving as normal (which it is, phew!) although I had been experiencing some really painful twinges all that morning.

She said it was probably just the braxton hicks getting a bit more powerful, or that I was just doing too much, or the baby was getting more confined as it grew, or a combination of all of these things. It was a pretty stressful day at work too (stupidly I was on my hands and knees scrubbing things and checking under beds ready for a butt-load of visiting VIPs) but after a 2 hour nap the pain seemed to have eased off by that night (last thurs!) and has since reduced to bearable levels and pretty much remained that way.

I've also developed some skin tags and changes to a couple of moles, mainly around my neck, a few google searches tell me this is normal and that they will go after the baby arrives, but the moles changing I am going to get checked at the Drs just in case!

Other than that, my symptoms have more or less remained the same (frequent piddling!!) but the aches have got worse, especially first thing in the morning! If it didn't take me so long to wash and dry my hair I'd move bath times to the morning but I think a warm bath before bed helps me unwind, so I'm not really willing to change my routine! I look like a decrepit old lady until at least mid day when things have eased up a little!

I am due to finish work on 23rd May (this Thursday ) and have more or less finished the handover to the person who will be managing the hotel for me in my absence, but it's going to be so strange not having to be on call 24/7 and not knowing what the hell is happening, but I'm sure I'll get over it pretty quickly!

I have been told I am having a leaving party on Tuesday too, hurrah! I'm meant to be going to a meeting (with dinner and a stay over) in Bournemouth on my last day, it'd mean I get to see all the people from the hotels in my region before being off for so long, and have a proper catch up, BUT I am inordinately worried I'll go into labour and Sam won't be there and I'll have to make someone drive me home in the middle of the night or something... I'll see how I feel the day before and decide then!

Anyway, I will keep you all posted on the yay/nay C-section meeting! Also, I'm moving about 7 weeks after the baby arrives, (blog post here on my other blog) any tips?

Maternity Clothes

 

I’ve just realised I've not really written about what I've been wearing during my pregnancy on this blog, and only on occasion on my other blog.

I’ve found it really hard to find nice maternity clothes if I'm being honest, partly because I didn’t want to spend much money on new clothes, but mainly because I genuinely didn't like much available out there! I bought three dresses from the New Look maternity range in the Christmas sales, which was long before I needed them but was a sensible thing to do on reflection! I also bought 2 dresses from ASOS in the sales, but then when I tried them on when I had a noticeable bump decided that they didn’t look right (the tulip style skirt on one just made me look like a hippo!) and sold them on eBay for a profit (hurrah!) I do still have a nice cream lace dress with the tags still on, which I couldn't resist, but have had nowhere nice enough to wear it to, so if a situation doesn't arise I'll sell that too!

My first bit of advice is to think about what you’ve already got that will work (dresses with full skirts, things that are really elasticated, flowy tops etc, and you’d be surprised at what will still fit quite far along! I’m still wearing 2 ‘normal’ skirts to work, admittedly they are ‘bodycon’ style so are stretchy, but just get worn below the bump now. Secondly, USE EBAY! consider that most of the maternity clothes that are being sold have probably only been worn for around 3 months, before their owner decides to sell them for more money for nappies…

Here's a lowdown of what I’ve bought:

• leggings x 3 (New look, Matalan (both good quality) and H&M too long and a little bit thin for £14.99!)
• vest tops: Topshop (I do not rate these AT ALL, the strappy one is too low cut and the barely cover the bump, even though I bought them in a size up from normal!)
• T shirts: a 3 pack and a single one from New look. Great quality and still fit perfectly over a 36 week bump, with room to spare! (I bought a 12 and normally wear 10/12 in Newlook sizing) I bought a long-line stripy (of course, being maternity!) top from asos which was fine in my normal size and still fits well now too.
• Maxi-Skirt: H&M via eBay. PERFECT, this is the best thing I've purchased in terms of comfort, and go-with-everything top-wise!
• Jeans: Top-shop Leigh maternity jeans (denim with little dots on, with a stretchy band and no zip) cute, comfy till about 7 months then they just got too tight to wear for long periods of time. Green jeans from New look maternity, (Stretchy side panels with a zip) same as the above jeans. I’m not sure why I even bought jeans, I never wore them pre pregnancy but somehow it seemed like a good idea! To be honest I was glad of the extra thickness when I went to Prague though! tights wouldn't have cut it in –14 temp!
• Tights: as I wear dresses or skirts to work maternity tights were vital, all mine came from H&M (in black, they don't seem to do skin toned & are still selling woolly ones!) but are VERY comfy, I bought with and without feet in packs of either 2 or 3.
• Dresses: mainly New look, a couple from topshop (naff quality again!) and midi-length tunic from Matalan.
• eBay: a few dresses, and a bundle of 4 maternity tops from various places (for about £6 inc postage!)
• Loungewear/underwear: I went to Primark, go a couple of sizes up (I am normally a 10-12, and went for 16-18 sized T shirt/PJ bottom sets in stretchy material and change into them the moment I get in the door, as the waist bands are perfect for not cutting in/pressing on my bladder! I also bought a few packs of cheapy ‘big’ pants as my old pants were getting a bit too tight for comfort, and once I'm back to my normal size (haha!) I can fling them out without guilt!

 

Topshop (sale) / Newlook T shirt & H&M Skirt / Topshop dress via EBay for £6!

Pearl Lowe at Peacocks (not maternity but stretchy!) / H&M top and skirt (top not maternity, just bigger!) / New look dress (maternity, xmas sale, and has been a work staple!)

And because I love the surroundings so much I'm not cropping this one… (Mevagissey in Cornwall)

Primark Jumper (not maternity, just big!) and Matalan leggings (rolled up because I am a short-ass) over a regular vest top from H&M that used to be longer than that but over the bump it rides up…

Where did you shop for maternity clothes? any more tips to add?

To C-section or not, that is the question…

 

I want a C section. It is something that I have been thinking about and considering since about 5 months of bumpishness. Surprisingly my mum then suggested it before I had told her I was thinking of it a few weeks later, as it turns out she had a pretty nasty experience with me, and was kept in for for a week post birth with various complications (And a surgery) even though I weighed just under 6lbs. She’s as petite as me and she said if there was an option for me to not have to go through what she did (potentially) she thinks I should take it.

MY other reasons in brief are:

• husband was almost 11’7 at birth, was two weeks overdue and after almost a 2 day labour just wouldn't come out, so was an emergency c section.
• his sister was then a c section 3 weeks early as she was over 9 lbs
• his older brother was born with a brain defect that meant he effectively lived like a 4 month old till he sadly died at 18, and although this is not genetic it still fills me with fear
• I am SO anxious that if I attempt to do it naturally I will end up having to have a C section anyway
• I do not want to go overdue, the baby is already measuring 2 weeks ahead with legs at almost full term. The consultant I saw on Friday reckons ‘7lbs’ at birth but I just do not believe him.

I am still waiting for an appointment with the ‘wellbeing’ clinic to discuss my anxieties, but have been waiting for this for 6 weeks now (good one, NHS) and the consultant basically shot me down and said ‘all first timers are anxious’ but I know most people are not to the extent that I am, and so for that reason I am going to (I think…) call him back on Tuesday to tell him I definitely want a C-section. I know it is my right to ask for one, and I also know that the Brighton hospital was told to get their rates of C sections down, hence his unwillingness to book it in when I saw him.

The few people I have mentioned it to have actually been a lot more supportive than I thought they would be, apart from one person saying ‘oh, well its okay if you don’t feel that maternal yet’ which I took to be a stupid statement and ended the conversation quick sharp. If anything, I personally feel that I will probably have more of a connection with the baby if I haven't gone through potentially 2 days of hard labour to get it out.

I have weighed up the pros and cons, I know it is ‘major surgery’ but people have them every day and survive. I have a network of people to support me afterwards and know that I can cope with the pain, as I've had my appendix out in the past (Admittedly I wasn't carting a baby/pram around right after, but I have a chunky husband to do that for me now!)

What are your thoughts on elective C sections?

The joy of reading

D is just getting to the age where he's enjoying being read to. Before, he'd be pretty indifferent, but now he's becoming interested in the pictures as well. One of the best things about having him around is I can indulge my love of children's books and buy the ones that I remember so well from my own childhood. I thought I'd share a list of current favourites- please feel free to add your own in the comments!

Anything by Julia Donaldson

Image: The Telegraph

I'm a bit old to have read most of these in my own childhood, but I have had enormous fun reading these books to D. We were given quite a few by a friend and The Smartest Giant In Town and Room On The Broom quickly became very popular (with me, mainly.) I instantly fell in love with The Gruffalo and have a set of voices all to pat- the Fox is Welsh, the Owl is posh, the Snake is a Scouser with a lisp and the Gruffalo is clearly meant to be Brian Blessed. I enjoy these books because I like the rhythm and the stories and illustrations themselves are just so charming.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Image: The Examiner

This is a classic and I knew before D was born I wanted him to have this book. He now also has a range of other Hungry Caterpillar bits and bobs and the soft toy is a staple when we go out and about. I think he enjoys the bright colours and I enjoy the familiarity of the story.

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

Image: Books for Keeps

This is another book I loved in childhood, but now I read it as an adult, I'm full of all kinds of conflict. Why is the child (I assume it's a child) writing to the zoo for a pet? Are there no licensed pet shops in the area? Also, why is the zoo encouraging such reckless animal ownership by sending A LION AS A PET? It's encouraging a throwaway society, 'Oh, thanks for the lion, but it's too fierce. Please take it back.' What happened to a '...not just for Christmas'? Anyway, it's an entertaining book, even if D isn't quite au fait with lift-the-flap books just yet.

Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner

Image: Bay Arts

This book is bonkers. I don't think it's published over here (I picked it up from a nice American man at a carboot sale a couple of weeks ago.) It's a story about a Siamese cat who thinks he's a chihuahua and joins a band of chihuahuas to defeat a 'bumblebeeto bandito'. There's lots of opportunities for bad Spanish accents and it's just loads of fun. Quite long for a picture book, but that's not a problem, really!

There are loads of others I like reading- fairy tales in particular- and I have my eye on buying Spot and Mog in the near future, too. Let me know what your favourites are in the comments.