Candyfloss & Dreams

Author: Kat Candyfloss

My Second Trimester Is Over

The Second Trimester of my second pregnancy is done! The second trimester is usually around 13 to 28 weeks of pregnancy or, months four, five and six. I am now, almost, 29 weeks pregnant and that means we are welcoming or waddling into the third trimester after a relatively easy pregnancy so far. I’ve now had my first Doula antenatal appointment as well as met with my consultant and had my 28 week midwife check.

How Did I Find the Second Trimester?

The second trimester has been really pretty normal to be honest. We’ve had plenty of scans and did a little gender reveal after our anomoly scan at 20 weeks. All my tests have come back normal, my energy levels have been a bit up and down. I have talked about how I’ve had a bit of suffering with my mental health but having open conversations with loved ones really improved that for me and I was soon back on track. I’ve been sleeping relatively well too which is great. I haven’t felt much discomfort apart from a few bits of sciatica and a few kicks to the bladder from baby which has been so lovely. Mostly I feel pretty good and confident I am making the right choices when it comes to the birth. I’m actually pretty excited about the birth although I’m sure that will change in the next few weeks. We have decided not to book in with any Antenatal classes as I’m getting all the information I need from my Doula and have booked hypnobirthing classes in July and August instead. I’ve also read a lot of books and feel like I know so much more about what my body is capable of. I have a lot more faith in myself and my body this pregnancy.

How Am I Looking at the end of the Second Trimester?

How Am I Feeling at the end of the Second Trimester?

Our scan at 21 weeks showed we are having a baby boy and this did come with a bit of gender anxiety but actually I’m really excited to have a son and can’t wait to meet him.
I am, like most mothers would be, anxious about this last stage of pregnancy. Birth is getting closer and I am adamant to have as positive birth as I possibly can. I have already written up a birth plan with thanks to my Doula and I’ve talked it through with my midwife and consultant.
I am still a little anxious about adjusting to life as a family of four especially with Adam due to start University around our due date in the Autumn.

Weight Gain in Second Trimester?

Weight at start of the year: 120kg
Weight at Booking in: 120kg
Weight at 25 Weeks: 123kg
Weight at 28 Weeks: 125.5kg

Total Weight gain so far: 5.5kg – apparently for someone of my BMI I should try and keep my weight gain under 11kg and as I’ve got to the third trimester with pretty minimal weight gain, I’m really happy with this. I’m confident any extra weight will mostly be baby, uterus and water weight.

Any Concerns?

Not really. I am pretty confident I am going to get the positive VBAC birth I want and I feel really prepared. I have thought about all the other options and what having a c-section would mean, obviously I do not want to have that type of surgery again but in an emergency situation I know what to expect and how I can help myself.

Any Symptoms?

Not really. I still have some nasal congestion but I’m no longer continuously gagging. I don’t feel any sickness. I’m still sleeping okay which is absolutely amazing. I’m actually finding I’ve been able to stay awake in the evenings until about 11pm and getting up around 6am. Most of the times it’s all the way through too which is very nice. I’m trying to keep up with drinking plenty of water and eating as well as I can but there are times I am finding myself so hungry. I also find I fill up quite quickly and I suppose that is where baby is pushing against everything now. I’m not really in any pain or have many aches and the sciatica hasn’t really returned. Some positions I’m finding uncomfortable when sitting and my centre of gravity has absolutely changed. The second trimester has been pretty okay though for me and I hope that continues for as long as possible.

What’s Next?

I have two 90 minute hypnobirthing sessions booked in for July and August and I’m going to be continuing with reading Mindful Hypnobirthing and using the recommended relaxation tracks. I am hoping to continue Aquafit for as long as possible. There is more midwife appointments to come and I want to get my hospital bag packed and ready. We want to get the Chicco Next 2 Me Crib and Pram purchased in August too so that’s high on our list of priorities. I’m looking forward to my next antenatal with my Doula where we are going to go a bit more in depth with birth affirmations and how I visualise my birth space to make sure oxytocin is flowing through labour. I have a growth scan coming up too which will be a nice chance to see baby again although I have to admit I don’t really care too much about his predicted weight. It wasn’t very accurate when I had Evie.

What Has Helped This Pregnancy

Here are a few products that I’ve loved using this pregnancy and might help you too.

Pregnancy Pillow

Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/2LJyGCy

Mindful Hypnobirthing Book

Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/2Misy5b

Lavender Essential oil

Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/2yd1PUT

For more pregnancy content please head to my hub post which contains links to all my relevant pregnancy based blog posts. My second High Bmi Pregnancy.

July 5, 2018
6 Tips to Encourage Your Kids to Eat Healthier Foods

This is a collaborative post.

Getting children to eat healthy seems to be one of the most difficult parenting challenges. Some kids seem to only want to eat mac and cheese, fries, cookies, and chicken nuggets; ask them to eat some fruits and vegetables and they ignore it at best, or throw tantrums at worst.

So how do you overcome this hurdle? Here are a few helpful tips.

Use Healthier Ingredients

Pick something your child loves to eat, say a cupcake, and learn how to make it with healthier ingredients. For example, replace regular dairy milk with equally creamy and delicious plant-based milks instead. For toppings, do away with the candy sprinkles and use chopped nuts or toasted oats with honey. Show your child that this food that they love is made with a healthy ingredient to help convince them that healthy food doesn’t have to taste bad.

Include Them in the Process

Most children don’t see how the food is made; they arrive at the dinner table with the food already there. They don’t know what you put in, but they are expected to eat it anyway. By bringing your children into the process — from picking the ingredients in the grocery or farmer’s market, down to the preparation and actual cooking — they can get more excited, interested, and invested in what they are eating. What’s more, shopping and cooking together is also an opportunity to have fun and bond. It may even be more helpful if you can grow your own vegetables and fruits. There’s a certain sense of satisfaction in harvesting and eating something you cultivated on your own.

Give Them a Choice

Don’t serve them one dish and expect them to eat just that. Giving them more freedom makes them more receptive to the idea of eating healthy. If you’re serving tacos (lean meat, of course), prepare an array of toppings like cabbage, cheese, lettuce, onions, parsley, sliced tomatoes, and tomato salsa. If you’re serving pasta, don’t mix in the sauce immediately. Let them pick from two or three healthy sauces. Getting into a power-struggle with your children will make them even more rebellious when it comes to eating healthy. You’ll be surprised at how even a little bit of leeway can help encourage kids to eat better.

Try Some Dips

Even the most unpleasant-tasting foods can become palatable with the right dip. Prepare vegetable sticks and a variety (remember: give them choices!) of healthy dips, like hummus, Greek yogurt ranch dressing, salsa, and honey mustard. Your children might even end up requesting for more!

Don’t Shock Them

Once they reach a certain age, children will become naturally wary of trying new foods, especially if they’ve already chosen their favorites. Don’t shock them into eating a huge variety of vegetables all of a sudden. Introduce them slowly; you can even include them in soups or omelettes to ease them in gently. Tell them that eating vegetables and other healthy foods takes a little bit of adjustment, but they will eventually get used to the taste.

Do as You Say

When your kids see you order something unhealthy at a restaurant, they’re likely to copy you and order the same thing. When they see that you dislike eating broccolis but you are asking them to eat it, they won’t be convinced that it tastes good and that it’s good for them. You may also have improper habits, like eating late at night or eating too much at times, which your children may think is normal. So gird it up for the sake of healthy eating, in both your habits and the kind of food you eat — eat better and your children will get into the habit, too.

Final Tips

One more helpful tip is to not keep junk food in the house, and instead keep healthy snack items like nuts, dried and fresh fruits, or even frozen fruit popsicles. You may not have control over what they eat when they’re away from home, but when they are, make sure that there are wholesome options available to them.

Finally, don’t give up. It may be really challenging, but eating healthy — even for adults — is a constant process. Remind yourself that it’s okay to give in sometimes as long as you try again the next day. Good luck!

July 5, 2018
How Do You Child-proof Your Water Feature?

How Do You Child-proof Your Water Feature?

One sure way of transforming the look of your property is by adding a water feature. A sprawling pond or pool, a thriving water garden, or a good stone outdoor fountain design can really elevate the atmosphere and change the appearance of your home. Water features can also let you do a lot of fun activities, like swimming and pond dipping, on a daily basis.

However, these additional features can also demand extra care from you. They’ll need to be cleaned and maintained every now and then. They can also be a hazard if you have small kids with you, but you can minimize the risk with the help of the right tools. Here are some of the items you can install around your pond or pool area to make it a safer space for children and pets alike:

1. Fence. One of the ways to make sure that your kids aren’t sneaking into the pool or pond unsupervised is by putting up a fence around the water feature. Make sure it’s securely installed and that it has no gaps where small kids can squeeze through or get trapped in. A 1.1m tall fence should be enough to deter most children.

2. Metal mesh. If your pond is too small to fence in, then you can use a metal mesh over it. The mesh should be able to support the weight of a toddler in case the child tries to step into the water. Aside from ponds, metal meshes can be used over babbling brooks and water gardens.

3. Good lighting. Make sure you can monitor your pool or pond area clearly by installing good lighting. This helps you see if anyone is trying to sneak into the pool or if the kids haven’t gotten out of the water yet.

4. Underground water basin. You can opt to install a disappearing water fountain or a fountain that has an underground water basin. This design is safer for kids as it doesn’t store water in a place that children can typically reach.

5. Sensors and alarms. Sensors can help you keep an eye on your pool area even if you’re not there all the time. There are sensors that ring the alarm when someone opens the gate to the pool, jumps into the pool, or approaches the pool.

6. Slip-resistant flooring. Pair this with good lighting and you have a better chance of avoiding slipping accidents around the fountain or near the pool.

7. Ground fault circuit interrupt (GCFI) outlets. Last but not least, you should pay special attention to the electric components of your water features. Water pumps need electricity to run, but working with water and electricity at the same time is hardly ever a good idea. A GCFI outlet makes your water features safer by automatically shutting off whenever it detects a short circuit. Also, consider burying the power cable about 12 inches underground to keep it out of sight and reduce tripping hazards in the area.

Just to be clear, even after these features have been installed, children should always—always—be supervised by their guardians when they are interacting with water. Just like how they shouldn’t be left in the bath alone, kids should always be looked after by a responsible adult when in the pond, pool, or beach.

When they get older, make sure you talk to them about water safety and explain why certain rules are followed when in the pool or pond. At the same time, make sure you set a good example by observing water safety rules yourself. This way, water safety will become a second nature to your kids.

July 3, 2018
Packing for a Caravan Holiday

Caravan Holiday Packing When You Can’t Drive

We are very excited to be off on a Caravan Holiday to the Isle of Wight however neither Adam or I can drive so when it comes to travel we have to navigate public transport. It can be really tough when you’re having a staycation and trying not to pack the absolute world, especially with children. We love caravan holidays because they provide a good base for us to explore, are usually pretty affordable and holiday parks usually have great facilities to enjoy. This is the second time we’ve had a caravan holiday at Landguard in Shanklin so we know what to expect of the park which makes packing quite a bit easier. However, as you can do when you have a car, we can’t be taking loads of things with us and nor can we do a massive food shop and drive it over to the caravan when we get there which means we have to be pretty savvy when it comes to packing. This year our plan is to take one medium wheelie suitcase, our Cabin Zero hand luggage bag and a backpack. Evie will also have a bag to carry herself. We’ve been doing caravan holidays for ages now but I would love to try a luxury lodge as recommended by Wandermust Family.

Our caravan includes bed linen, duvets and pillows which is perfect as we don’t need to worry about taking those with us however we still need to take towels which I find take up the most amount of space. I try and get those into the case first, laying ours at the bottom and rolling Evie’s towel up as it’s much smaller and thinner. However, caravan holidays don’t come with everything you need. We’ve gone with a slightly more luxury grade caravan for our break which does include more space and a few more things that we wouldn’t need to worry about bringing with us which is great.

Wear Your Heaviest Clothes

I think this is a given no matter where you’re going just to save on space and if you’re flying somewhere, luggage allowance. Wear your heaviest items the day you travel and dress in layers. The annoying thing about public transport is of course having to get on and off so you don’t want so many layers that it gets annoying but enough so that it’s not taking up precious room in your case. I try to them make the rest of our clothes fit as snuggly as possible. Evie and I wear quite thin tops and dresses which are easier to fold and roll but Adam’s t-shirts are a little less flexible and heavier. This time we’re only going for four nights so thankfully don’t need as many outfits, and, we aren’t going anywhere that requires having to dress up which is nice. When it comes to shoes, I usually wear trainers to travel in and pack a pair of flat shoes or flip flops as a spare. I do the same for Evie, getting her to wear heavier shoes and packing her sandals. Adam only has his trainers so we’ve saved a bit of space there as his feet are huge!

Think of the Essentials

For a caravan holiday we then need to consider what we need to bring to the caravan that isn’t provided like washing up liquid, a tea towel, extra toilet paper and a bin bag. For four nights I know we won’t use much of this and we are planning on eating out for dinner each night however, the washing up liquid will be needed for mugs and breakfast things, an extra bin bag is handy and no one should ever run out of toilet paper, especially not on a caravan holiday! You just don’t need that stress! Plus I’m pregnant, I wee about fifty times a day now. It’s needed. Toiletries and hand soap are also needed although I think these can easily be condensed down into smaller bottles. Anti bacterial wipes are also a great thing to pack to give everything a wipe down. An essential for me is absolutely bringing a couple of my favourite tea bags and coffee. I have a small tin that I fill with tea bags and 3 in 1 coffee sachets. I’m not fussed about sugar in tea and a pint of milk is something on our list to buy once we get to the caravan holiday park but having a nice hot cup of coffee after travelling and whilst unpacking everything will be just lovely. Something you might want to consider is a tire pressure monitoring system when travelling by car or if you have a towing caravan.

Consider Pregnancy

We will be away when I’m 28 weeks pregnant and where, hopefully, I can still be relatively comfortable however there are a few things I am considering bringing with me before we go to make sleeping more comfortable. A pregnancy pillow will be really handy as will a small fan to keep me cool, however, again not being driving these are both really bulky things that probably won’t fit in our luggage. I think because of this Adam is going to be sleeping on the sofa bed so we both have a bit more space at night and I am going to get some cooling face spray. Everything else will be as normal, however, it would be a good idea to decide what you want to do and where you want to go before travelling and get an idea of distances, especially if you find walking long distance to be a bit tough. Also, I’ll be taking my maternity notes as a precaution.

Packing for Children

One good thing about a caravan holiday is that you usually have a lot to see and do on site however Evie does sometimes get up quite early when we are away and can get bored whilst waiting to head out. Evie likes to bring her own bag and suitcase and over the years has actually got better at carrying it. This time we’ve said it might be easier if she just takes the one bag or suitcase as we’re only going for four nights and won’t need much. The travelling isn’t as far either with our longest train journey being an hour and a half so not much entertainment equipment is needed. However, I know she’ll want a few things to do in the caravan or if the weather takes a wet turn so we usually pack her tablet and charger, paper, pencil case and a couple of books. Sometimes I get her a small new Lego kit too which I usually let her open when we get to the caravan as it’s a nice new treat for her and keeps her happy whilst we unpack. However, depending on where we are in the park and if it’s still dry when we arrive, hopefully she can have a little play to burn off some of that energy before we eat.

If, like me, you thought you wanted to give your seven year old child a bit of independence and let her pack her own bags…always check them before trusting them. I found Evie had packed 2 pairs of knickers, seven dresses, a bikini, a rubber ring and sunglasses. I swapped a few things around and may have added some extras…

Eat Before You Travel

When it comes to using public transport as a method of getting to your holiday destination you really want to try and eat something hearty before you go. We aren’t leaving until after lunch which means we can have a nice big brunch before getting on our first train and means we will only need a few snacks to keep Evie (mainly) occupied and less grouchy. With a caravan holiday being self catering we know we will have to head to the shops, there’s a Lidl just around the corner from our park, before we can get a good meal though so having had something to keep us going through the travel will be key to surviving. Also, if you have something a bit big before you go, should you encounter any delays, it won’t be as hard on a full stomach.

July 2, 2018
28 Weeks Pregnant Update
I can not believe I am 28 weeks pregnant! I’ve been trying to have all my appointments this week so that I can enjoy my holiday next week. So far this pregnancy has been really nice. My blood pressure has been fine, I’ve had no issues with blood tests and I finally met my consultant. I have been a bit warm this week with the heat and trying to keep hydrated, drinking plenty of water and taking precautions. Adam has been doing the afternoon school runs as it’s been so hot and I’ve been doing the mornings where it’s been cooler as it just made more sense, especially now he’s finished college.

Dealing with Heat Waves in Pregnancy

I am so happy we’ve had some sunshine but being pregnant in this heat can be really tough so it’s important to keep cool. I’ve been doing these things to help:
- Keep windows open, curtains closed and using fans
- Drinking 3 litres of water to keep hydrated
- Having an isotonic drink occasionally to top up electrolytes (can also use coconut water)
- Trying to stay indoors when sun is at it’s peak
- Freezing bottles of water and placing them in front of fans to circulate cold air
- Adam has been doing the afternoon school run
- Wearing light, cotton clothing. I bought a pair of legging shorts and they have been great.
- Cold baths – getting your hair wet keeps you cooler for longer
28 Weeks Midwife Appointment

Well, I had it down that my midwife appointment was on 27th June however, we later found out that I had been booked in for 20/7 which is weeks away and too far for me to do my 28 week blood tests. Thankfully the midwives at the birth centre didn’t turn me away and I did a full check with a really lovely student midwife who is really passionate about individualised care and women birthing where they want. We chatted for quite a bit which was really nice. As usual she checked my blood pressure and urine which was all clear before taking my blood. We then had a good listen in to babys heartrate which sounded absolutely perfect. I love feeling him kick around and move but hearing the heartbeat is just really special. She had a good feel and thinks baby is head down although we all know that could change over the next couple of months.

She then did my first fundal height measurement of which I am measuring pretty massive. I’m 27+5 days and measured 37cm when they would expect me to measure at around 27cm. However, most of my fat is on my tummy so I really don’t think my fundal height measurement is going to be a clear indication of the size of the baby. I’m not worried as Evie measured large across my tummy but was born at 8lb3oz at 42 weeks so I really can’t imagine this one being any bigger than 10lbs. The best thing was if I continue to measure as high as I will with fundal height it looks like he will be something like 14lbs…I can’t see that being accurate at all however I will have growth scans in the third trimester and that will be a much better way of measuring baby than fundal height. The only thing I am a bit concerned about is how the graph will portray with varying fundal height and growth scan measurements. I imagine there is going to be a lot of spikes with this because I just don’t think fundal height will measure me accurately with the amount of extra weight I have. However, it is really obvious I have extra fat so I hope when we are considering the measurements with midwives they do take the very obvious into consideration.

Meeting My Consultant

I met my consultant for the first time today as well which I was, initially, very nervous about because I didn’t have a brilliant experience with my consultants during my first pregnancy. In fact, I couldn’t even tell you there name. This time around the meeting wasn’t rushed, we went through my previous labour, we talked through my ideal birth plan, my concerns with the fundal height measurements and what I would like to happen during a planned or, even an unplanned, c-section. He was absolutely happy for me to have a VBAC birth as well as happy for me to plan the section in place of induction. I came away feeling really positive about the last trimester of this pregnancy. He had a feel of my tummy and baby boy is head down with his back slightly to the left. We had another hear of the heartbeat and he is absolutely fine.

I do, however, have a lot of appointments coming up to track the measurements and as long as baby boy follows a steady curve or centile on the scans and my fundal height measurement shows a steady growth, all will be well. To be honest I am sure all will be well anyway. My next appointment is with the health visitor who is visiting at home, then the consultant midwife and then an appointment with my midwife. I then have a few more growth scans booked in at my local hospital, an appointment with the anaesthetist clinic to check my back for a spinal and seeing my consultant again at 37 weeks. This will be after my scans and I should have a good few measurements to talk through as well as being much closer to my due date. Alongside all of this I have some hypnobirthing sessions booked in and some more chats with my doula to go through a few things closer to the birth. I am also trying to book in a confident birthing antenatal class which is run by the NHS as suggested by the midwife I spoke to at my last appointment.

For more pregnancy content please head to my hub post which contains links to all my relevant pregnancy based blog posts. My second High Bmi Pregnancy.
June 30, 2018