Candyfloss & Dreams

Category: Lifestyle

lifestyle blog posts focusing on home, lifestyle, parenting, pregnancy, family life and home and style. Home decor and working at home, working at home as a self employed freelancer and blogger. Family lifestyle blog posts including family reviews, family products and saving money as a family. Being a more eco friendly family.

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
Switching from Glasses to Contact Lenses

Glasses to Contact Lenses

Do you wear contact lenses? It’s not something I’ve ever really considered despite wearing glasses for well over ten years now. I am forever forgetting where I’ve put my glasses or losing them and replacing a pair can cost a small fortune when you’re considering what frames to buy. I do like that glasses can be used as a bit of a fashion statement and there are so many colourful frames now, however, as a parent (who has had her fair share of snapped frames thanks to children) expensive, designer glasses just aren’t really a necessary expense. So, I’ve been considering contact lenses. They’re easy to replace, cheaper to buy and there is a great range of brands to find the best lenses for you.

Focus Dailies All Day Comfort Contact Lenses

Focus Dailies lenses are a great option for me because they’re really affordable, you can, as you would in the opticians, have different strengths for each eye and are daily lenses that provide you with hygienic, healthy vision with zero fuss. A month supply at Vision Direct currently costs £13.49 which is a great, affordable price. There are loads of great reasons to consider buying your Focus Dailies from Vision Direct but I think the next day delivery is one of the best perks. Like I said having children, things are easy to break or go “missing” so knowing I can order, particularly with SMS reordering, the exact amount I need, whenever I need them and not having to wait until the end of the week to receive them, is a huge bonus. Daily lenses also sounds like a great option for me because they are for all day comfort. Focus Dailies lenses in particular are great for those that have dry eyes as they allow more oxygen to get to the eye, have a high water content and are made from super-breathable Nelfilcon A. The flexibility of ordering what and how much you want also makes this a really affordable option in place of high street direct debits and I am all about saving money wherever I can.

Ordering Focus Dailies with Vision Direct

I was so impressed with how easy the website was to use and order. The contact lenses came the next day which was really impressive and came with a months supply of Focus Dailies all day comfort lenses with a small bottle of everclear drops. Each contact lens is in it’s own case and the Focus Dailies are for single daily use as it clearly states on the packaging. Usually when ordering new glasses I have to wait around a week to ten days so having something come so quickly is a real benefit. You can clearly see the prescription on the lid of the lenses so you know which one is for which eye if you need a different prescription for each eye.

Why Switch to Contact Lenses?

There are lots of reasons people might switch to contact lenses, but for me, it’s a case of just popping them in when I wake up and then not having to worry about misplacing them for the rest of the day. I love that I will be able to switch from working at home to the school run without changing glasses and what’s more, not having to buy prescription sunglasses for those rare sunny days. That means I have much more freedom of choice and can choose a pair of sunglasses I really like rather than considering prescription lenses. I do a lot of swimming as well as aqua fit so the best way to protect my contact lenses and prevent irritation is to use a decent pair of swim goggles.

This post is in collaboration with Vision Direct.

June 27, 2018
Books I’ve Been Reading and Listening To

I love to read and I’m trying to make time whilst I’m pregnant as I know I won’t get much time when our baby is here. I’m also very much open to anything you recommend that I might want to read on my Kindle whilst pregnant or perhaps even a few Audiobooks I can give a good listen to. I’ve been mostly reading a lot of pregnancy and birth books but I’ve found time to through in some fiction reads too.

A Court of Thorns and Roses

I’ve now read/listened to all four books that are currently available. I loved the main trilogy but it’s always really great to know what the characters do next which is how it’s been continued. I really like Feyre and how she has grown and changed through the books. I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy the series as I’m not all that sure on Faeries as fantasy books but this was really a great read and I loved it so much. I could read over and over.

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

Caraval

I’m yet to go through the sequel which I’ve heard is so much better than Caraval but it’s been a great listen. I really enjoyed listening to it as it was so different from my usual reads and Audibooks. It’s full of darkness, magic and mystery. It was a lot darker than I thought it would be reading the blurb.

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

Midnight Jewel

I loved The Glittering Court and I’m so excited to read or listen to The Emerald Sea when that comes out this month however Midnight Jewel really lived up to the first in the trilogy. What I love about this series is how they all take place during the same timeline and so have loads of cross overs but focus on one of the three main characters. This one is about dark and mysterious Mirabelle and is full of pirates, espionage, mystery and a very heated romance. I think Mira is my favourite character of the three because she’s so adventurous and daring.

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

Frostblood

I’ve also read Fireblood and really enjoyed both stories. Another one full of magic, war and romance but I really enjoyed listening to it. This is quite similar to A Court of Thorns and Roses. I’ll have to give it another listen I think as it’s been a while.

Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/2JW0ma6

Truthwitch

Another series where I’ve also picked up the Sequeal, Windwitch. This one is pretty dark in places and I loved listening to the narrator. A really interesting take on a fantasy story.

Affiliate Link – https://amzn.to/2yqDHhF

A Throne of Glass

Another one by Sarah J Maas and a pretty long series. I can’t wait for the next one actually because I want to know how the story will progress. More faeries, assassins, romance and a super fiery heroine. I loved the first book and the story has progressed really well with so many interesting characters.

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

June 25, 2018
Birth Planning With A Doula

Right at the start of my second trimester I blogged about hiring a Doula and how I felt that was the right decision for me. So far, I have to say, Sophie has been a great emotional support. She has been following me on Instagram, checking in if she notices I’m feeling a bit emotional, takes the time to listen and has been an advocate by text too. She is so welcoming and has been really supportive of our decisions for our birth plan and those first special weeks with our newborn. Thanks to her confidence and support, as well as pointing me in the right direction for positive information allowing me to make informed choices I am feeling really good about my plan for a VBAC and actually, I’m really excited about meeting my baby.

I, of course, have a little anxiety about how things will go but our recent appointment talked through pretty much every possible outcome. Having those ideas and speaking about them has made it really clear in my mind that I feel prepared for most situations. I can’t tell you what having that extra support outside of the NHS has been for me. Having that person to continually talk to about my birth plan and our family has been really, really lovely. I think as well it’s helping my midwife have extra faith in some of the decisions I’ve been making because she knows I’m getting all the information from the right places.

Sophie has recommended books, talked us through what might happen in the event of an emergency c-section, more for Adam’s benefit as obviously this is all new for him, and talked to us about our plan and the types of pain relief I want. She’s helped me talk through so many options for things like how Vitamin K is administered, optimal cord clamping or cord blood donation, what to do with my placenta and all those kind of things. Having someone that has the time to get excited with us and talk about a really personal plan is making me feel excited, safe and comforted. I really feel quite empowered by having her by my side and confident that she will be a great advocate for making my birth plan clear to my midwife during birth. That means Adam can be there for me too without having to make any on the spot decisions without talking them through with someone that also knows what I want. I feel so glad to have two people that can support me and ensure I am listened to.

Some people have asked us why or commented that they wouldn’t want another person in the room with them at the birth, or that their husband might not feel comfortable. It’s a really personal decision when it comes to hiring a Doula but Sophie has been there for both of us, talking to us both, answering any questions that we both have and Adam has been really supportive in my decision. Adam obviously wasn’t at my last birth so he just wants to make sure that no matter what I’m looked after and he is all for anything that I think will make the entire experience better. Hiring a Doula early on in my pregnancy has really made me feel positive and excited about the whole thing and as a result, knowing I have people to speak to about my emotional issues and to help me in times of anxiety as well as making positive informed decisions has been great.

It is a personal choice, of course and if you feel that hiring a doula is not a service you will need for your pregnancy then that is absolutely fine. However, if like me, you had a bit of a hard time of it before or you’re feeling anxious about birth then perhaps speaking to a doula and meeting with one might help you. Most Doula’s will expect a meeting where you can get together and see how you connect with each other. You want someone that is going to work in sync with you for your birth and that will help you make it the best experience for you, whether thats a natural home birth or a planned c-section.

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 21, 2018
Pamper Tips for Pregnant Women

I want a spa weekend! Pregnancy can leave us feeling really drained, tired and a little bit unloved. When you’ve been dealing with months of fatigue, hormones and all your bones and ligaments stretching you deserve a chance to be pampered. I’m currently six months pregnant and I think now is the perfect time for some pampering. I’d love to get away for the weekend on a spa break, there are some brand new London Spa offers on Groupon right now which I am eyeing up! However, as we can’t get away to a spa every weekend there are a few things you can do at home to relax you and make those last few months of pregnancy a little easier, particularly if, like me, you’re heavily pregnant over the summer months!

Create A Spa Bathroom

Do your bathroom up to give it a spa like quality feel. I love having a soak in the bath and even better if it’s empty of clutter, smells like a spa and automatically invites you in. Partner that with a cup of green tea and I know I’ll have a great night sleep that night. You could add in some of your favourite, relaxing essential oils in a diffuser and a few tealights around the room so that you can completely relax in the bath. I love natural and fresh face masks which can help if your skin is affected during pregnancy as hormones often affect our natural oils. Anything to prevent hormonal spots or stop my skin from drying out to much works for me and using natural or fresh face masks I know that the products are going to be safe for my skin during pregnancy. Another great thing to use for those aching muscles or a sore lower back is Epsom salts. They really make bath water feel spa quality and help to relax you. I love using Epsom salts in the bath before bed especially with lavender oil in a burner, it really helps me relax and as a result I have a nice, gentle night sleep – something that is getting harder the futher along in this pregnancy I get!

Have A Spa Retreat Babymoon

If you can get away for a night or two with your partner a relaxing pre-natal or pregnancy package spa retreat could be an ideal way to relax before your new addition makes their appearance. Some hotels offer specific mum to be packages depending on which trimester you’re in so it’s worth having a look to see what’s available. There are some pregnancy massages that can really help you to relax. If the spa does not offer anything pregnancy specific they should be able to talk you through which treatments are suitable for pregnant women. If you’re staying the night a dip in the pool can be very calming and enjoyable, with the feeling of weightlessness, to help relieve the joints. There isn’t much you need to avoid really at the Spa but steam rooms, hot tubs and saunas aren’t suitable. Still, there will be lots on offer suitable for pregnant women and a Spa is just a lovely way to get away from it all, fully relax and get yourself rested before your new arrival.

How would you like to be pampered in pregnancy?

This is a collaborative post

June 19, 2018