Instagram Inspiration!
Guest Post, Health and Wellbeing, lifestyle
Who’d have thought that countless people across the globe would spend hours pouring over small square photographs on various versions of a small black box?! But we do. And I love…
At the time of writing, I’m 4 months pregnant with our third child! As we go forward in this journey together, I wanted to let you in on the behind the scenes of the last few months and the things I’m thinking about at each stage of the journey. Pregnancy is such an individual time, and no two journeys are the same even for the same mother. So if you’re following along, I know that brings so many emotions and feelings for everyone. Our journeys don’t all look the same, remember that!
In general the path you’ll see us try to take is similar to everything else in life; as simple and minimal as I can on all fronts – from clothes to labour. That said, healthy children and a healthy mother are what counts the most, and both my births so far have been importantly medicated and induced. Pregnancy, birth and raising can be an area of such black and white ideals and certainties but if I’ve learned one thing from the last 2 it’s to be open. Read and learn and be open to change and morphing and differing ideas of what’s ‘best’. “Best,” as a mother, is a very fluid word.
Morning sickness was the first indication I was pregnant, and I had it for 5 weeks. It was worse than the last 2 pregnancies but still not bad by any real standards. I’ve felt much bigger this time round, and my digestion has been a bit more affected. In general, it’s been happily straight forward. I’ve waited for tiredness to hit me like it did in my previous pregnancies (hi 4pm bed time!) but it hasn’t which is the thing I’m most thankful for.
Yes! Not a ton but a few in supplements, eating and exercising.
I bought a total of 4 maternity items over my first two pregnancies (two pairs of jeans and 2 long tanks.). I made it work with open front items, stretchy things, borrowing, buying some sized up items that I’ve kept wearing while not pregnant too. This time around I knew I’d need to add a few more items. With the nature of maternity wear being that it’s less used, it’s easy to get second hand and to save money that’s what I’m doing mostly via ebay!
Some options I like for buying new are hatch Gal, Boob, Isabella Oliver, Jojo Maman Bebe, PACT and second hand via ebay, poshmark, facebook marketplace and friends.
Bearing in mind I had insurance and access to a midwife led hospital and prenatal care in California, and am pregnant during COVID in England this is not a comparison between US and UK healthcare, but just my experience so far!
I’ll share more about the way we talk about this (not the medical side of weight gain) and what we build with our words and celebration, both for us and others. My last two pregnancies I’ve not gained much at all while pregnant. It’s led to comments during pregnancy and early post partum in celebration of low weight gain. Being healthy during pregnancy is something I care massively about, but I think the way we’ve tied that to low weight gain during and after pregnancy (something that is partially genetic) can actually be so unhelpful and unhealthy in the midst of letting our bodies do what they need to do.
We left everything but the Ergo and one pair of maternity pants in California so we’re starting again but keeping it very simple: crib, car seat, stroller, bassinet, and not much more. Those are where I’ll put my money too as they’re where baby will spend the most time and I want to invest in well made, safe items to surround them. Flame retardant free is something I look for in all those items and it’s a lot harder to find in the UK than the US! I’ll keep you posted as we add those items to our home but see HERE for a list of essentials from the last 2 kids! (Disclaimer, with each pregnancy I’ve learned and done less and done “better” for my journey so I’ll update this as we go!)
Obviously I’ll keep you in on the journey as we go, and I’m here for any questions at all along the way! Thanks for being a part of our story.
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