My Precious Family Time

Fantastic Lelli Kelly Discount!

2010-06-27T02:05:00.000-07:00

My little princess that epitomises all things girly, sparkly and pretty LOVES Lelli Kelly shoes, even the advert gets her excited! I have to agree with her, they are incredibly cute and from a practical point of you very hard wearing and long lasting despite all of the sequins!

The usual price tag of around £45-50 is just a bit too much for me to splurge on them though, she has one pair that was given to her and they are great.

I saw this offer on Hot Uk Deals and had to order straight away! Prices start from around £26 which is pretty much half price!

Go to the Charles Clinkards site to order, this link should take you straight to the Lelli Kellys!

Big thumbs up for ELF cosmetics

2010-02-24T06:12:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of ELF cosmetics (Eyes, lips face)? I hadn't until I read about them on a beauty blog recently.

I ordered a few bits and I am really chuffed with the products and thrilled with the price!!

Their main range is all priced at £1.50 for everything, including make up brushes. Then they have a "studio" range which is said to be higher quality and all of that is £3.50. Still way cheaper than most brands. The stuff doesnt seem cheaply made at all and I have had quite a few compliments on my make up since I had a go!

I have a sick little girl today

2010-02-24T04:02:00.000-08:00

Mathilda started being sick at midnight last night and kept going until about 6 this morning. Poor lamb. She hasn't been sick since so fingers crossed its over but she is weak and washed out.

I have got her all tucked up and resting on the sofa and have made an aromatherapy mix of peppermint, tea trea and orange to freshen the house of the sick smell, get rid of any lingering bacteria and freshen the air up for her.

I am loving using aromatherapy oils in place of toxic air fresheners, I just put them on a candle burner or a few drops in a pan simmering on the hob :)

Really fabulous birth photos on this link - check it out!

2010-02-23T14:27:00.001-08:00

I could never bore of looking at images of the miracle of birth (<>they make me very broody too!)

Birthing Photos

Biological Nurturing - a recipe for success!

2010-02-23T06:35:00.000-08:00

I love the way the information on Biological Nurturing is presented here

In the form of a recipe, highlighting how relaxed and easy breastfeeding can be!

I used the principles of biological nurturing when I was having trouble with latching issues - it can be a very bonding experience - try it!

Colic tips

2010-02-22T13:36:00.000-08:00

Cranial Osteopathy - I took Mathilda to a Cranial Osteopath on recommendation from various people - I was pleased with the results. Although it wasn't a quick fix solution her symptoms seemed to definitely lessen after each session. http://www.cranial.org - Please see this website for further information and to find a Cranial Osteopath in your area.

Get that wind up! There are various ways to get wind up from a baby! And even when you think you have got it all up, change position and try again, there is usually a bit more lurking in there somewhere! Experiment with winding part way through a feed.
a) Sitting upright on your knee with his chin held in your hand rubbing the back in a circular motion
b) Leaning over your shoulder holding their bottom in one hand, rubbing their back in a circular motion with the other hand.
c) Lying across your legs on their tummy, rubbing their back in a circular motion with one hand
d) Lying on their back while you cycle their leg
e) Holding your baby sitting upright on your knee and just holding still but verrrrrrrrry gently stretching them up a bit!

Infacol (and other infant colic medications!) - Infacol is supposed to help group all of the tiny air bubbles into one big bubble which helps the baby to get them all up in a big, rewarding burp at the end. Helps for lots of people, suitable from birth.

Alot of people aren't keen but for me I have found a dummy to be very useful. When dealing with colic any respite from the crying is welcome! I found a traditional cherry shaped teat to be the one that all of my babies accepted most readily!

Homeopathic Teething Granules - are a homeopathic remedy for teething pains and colic. Available in small sachets that you tip into the babies mouth. Again, helps some but not others but worth a shot!

White noise is great for blocking out the world to a baby! It also helps to recreate some of the conditions in the womb! I purchased a selection of sound files and experimented with which one had the best effect and made a CD out of them that I have playing on a loop. Of course you dont actually have to purchase white noise ? you could produce your own using a hairdryer, vaccuum cleaner, radio static etc etc Sometimes the white noise needs to be really quite loud, loud enough to drown out the crying and get your babies attention! You can then lower the volume gradually.

The combination of swaddling, white noise, dummy and movement was normally enough to gain some calm on even the worst days!

A sheet, t shirt or blanket that you have been wearing to put in with the baby can help to settle your baby with your comforting smell.

There are devices available that will rock your baby in the pram without you leaving the house (or even having to move). They are devices that you plug in and they provide rhythmic movement that you wheel the pram onto to recreate the motion of going for a walk ? Baby Dream Machine is one of the models available.

Motion - pram walks, car rides, swinging in your arms; motion often soothes.
?Tiger In The Tree? hold - this is where baby lies along your arm with his tummy in your hand and his head in the crook of your elbow! It is a good position for calming babies when they are crying.

Slings - the motion and closeness to you is very soothing to a baby. There are a vast array of slings available, many of them give you the chance to be hands free for a while which is a blessing when dealing with a colicky baby.

Swing - there are loads of swings on the market and for many babies the motion is very soothing.

Swaddling - I am a complete swaddling fanatic. A very firm swaddle can work wonders to help babies to settle off to sleep. It helps to control the Moro "startle" reflex which often prevents babies from settling, or wakes them once they have. It also helps to recreate the feeling of being in the womb which is very comforting. There are various special swaddle blankets on the market (I really like the Miracle Blanket) or of course a good old fashioned sheet. Very, very firm is the key to a successful swaddle! It is worth mentioning that when swaddling, care should be to taken that your baby doesn't overheat.

Colief Drops have been successful for lots of people. The drops are put into the babies feed to help break down the lactose in the milk prior to the baby digesting it!

There tends to be less incidence of colic in breastfed babies

Gripe Water - designed to help bring a good burp up - suitable from 4 weeks

Baby Massage - there are various courses, books and websites that will give information on baby massage techniques. One in particular, massaging around the tummy button can bring relief.

Although infant formulas are all very similar there are some specialist milks available that are apparently "easy to digest" and may make a difference for some babies.

If bottlefeeding, the type of bottle you use may have a big impact on the amount of wind that your baby takes in. There are very many ?anti colic? bottles around ? Dr Browns is one of them and I did find that it made a difference.

Fennel Tea is said to be calming for babies with colic, if breastfeeding YOU drink the tea and if bottle feeding a small amount given to the baby can help.

As colic often occurs at a set time in the day, consider getting some help for this challenging time. Your partner, mother, friend or perhaps Doula can take some of the strain for you so that you can have some respite. It is really important that you take care of yourself at this time. You have just given birth and are now dealing with a difficult baby ? whatever it takes for this short, intense period of time to alleviate things are worth it ? accept ANY and ALL offers of help!
One of the most important things to hold on to is THIS WILL NOT LAST FOREVER and has no bearing on the future personality or temperament of your baby!

www.preciousfamilytime.co.uk

New updated website now live! Very excited!

2010-02-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

My new website is now up there and live - going to plan the relaunch soon - watch this space!

What's on at the Museums and Galleries for babies, toddlers and kids in Newcastle

2010-02-18T15:32:00.000-08:00

Laing Art Gallery, New Bridge Street, Newcastle, NE1 8AG

For pre schoolers - Tuesdays.

Each week we will make things, sing, listen to a story, have juice and biscuits, play and learn lots about things in the gallery and around us.

Get to meet lots of new friends and have lots of fun! There will be a charge of 50p per child for each session. No need to book just come along!

10-11am 11-12pm

Little Artists does not take place during the school holidays (so there will be no session on 16 February).

02 Feb, 09 Feb, 23 Feb, 02 Mar, 09 Mar, 16 Mar, 23 Mar, 30 Mar.

1.00-2.30pm

Little Discoverers is Discovery Museum's group for children under five and takes place every Tuesday during term time. Come along and make things, sing songs, listen to stories and learn about the museum and the world around us.

Themes for Little Discoverers sessions:

2 February - Rain: make your own rain shaker
9 February - Valentine's Day: make a card to show someone you love them

23 February - Rainbows: make your own rainbow collage
2 March - Colours: Red - Make your own red collage
9 March - Colours: Green - Design your own mother's day card with green leaves and pretty flowers
16 March - Colours: Blue - Make your own blue car
23 March - Colours: Yellow - Make your own sun mobile
30 March - Make an Easter card with sheep and lambs for someone you love

No booking is required

Laing Art Gallery, New Bridge Street, Newcastle, NE1 8AGEvery Saturday, 1.30pm - 3.30pm

Come along and create your own art inspired by the exhibitions and displays at the Laing in these free art and craft sessions. Suitable for all ages and no booking required.

06 Feb, 13 Feb, 20 Feb, 27 Feb, 06 Mar, 13 Mar, 20 Mar, 27 Mar, 03 Apr, 10 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr

Read more: http://www.netmums.com/listings/WHATSON/newcastle/102/February//#ixzz0fvunQ2sb
Netmums - the local parenting network

Netmums - the local parenting network

Scrumptious Knitted Cupcakes!

2010-02-09T10:51:00.000-08:00

Before Christmas I asked this very talented lady to make me some knitted cupcakes for [me] my daughter!!

I promised at the time to photograph them as she had forgotten to and 3 months later I have remembered so thought that I would share them on here too :)

Aren't they gorgeous!!!!!!

Dabbling in aromatherapy - made a lovely room spray

2010-02-09T10:35:00.000-08:00

After my random charity shop book purchase of an introduction to aromatherapy I have received my oils and started tinkering :)

I have made a lovely refreshing/relaxing bedroom and linen spray to keep everything smelling lovely as naturally as possible.

I mixed 4oz water with 15 drops lavender, 10 drops bergamot and 8 drops peppermint

Smells absolutely lovely up there now!

I want to try a DIY household cleaner next - hopefully leave the house smelling fabulous AND clean!

Website Redesign - Precious Time

2010-02-08T12:42:00.000-08:00

Getting my website redesigned for Precious Time

Could you help me decide!

1, 2, 3 or 4! OR 4 but with blue polka dots :) ?

Click on the image to see it bigger and leave a comment here

3D Video illustrating the mechanics of childbirth!

2010-02-08T06:03:00.001-08:00

Thought this would be a great resource for me to show doula clients and potential antenatal clients of what is actually going on in there during birth

Interesting article about newborn sleep patterns!

2010-02-08T05:59:00.000-08:00

One of the first questions asked to a new mother is often "are you getting much sleep?" "do they sleep through?" "are they good?"

(I particulaly hate the last question, is a newborn good??? is there such a thing as a "bad" one!!)

Sleep consultancy, routine books etc are big business because lets face it being up several times a night is pretty hard going.

This article gives a different spin on it, that the wakings actually play a part in reducing SIDS.

"Night Waking Protects Against SIDS
by William Sears, M.D.
New Beginnings, Vol. 16 No. 3, May-June 1999, pp. 68-70

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as crib death, is one of the most tragic of all nighttime crises. A healthy infant is put to bed and is later found dead for no apparent reason. Parents are devastated, left wondering why, and while medical research has produced a number of theories about SIDS, it still cannot explain exactly what happens when an infant dies unexpectedly during sleep.

Newer studies, however, suggest that various factors that are under parents' control influence SIDS risk. While you cannot guarantee that your baby will not become a SIDS victim, you can lessen the chances. I have come to believe that practicing the attachment style of nighttime parenting is one of the most important things you as a parent can do to lower the risk of SIDS in your baby.
SIDS and Breathing Mechanisms

Because the infant dies during sleep, SIDS can be thought of as a sleep disorder. The infant who becomes a SIDS victim may be unable to control his breathing automatically during sleep or to arouse from sleep in response to a breathing problem. In order to understand this theory of SIDS causation it is first necessary to understand how the infant normally continues breathing while sleeping.

In order for the body to function there must be a balance of just the right amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. In order to maintain this balance, tiny sensor cells called chemoreceptors are located along some major blood vessels. During sleep, the body is particularly dependent on these chemoreceptors to keep breathing going.

In the first few months, the infant's automatic breathing mechanisms are immature. When watching a sleeping baby breathe, you will notice that his breathing lacks a regular pattern. Periodically he appears to stop breathing, sometimes for as long as ten to fifteen seconds, and then self-starts without any apparent problem. This is called periodic breathing and is normal for the tiny infant. The younger or the more premature the baby, the more irregular the breathing pattern and the more noticeable the periodic breathing. As the baby matures (around six months), breathing patterns during sleep become more regular and periodic breathing lessens. The episodes when the baby stops breathing are called apnea. Sometimes they are prolonged for more than fifteen to twenty seconds, and the heart rate drops significantly (greater than twenty percent). As a response to this sleep apnea, either automatic start mechanisms click on or the infant awakens. Either way, normal breathing resumes.

Sometimes the apnea is prolonged, and breathing fails to start again. Infants who are hooked up to apnea monitors show signs that the oxygen in the blood is at a dangerously low level: the heart rate becomes alarmingly slow, and the infant turns pale, blue, and limp. An observer must intervene and arouse the infant. Sometimes a simple touch will trigger the self-starting mechanism; sometimes the infant must be aroused from sleep in order to breathe; sometimes mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is necessary to initiate breathing again. Infants who have experienced an apnea episode that required outside intervention to restart their breathing are called near-miss SIDS. In other words, they would have died had someone not intervened. Tragically some infants stop breathing permanently, succumbing to SIDS.
SIDS as a Sleep Disorder

The peak incidence of SIDS is around three months, which coincides with the time most babies begin to sleep “better,” that is, to spend a larger percentage of sleep time in quiet sleep. During quiet sleep, infants are less responsive to the breathing-stimulating effects of low oxygen and increased carbon dioxide (Harper 1982).

In addition, studies of near-miss infants and siblings of SIDS infants show that these babies have fewer night-waking episodes. In the first few months, infants normally have frequent periods of night-waking as they ascend from quiet sleep to active sleep and back into quiet sleep. Researchers have suggested that arousal from sleep may be essential for resumption of breathing in babies who have less effective self-starting mechanisms (Harper 1981). Difficulty with waking up may place infants at higher risk for SIDS. Infants presumed to be at high risk for SIDS also show more frequent episodes of sleep apnea and periodic breathing (Guillemmault 1981). This apnea occurs most frequently between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM and within ten minutes of awakening. The infants who woke most often at night had fewer episodes of apnea. Active sleep guards against SIDS. Sleep studies have shown that the onset of active sleep (REM sleep) stimulates breathing and heart rate. On the basis of their studies, researchers hypothesized that active sleep “protects” human infants from SIDS. The peak risk period for SIDS coincides with the rapid decrease in active sleep between two and three months of age. By six months of age, cardiopulmonary compensatory mechanisms in quiet sleep are more mature and the risk of death (from failure of these mechanisms) is reduced (Baker and McGinty 1977).

In other words, infants are not designed to sleep through the night until they're mature enough to do so safely.
SIDS and Breastfeeding

For many years, SIDS researchers maintained that there was no difference in the incidence of SIDS between breastfed and artificially fed babies, but newer studies have shown that infants who were never breastfed may have two to three times the risk of dying of SIDS. Breastfeeding's protective effect has been confirmed by research in New Zealand (Mitchell 1991), England (Fleming 1994), and the United States (Hoffman 198 . There are a number of possible explanations for the lowered risk of SIDS in breastfed babies. Breastfeeding protects infants from respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, and these have been shown to contribute to SIDS risk. Human milk enhances the development of the central nervous system, providing vital nutrients for the process of myelination, the development of an insulating sheath around nerves. Better brains may provide babies with better respiratory control during sleep. Breastfed babies sleep less soundly than artificially fed infants and are more likely to sleep with their mothers; thus, they may be more easily aroused when they experience a stop-breathing episode. While SIDS does occur in breastfed babies, breastfeeding is one way of lowering the risk.
How Parenting Style Can Decrease the Risk of SIDS

What are the practical implications of this research for nighttime parenting? In the 1984 edition of NIGHTTIME PARENTING I proposed the following hypothesis:

In those infants at risk for SIDS, natural mothering (unrestricted breastfeeding and sharing sleep with baby) will lower the risk of SIDS.

This was a new idea at the time, one that I based upon my reading of SIDS research and my understanding of the close relationship between a breastfeeding mother and her baby. My hope was that publication of this hypothesis would stimulate more scientific research in this area. Fifteen years later, in 1999, I am happy to report that the body of evidence available to support my original idea is growing, and experts are beginning to understand how a mother's presence with her baby during sleep can help to prevent SIDS. Here's the reasoning behind my theory - and the evidence and ideas that support it.
Sharing Sleep May Lower SIDS Risk

If SIDS is related to a diminished arousal response during sleep in some infants, it follows that anything that increases the infant's sensitivity or the mother's awareness of her baby may decrease the risk of SIDS. This is exactly what sharing sleep and night nursing do.

As a father of several all-night nursers, I have noticed that mother and baby often stir or awaken briefly at the same time. The nursing pair have a heightened awareness of each other. A study of mothers and babies co-sleeping in a sleep laboratory has documented the shared awakenings of co-sleeping, breastfeeding mothers and babies (McKenna 1994). When one stirred, coughed, moved, or changed positions, so did the other. The researchers also demonstrated that co-sleeping mothers and babies were often in the same stage of sleep during the night. Clearly, the presence of each affects the other.

Interestingly, anthropological studies have shown that the rate of SIDS is approximately three to four times higher in cultures where mothers do not sleep with their babies. More extensive research is needed on exactly what happens when mother and baby sleep close to each other. It seems odd that science demands proof that co-sleeping is good for babies, since mothers and babies sharing sleep has been the norm through most of human history, but there is still much to learn about how mothers help their babies develop. Meanwhile, I have to ask, if there were fewer cribs, would there be fewer crib deaths?
Babies Breathe Better When Sharing Sleep

My interest in the relationship between shared sleep and lowered risk of SIDS led me to arrange a study involving our daughter, Lauren, when she was eight weeks old. Using sophisticated monitoring equipment in our home, a technician and I monitored Lauren's sleep on two separate nights. On one night, my wife, Martha, slept beside Lauren. On the other night, Martha nursed Lauren to sleep in our bed, but slept in an adjacent room. We found that Lauren's heart rate and her breathing were more regular during shared sleep, with far fewer low points in blood oxygen levels. Monitoring another mother-infant pair produced similar results.

Obviously, this was a very small sample group, from which it is impossible to draw statistically valid conclusions. However, it does suggest a theory that needs further testing: a baby who sleeps next to mother is likely to experience fewer apnea episodes and thus may be at lower risk for SIDS. While again, this is not scientifically tested evidence, I have had many breastfeeding and co-sleeping mothers in my practice tell me that they have noticed that their infants breathe more rhythmically lying next to mother in bed than they do in a crib. One mother, whose baby was monitored with an apnea monitor during sleep because of breathing difficulties, found that the alarm went off frequently when the baby slept alone, but not at all when the baby slept with mother.

If SIDS is related to a baby’s inability to arouse himself from sleep, it follows that babies are simply not designed to sleep through the night until they are mature enough to avoid respiratory failure during quiet sleep. Parents need to be aware that studies which show that babies sleep through the night at a given age were performed in artificial settings: a sleep laboratory, a hospital, or some other nighttime environment in which baby sleeps alone. Sleeping alone is considered the norm, so babies are studied sleeping alone in cribs. The conclusions drawn from these studies of “normal” sleeping infants are that infants begin to have a higher proportion of quiet or non-REM sleep and sleep in longer stretches ("through the night") by three months of age - incidentally, the peak age for SIDS. From erroneously set-up experiments come erroneous norms. Parents (and doctors) should not use these norms as a justification for training babies to sleep through the night at a given age.

One study suggests that the sleep norms extracted from these studies that babies sleep through the night by six months of age may be attributed to the early weaning and separate sleeping practices of Western culture (Elias,1986). Researchers compared sleep/wake patterns in infants reared with two different parenting styles. One group consisted of sixteen mother-infant pairs, called the standard care group, who breastfed but tended to wean earlier and sleep separately. The other was made up of sixteen mother-infant pairs from La Leche League. These pairs breastfed more frequently throughout the day, weaned later, and usually slept together. Sleep/wake patterns developed differently in the two groups of infants. The sleep periods of the infants in the standard care group increased in duration from a median of 6.5 hours at two months to 8 hours at four months of age. The sleep periods of infants in the La Leche League group never increased from the median of four hours; they continued to awaken at night throughout the period of study.

These researchers also showed that the combination of nursing and sharing sleep had the greatest effect on sleep patterns. Babies who nursed and shared sleep with their mothers slept shorter stretches at a time; those who nursed but did not share sleep slept longer; and babies who neither nursed nor shared sleep slept the longest.

The human infant is meant to be a continuous contact species. The composition of milk of each species gives a clue to the infant care practices natural to that species. Animals who leave their young for extended periods produce a milk high in fat and protein which satisfies the young for a relatively long period of time between feedings. Human milk is relatively low in fat and protein, necessitating frequent, seemingly continuous nursing. The human infant is meant to be carried in arms during the day and nestled with mother in bed at night - not trained into a separate sleeping arrangement before he is ready.
A Final Word

While I believe that there is much parents can do to lower the risk of SIDS in their infant, I do not mean to suggest that parents of a baby who dies of SIDS are in any way at fault. SIDS is a terrible tragedy, and it is not entirely preventable.

For additional information on how attachment parenting can lower the risk of SIDS, see Dr. Sears' book, Nighttime Parenting, published by La Leche League International.

For more information on Baby Sleep, see the links on this page.

References

Baker, T. L. and McGinty, D. J. 1977. Reversal of cardiopulmonary failure during active sleep in hypoxic kittens: Implications for sudden infant death. Science 198:419.

Carpenter, R. G. and Emory, J. L. 1977. Final results of study of infants at risk of sudden infant death. Nature 268:724.

Elias, M. F. 1986. Sleep-wake patterns of breastfed infants in the first two years of life. Pediatrics 77:332-39.

Fleming, P J. 1994. Proceedings of the Fourth Annual SIDS Alliance National Conference, Orlando, FL, November 9-12.

Guillemmault, C. et al. 1981. Sleep parameters and respiratory variables in near-miss sudden infant death syndrome infants. Pediatrics 68:354.

Harper, R.M. et al. 1981. Periodicity of sleep states is altered in infants at risk for the sudden infant death syndrome. Science 213: 1030.

Harper, R. M. et al. 1982. Developmental patterns of heart rate and heart rate variability during sleep and waking in normal infants and infants at risk for the sudden infant death syndrome. Sleep 5:28.

Hoffman, H. et al. 1988. Risk for SIDS: Results of NICHD SIDS cooperative epidemiological study. Ann NY Acad Sci 533:13-30.

Keens, T. G. and Van der Hol, A. L. 1984. Use of hypoxic and hypercarbic arousal responses in evaluation of infant apnea. Perinatol Neonatol 8:32.

McKenna, J. J. and Mosk, S. S. 1994. Sleep and arousal, synchrony and independence, among mothers and infants sleeping apart and together (same bed): An experiment in evolutionary medicine. Acta Paediatr Suppl 397:94-102.

Mitchell, F. A. eta1. 1991. Results of the first year of the New Zealand cot death study. NZ Med 104:7."

Eyeko - fabulous new kitsch make up find!

2010-02-07T05:54:00.000-08:00

I love all things vintage and this transcends into my cosmetics and toiletries!! I love Benefit to bits and more recently have used and enjoyed a few Soap and Glory products. The vintage packaging is what gets me with it, just my style!!

Have just been blog hopping and came across Eyeko, I really like what I see and a quick scout on google reveals I have been in the dark about this brand for quite some time!!! Everyone is raving about this 3 in 1 Beauty Cream and unfortunately it has sold out BOO!!!

I have 4 things in my basket and my finger is hovering over submit, the prices are really not bad but not sure if I actually NEED any of it!! It is stocked in UK Superdrugs so think I might get to one of their shops to check it out.

I have just been informed by my daughter that the eyeko packaging is actually in Manga style and not vintage, she is of course right but it is verry cute!!

Slimming World Cottage Pie with Sweet Potato Mash

2010-02-03T05:49:00.000-08:00

Seriously yum yum yum and great because it doesn't taste like "diet food" so I can quite happily dish it up for everyone so I don't need to eat seperately!

Ingredients

450g Extra Lean Mince
2 large potatoes
1 sweet potato
1 large carrot grated (my kids prefer it grated, chop if you prefer!)
2 Sticks of celery sliced
1 medium onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic minced
Handful of garden peas
Handful of sweetcorn
Thyme

300ml stock made with beef oxo cubes
Glug of passat or half a tin of chopped tomatoes
Splosh of balsamic vinegar

Salt and Pepper to season
Spray Oil
Splash of milk (I used skimmed to keep it really low)
2 cheese triangles (in place of butter to mash potatoes)

42g of reduced fat cheddar

Method

Preheat the oven to 180c
Chop potatoes (sweet potato in bigger chunks as it cooks more quickly) put in pan with boiling water and simmer

Spray a pan with some spray oil and lightly fry the onion, celery and garlic

Add the carrots, fry further

Add mince and cook until brown
Add thyme, passata/tomatoes, balsamic vinegar and stir
Add stock

Bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer, add the frozen peas, sweetcorn, season with salt and pepper as required
Pour mince mixture into a casserole dish

Mash the Potatoes with the milk and cheese triangles
Place on top of mince mixture and smooth over with a fork

Bake in oven for approx 45mins -1hr
Top with the cheese approx 15-20 mins before end of cooking time.

Enjoy!

Mathilda's Birth Story

2010-02-02T15:00:00.000-08:00

I have just come across my birth story of Mathilda. After everything that happened I think I have consciously or subconsciously blocked out a lot of her early months:( I have very little memory of a lot of it, I can't actually imagine what she was like or transport myself back to those memories like I can with Megan and Harvey. If I thought about this too long I could get very upset but in the spirit of positivity I will celebrate what was a fantastic birth, written by me a few days afterwards.

This birth story was written the day after I had her on the 4th January 2008

"The WONDERFUL birth of Mathilda Alice at 01.50am yesterday morning. Weighing a petite 6lb 6oz.

Well....................what can I say? One of the first experiences on my doula journey and training was the debriefing of my first two births. I started to learn why I had the bad experiences I did and yearned to have a chance to do things differently.

I was 41 weeks on Thursday and in my attempt to avoid any threat of induction I went for a sweep. I had been niggling on and off for a few days and wasnt too suprised to hear that I was 2cm and very soft and favourable. Midwife gave me a "very good, thorough sweep" and I left already feeling crampy.

This continued throughout the day but was barely uncomfortable - I went out for lunch with David and kids, did some shopping, some housework (cleaned floors on hands and knees as midwife had mentioned position felt fine but head was possibly slightly posterior) and at 7.30ish I started to feel what I felt were more like isolated contractions as opposed to cramps (I was round at a friends watching the kids play in the snow!).

I found it easy enough to ignore these and didnt dare think that I was going into labour naturally as I didnt want to get my hopes up!!

I made bolognaise sauce, watched a DVD (knocked up funnily enough!) and just kept very active. Looking back I realise that I didnt sit down or lie down for the entire duration - I instinctively stayed upright and just moved freely.

At 10.30pm I was starting to register these contractions as slightly painful and need to concentrate on them when they came - mainly by leaning over birthing ball or doing a hip wiggle!

At midnight they really notched up, it was only at this point I would ever say there were really very painful but when it came it came, I rang the hospital and midwife urged me to come in when she heard me have 3 contractions in the 5 minutes I spoke to her!!

Called in Francesca to come and be with the kids and Nicola, my birth partner arrived. Off we went to hospital, I leaned over the back seat of the car on the way in, repeating the mantra "I can do this, I can do this" with each contraction.

On arrival to hospital I just wanted gas and air!! I was examined at 1.20am and was 5cm dilated and was then moved into the delivery room, I agreed to go on the monitor for a few contractions and the very first one we listened into the heartrate was quite low (early decelerations) straight away talks of transferring to main hospital began. The contractions suddenly changed and I was getting a long painful contraction immediately followed by another peak and what I now realise was a pushing sensation. Midwife had another peak and the head was crowning! I went from 5-10cm in less than the time it took to change rooms and get on the bed! The decels were because the head had descended so quickly.

I barely remember pushing, it has been documented as 5 minutes 2nd stage and I can remember my body doing it all for me, none of this chin on chest stuff I just breathed through the sensation and helped body along. I had a VIVID experience of transition whilst all of this was happening and it was like fireworks going off in my head, all massive intense bright colours!

I looked down and Mathilda sailed out in meconium waters and promptly pooed - I thought it was me until someone pointed out otherwise!

David cut the cord and I popped her on my chest, she rooted and latched herself on within a few minutes and started feeding really well.

The placenta took 15 minutes, 3 times longer than the delivery of baby!!!

Midwife checked me over and announced I just had a graze and no need for stitches!

Within an hour of arriving at hospital I was having my after birth cuppa, gazing at Mathilda and in utter disbelief that I had such a wonderful time.

The difference in how I feel after this birth compared to my other two highly medical inductions is amazing - my "bits" dont feel any different, I dont feel like I have been run over, yes I am tired but also euphoric and so damn PROUD of my body.

My perception of the whole labour and birth is completely positive and looking back I think I was awash with endorphins/oxytocin as I didnt really feel any of it as painful, just very strong.

Anyway, Im sure you have heard quite enough about that, just wanted to get it all down as it really was such an important experience to me.

Thank you to everyone whose input has helped me to finally have the birth experience I have craved xxxx"

How sad, following my own blog!

2010-02-02T14:49:00.000-08:00

I only have 1 follower :( Well, 2 now but one of those is me!

I still haven't figured out blogland well enough to know how you actually get anyone to read your blog!

Or maybe people do read but don't comment or follow, if you do please say hello!

xxx

My beautiful heart shaped garden!

2010-02-02T14:47:00.000-08:00

Last spring I worked my arse off to transform the wilderness that we called the front garden into a lovely rockery complete with white rocks, pink flowers and a heart shaped bamboo feature in the middle! I absolutely loved it!

Now however, I am ashamed to say it is looking almost as bad as it did before I even started - I am DEFINITELY going to get out there and restore it to it's former prettiness as soon as the weather gets a bit better.

Isn't it precious!?

A cheeky charity shop visit

2010-02-02T14:38:00.000-08:00

I L.O.V.E charity shops with a capital L! I was driving home from my sister's house today and passed Oxfam in Jesmond and thought oooooooooooooooooooooooooh will just have a quick look.

Came away with three books! All for a mere £3!

The first one is an absolute gem! It is called "Every Womans Luck Book" It is a classic self help book from the 1930's on how to bag a husband.

Has loads of corking information such as looking for your potential husband based on the shape of his jaw!!

I will update with quotes as I get into it!

Then I got Essential Aromatherapy - A beginner's guide to choosing and using essential oils for beauty treatments, massage and health remedies.

I am really interested in using essential oils more. Would love to be able to understand the different benefits and use them around the home in candles and with massage.

Lastly, Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much - The bestselling collection of
meditations for women whose lives are too busy. Meditations For Women Who
Do Too Much speaks directly to the hearts and minds of the millions of women
who do too much of everything: work, worry, organize, and take care of
everyone in their lives!except themselves. With wisdom, humour, and insight,
these meditations -- paired with quotations from women of many ages,
cultures, and perspectives -- help women recognize and change their patterns,
slow down, and take the time to
listen to their own needs.

When I read the synopsis on the back cover I was struck by the term
"careaholic" the term used for someone who spends so much time and energy
helping or being involved with others they leave no room for

themselves. I have come to the conclusion recently that this is exactly what
I do

, I think as a distraction technique from tackling my "ishoos" head on.

So, there you go. My name is Rebecca Hills and I am a careaholic!

I haven't read much of the book yet, but flicking through it looks full of good,

sage advice on slowing the world down and concentrating on the important

things - exactly what I want to do!

Weigh in Tuesday - week 3

2010-02-02T14:20:00.001-08:00

I lost 2lbs tonight taking me to 9lbs in 3 weeks :) I am really chuffed with myself but every time I think of just HOW MUCH I need to lose to get me to where I want to be it all feels like too much. So, I'm going to concentrate on this first stone. 5 more pounds to go and I want that off in the next fortnight!

I am at the gym in the morning and I am going to work reaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyy hard!

I really want to make one of these!

2010-02-01T15:24:00.000-08:00

I love heart shapes (as you will know if you read the title of the blog and/or know me!)

I'm missing a couple of the garlands I had up at christmas and think these lusciously cute handmade heart garlands might just have to replace them. All for the spirit of valentines day but I cant promise I will take them down when it is over!

I found thise idea on this blog

2010-02-01T15:06:00.000-08:00

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Albert Einstein

This is my quote of the day!!

Clever bloke that Einstein fella!

Football Shirt Biscuits!

2010-01-31T02:23:00.000-08:00

I was asked by a friend to make a batch of decorated and wrapped cookies for her son's 8th birthday. He is a big football fan and plays for a team so I decided to theme them on his team shirt!

He was turning 8 and his name begins with J so I also added these details at the end. Wrapped them up in cellophane and tied with football ribbon and they looked great!

I used a very basic biscuit recipe

3, 2, 1 biscuits
3oz plain flour
2oz butter
1 oz caster sugar
1tsp vanilla extract

Shaped them in to the shirt shapes (I had a load that I couldnt use as I accidentally used SR flour - the kids enjoyed tucking into these leftovers!!)

Once out of the oven I cut the same shape out of rolled out Navy Blue sugarpaste and covered each biscuit.....

Then, using sugarpaste glue (jam and water :)) I stuck white stripes on to the shirts and then brushed them with water to get rid of the icing sugar on them.

Added the 8 and J details, a couple of silver balls and they were done!

All wrapped up they looked great!

From the mouths of babes

2010-01-31T02:13:00.000-08:00

My son, Harvey has just randomly said to me...."Mum, I know that all you want is to keep this family safe and happy"

If that is not the equivalent of a fabulous review in the working world I dont know what is! I must be doing something right :)

Love the very bones of that boy xxx

Slimming World Lasagne

2010-01-31T02:10:00.000-08:00

Another recipe, going to make this for dinner for the troops tomorrow - love how on slimming world we can all eat the same. Something very miserable about eating seperately from the family. I am also not comfortable with the kids realising I am "on a diet" so this way they need never know!!

Ingredients

Serves 4
7.5 syns for entire recipe

400g of extra lean beef mince
1 onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic crushed
3 rasher of turkey bacon or similar lean bacon
1 carrot chopped
4 mushrooms chopped
400g tin of tomatoes or passata
1 sweet potato
fresh herbs (thyme, oregano, sage, rosemary)
cinnamon
chilli powder
1 beef stock cube mixed with 200ml of water
balsamic vinegar
spray oil
42g of mozzarella cheese
approx 9 sheets of lasagne (boiled if not ovenready)

for the cheese sauce
1 tablespoon of cornstarch
240ml of skimmed milk
42g of reduced fat cheddar cheese

Method

Preheat oven to 180c or 350f

Spray a frying pan with some spray oil and cook the bacon with a pinch of cinnamon until golden,

Add the onions, garlic, carrot and herbs cook for a further few minutes, making sure it is all mixed together.

Add the beef mince and cook till browned.

Add the mushrooms, tomatoes, stock and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Then cover with some greaseproof paper and cook for approx 1 hour over a gentle heat on the hob.

In the meantime if using non ovenready lasagne sheets, boil them in a large saucepan until cooked.

Peel and slice the sweet potato, sprinkle with some chillipowder and spray with sprayoil and bake in the oven until tender.(approx 45 mins).

When the meat mixture has almost finished it’s cooking time you can make the cheese sauce, Mix the cornstarch with a little of the milk and add to the rest of the milk in a small saucepan over a low heat, constantly stirring until it comes to a boil and thickens. Remove from heat and stir in the 42g of cheddar cheese.

Using a square dish. Spray the bottom with some spray oil and lay 3 sheets of lasagne on the bottom. Top with half the meat mixture and then layer with the sweet potato. Do another layer of 3 lasagne sheets again top with the remaining half of the meat mixture. Then top with the last 3 lasagne sheets.

Pour over the top the cheese sauce.

Turn oven up to 200c or 400f and bake for 30 mins, remove from oven add the 42g of mozzarella to the top and return to the oven for approx 5 mins until cheese has melted.

Recipe from the great blog about slimming world food - Slimming Eats

Proud mama alert!

2010-01-29T02:55:00.000-08:00

Firstly, get me! I am typing this on my iPod touch sitting on the exercise bike at the gym whilst listening to music! I love technology, it's really taking my mind off the burning in the thighs!

Anyway, so yesterday was my ickle, wickle, precious, princess, 6lb6oz baby's first day at playgroup.

We packed her bag in the morning with her supplies and water and she insisted on putting a lipgloss in - wanted to look her best for the big moment!!

She went in no trouble whilst I had to be practically physically removed from the premises!

I fretted all morning about her and got there early to be greeted with the wonderful sight of her laughing, running and playin in the playground with her little mates. Looking at her there, wrapped up warm, rosy cheeked and giggling (with perfect lippy!) bathed in the bright winter sun I thought "we made it tilly! We got there in the end!"

Phew, sweat just dropped on my screen, I'm off on the rower!

Xxx
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Slimming World Lemon Drizzle Cake

2010-01-26T15:07:00.000-08:00

I havent actually made this yet but love lemon drizzle cake and have a fab full fat recipe for it but I daren't make it as I know I will eat it!

Just found this slimming world version so bookmarking it here .... will update when I get round to making it!

Serves 10
syn - 4 each slice on both plans

prep time 25 mins
cooking 25-30 mins

ingred - 4eggs ( i used 6 eggs yolks tho as only had small eggs)
50g caster sugar
5 tablespns of sweetner
150g of self raising flour
1 tsp of baking powder
2tablespns of grated lemon zest
1 tsp icing sugar to dusr

For drizzle

long strips of zest from lemon
juice of 2 lemons
1 tbsp of arrow wood
4tsp of sweetner
60ml water

Preheat oven 190/ gas 5
Line baking tray ( i used 22cm/9in) within non stick baking paper

place egg yolks, caster sugar, flour, sweetner, baking powder and lemon zest in bowl and whisk until thick and pale

in separte bowl whisk egg white until softly peaked then fold into yolk mixture.

Spoon mixture into tin and oven for 25-30mins - or until cake has risen and is firm to touch. Leave to cool.

Meanwhile place all dizzle ingredient in a pan on the heat and stir continous until mixture is thick . dizzle over cake.

once sauce set , dust cake with icing sugar

If it is even a patch on the other recipe, I'll be happy!

Weigh in Tuesday!

2010-01-26T13:49:00.000-08:00

Been to slimmers, as ridiculously sad as it sounds I always really enjoy the meetings, our "leader" (take me to your leader hehe) is really funny and there is always a laugh to be had. I was really hoping for 2.5lb to make half a stone but wasnt sure I would get it. But I did!! Yay me - so half a stone off in 2 weeks - it wont stay at this pace for long but Im hoping that all of the extra lard I have accumulated will come off as quickly as it went on.

This week I am hoping for 2.5 again and going to gym it 3 times and be reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally good with food.

Having the colonic tomorrow (eeeeeeeeeeeeek!) and going to use the fresh start feeling to make a few more diet changes.

NO wine for a while (If I am having a tipple I will partake in clear spirits only with diet mixers)
Plenty of fresh fruit and veg
Replace some of my numerous daily cups of tea with herbal!

Onwards and downwards :)

Can't wait for summer!

2010-01-26T08:49:00.000-08:00

Do you ever forget there is such a thing as summer when we are in the middle of winter? I do! I have just had that feeling you get when you wake up and realise it was just a bad dream. These cold miserable days will end and this year is going to be a good one!

Things I'm looking forward to.....

Making my lovely heart shaped garden pretty again and hopefully seeing all of my planted flowers returning

Late, light nights where we can eat outside and the children can be playing out after school

Nice walks in nice places with the dog

Wearing nice clothes that fit me instead of covering up the flab

Cold cocktails with lots of ice

A much bigger choice of things to do with mathilda when the kids are at school

Washing on the line!

Painted toe nails and sandals

Roll on spring!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

My heart literally just skipped a beat...

2010-01-25T13:55:00.000-08:00

...when I saw this!

Have you ever seen anything sooooo cute? It could almost persuade me to have another!

I think this will be bookmarked as the next New Baby gift I need to buy! (I found this on Not on the High Street)

The power of pamper

2010-01-25T13:14:00.000-08:00

As part of "operation find the old Rebecca" I have been trying to look after myself a bit more and have the very forunate situation that my sister has left her "day job" to embark on a career in beauty therapy. She has set up Polished, a mobile service offering loads of fabulous treatments including eyelash extensions and Bio Sculpture gel nails. So I have been her head guinea pig and enjoying very generous friends and family discounts! My nails are in so much better condition since she has been working on them and little things like looking down at pretty nails makes a big difference to my general attitude :)

Progress, not perfection!

2010-01-25T12:53:00.000-08:00

Flylady (the funny little cartoon lady that tells me what to clean) has a motto "progress not perfection" which I am adopting as my own!

Since I last posted things have been moving along nicely!

Weight - In my first week at slimming world I lost 4.5lbs (yay) and find out tomorrow how I have done at my second weigh in, I'm hoping against hope that I manage 2.5lbs and that will be my first half stone off - a good milestone to reach to keep the motivation up!

Exercise - I have been to the gym three times now! I am hoping to get into a routine of going every monday, wednesday and friday. The gym I am going to is placed in an Elderly Day Centre and some of the grannies and grandads are putting me to shame on the treadmill at the moment - the shame!!! But I am enjoying it and going to definitely keep at it - not just for the figure, I'm really hoping it helps with the low moods.

Anti Depressants - I am still on 75mg of Venlafaxine and whilst I am not coming off it as quickly as I would like, it is still half of my starting dose. After I have gained a bit of control of my weight I am going to restart the slow weaning progress.

House - things with the house are great, partly due to a massive clearout and partly due to flylady's wise teachings (;) I am managing the house WAY better. Chipping away a little bit all of the time is having a massive impact. No more mad all day cleaning sessions when I cant stand the chaos anymore. Just a little bit here, 15 minutes there and sticking to some regular routines is working wonders (and makes it so much easier to actually get up and face the day!)

Oh, and I am going for a (shhhh..... colonic) on Wednesday, I am, quite literally shitting myself about it. Trying very hard not to think about the tube up the bum aspect and more about the positive effects. It is going to be a fresh start for my poor abused body!! Out with the toxins and in with the goodness. Hopefully I will be less likely to put alcohol, cigarettes and crap food in once it has had a good old wash!

Perfect eggs!

2010-01-16T02:32:00.000-08:00

Every time I make boiled eggs for my kids I forget the perfect "recipe" after googling again I have found it!

For perfect dippy eggs,
firm white runny yoke

1. Place eggs on pan an cover with cold water to 1cm
2. Put on high heat, as soon as it comes to boil, turn down to a gentle simmer and set timer for four minutes!

Voilà

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Nivea almost the same as Creme de la Mar ?

2010-01-15T03:29:00.000-08:00

Have just been reading this blog post which states that nearly all of Creme de la Mar's super expensive ingredients are found in Nivea, the humble moisturiser in the blue tin! Imagine that if something that is about 1.50 could rival the £100's a time pot!!??

I reckon its got to be worth a try, will report back.

Going to look for similar, "buy this for pennies and look amazing" type products now :)

Shift the flab!

2010-01-13T03:26:00.001-08:00

Today I have booked an induction at the gym for next wednesday, it's going to huuuuurt!

It has to be done, I rejoined slimming world last night and need to lose three stone to get back to what I was last Christmas, three stone!!!!!

Sorting the house out with the [slightly cheesy] flylady way!

2010-01-12T04:24:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of flylady? The funny little cartoon woman from America? I have read her website for years because I have a compulsion to be organised but sadly wasnt born that way! I am the messiest person I know!

Basically she has pioneered a system for people that aren't BO (born organised) for SHE's (sidetracked home executives - yes really!) if you take all of that with a pinch of salt it is actually really useful. Its all based on implementing tiny changes a day at a time and building up to a routine so that everything in your house is sorted and organised almost without you realising!

I am going to track on my blog how I am getting on!

Things I want....

2010-01-11T15:22:00.001-08:00

Now I know I want never gets, but I do, I want one of these!

I would like to grow some lovely herbs that will in turn improve my cooking (wont it!!)

House of Words!

2010-01-11T15:03:00.000-08:00

I have realised that I have a slight obsession with homely decorations that are made up of words! I don't know what it is about them that I love

I would like to become more creative with my use of them though, instead of buying them off the shelf using some of my card making skills and making something that is unique - thats the plan anyway!

Onwards and upwards!

2010-01-11T13:46:00.000-08:00

I am going to restart this blog (not that it ever really started!) and stick at it as a place to document my change this year to a more positive me.

I am so much better than I was but have taken a little dip recently which culminated in a big old WEEP last night about the realisation that I am not as well as I would like to think.

Talking with a very good friend and a very good sister I have started to think of a way to continue my recovery and not to continue "treading water"

1. A phonecall has been put in to relate, we went to relate in october to start rebuilding the relationship that has been put under huge strain. For one reason or another we havent followed it up so I made the positive step of requestion the booking form. Must make sure I act on it when it comes!

2. A decision has been made to get rid of distractions that take my eye off the ball. What is most important to me right now are (in no particular order) - my marriage, my kids, taking care of the house, losing some weight, doing some exercise, being around people who have a positive effect on me. So, anything that doesnt positively contribute to something in that list is GOING!

I have felt really anxious and fragile all day but it has not all been bad.

5 positive things I can say today

1. I made a tasty and fairly nutritious tea for the kids

2. I didnt just leave the kitchen in chaos when I woke up depressed this morning

3. I enjoyed putting Mathilda to bed and took extra time reading stories.

4. I have some really good friends

5. I have a husband that loves me

Tomorrow I am starting back at slimming world to lose some of this weight that is literally weighing me down!

She is in there somewhere!

2009-10-06T08:19:00.000-07:00

Life has been odd this last year (or two) but I really feel like I am coming out of the other end.

Back when I was diagnosed with PND people told me that when you recover from depression you often emerge as an entirely different person. I feel that this has happened to me although I am not 100% sure who this new person is.

I dont feel like Im the person I was before the depression and I am certainly not feeling like the person I was when I was depressed (thank god!!).

I feel as thought I'm at a turning point in my life and evcrything is up for review! My relationship, my friendships, my lifestyle, my career etc etc

I have been feeling drawn to returning to a more simple way of life, Im such a consumer and would like to actually lessen that side of me - I want to be less excited by purchases and more by the simple pleasures in life. Less technology and more real life people and experiences!

A book I have come across that I really fancy looking at is http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wonderful-Weekend-Book-Reclaiming-Pleasures/dp/1848540469 this - The Wonderful Weekend Book : Reclaiming Lifes Simple Pleasures. More and more often when I am deciding what to do for the day it normally ends up in a) shopping or b) eating out. Although I love this it becomes boring after a while and doesnt exactly feed the soul! (more like feeding my debt and saggy belly!)

So I think reading this book will be a good way to start on my journey of enlightenment, off to amazon right now!

Mathillda's Birth Story

2008-06-27T05:52:00.000-07:00

This birth story was written the day after I had her on the 4th January 2008 - reading it back now makes me want to do it all again, watch out David!!

"The WONDERFUL birth of Mathilda Alice at 01.50am yesterday morning. Weighing a petite 6lb 6oz.

Well....................what can I say? One of the first experiences on my doula journey and training was the debriefing of my first two births. I started to learn why I had the bad experiences I did and yearned to have a chance to do things differently.

I was 41 weeks on Thursday and in my attempt to avoid any threat of induction I went for a sweep. I had been niggling on and off for a few days and wasnt too suprised to hear that I was 2cm and very soft and favourable. Midwife gave me a "very good, thorough sweep" and I left already feeling crampy.

This continued throughout the day but was barely uncomfortable - I went out for lunch with David and kids, did some shopping, some housework (cleaned floors on hands and knees as midwife had mentioned position felt fine but head was possibly slightly posterior) and at 7.30ish I started to feel what I felt were more like isolated contractions as opposed to cramps (I was round at a friends watching the kids play in the snow!).

I found it easy enough to ignore these and didnt dare think that I was going into labour naturally as I didnt want to get my hopes up!!

I made bolognaise sauce, watched a DVD (knocked up funnily enough!) and just kept very active. Looking back I realise that I didnt sit down or lie down for the entire duration - I instinctively stayed upright and just moved freely.

At 10.30pm I was starting to register these contractions as slightly painful and need to concentrate on them when they came - mainly by leaning over birthing ball or doing a hip wiggle!

At midnight they really notched up, it was only at this point I would ever say there were really very painful but when it came it came, I rang the hospital and midwife urged me to come in when she heard me have 3 contractions in the 5 minutes I spoke to her!!

Called in Francesca to come and be with the kids and Nicola, my birth partner arrived. Off we went to hospital, I leaned over the back seat of the car on the way in, repeating the mantra "I can do this, I can do this" with each contraction.

On arrival to hospital I just wanted gas and air!! I was examined at 1.20am and was 5cm dilated and was then moved into the delivery room, I agreed to go on the monitor for a few contractions and the very first one we listened into the heartrate was quite low (early decelerations) straight away talks of transferring to main hospital began. The contractions suddenly changed and I was getting a long painful contraction immediately followed by another peak and what I now realise was a pushing sensation. Midwife had another peak and the head was crowning! I went from 5-10cm in less than the time it took to change rooms and get on the bed! The decels were because the head had descended so quickly.

I barely remember pushing, it has been documented as 5 minutes 2nd stage and I can remember my body doing it all for me, none of this chin on chest stuff I just breathed through the sensation and helped body along. I had a VIVID experience of transition whilst all of this was happening and it was like fireworks going off in my head, all massive intense bright colours!

I looked down and Mathilda sailed out in meconium waters and promptly pooed - I thought it was me until someone pointed out otherwise!

DH cut the cord and I popped her on my chest, she rooted and latched herself on within a few minutes and started feeding really well.

The placenta took 15 minutes, 3 times longer than the delivery of baby!!!

Midwife checked me over and announced I just had a graze and no need for stitches!

Within an hour of arriving at hospital I was having my after birth cuppa, gazing at Mathilda and in utter disbelief that I had such a wonderful time.

The difference in how I feel after this birth compared to my other two highly medical inductions is amazing - my "bits" dont feel any different, I dont feel like I have been run over, yes I am tired but also euphoric and so damn PROUD of my body.

My perception of the whole labour and birth is completely positive and looking back I think I was awash with endorphins/oxytocin as I didnt really feel any of it as painful, just very strong.

Anyway, Im sure you have heard quite enough about that, just wanted to get it all down as it really was such an important experience to me.

Thank you to everyone whose input has helped me to finally have the birth experience I have craved xxxx"

I'm Back!

2008-06-23T06:13:00.000-07:00

After a very long abscence I'm now just about thinking about getting back into the world of doula-ing! I gave birth to Mathilda on January 4th 2008 (and a fantastic birth it was....) Baby number 3 has been quite a whirlwind, she is a complete joy and I love her to pieces and feel very proud of my larger brood :)

Blog Moving............

2007-10-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

Article Featuring me on Baby Expert.com

2007-10-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

A former client emailed me today to let me know that Baby Expert.com had featured her birth story in an article on their site - she kindly passed on my website address (http://www.preciousfamilytime.co.uk) and talked kindly of my input into the birth of their beautiful daughter!

http://www.babyexpert.com/Birth/A-doula-helped-me-give-birth/v3

Im really pleased with the positive publicity for the effect a doula can have, even in a traumatic birth.

17lbs Baby! OUCH!!

2007-10-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

This was a few weeks ago now but after posting about such a tiny baby thought I would post this for contrast!!

A Siberian woman who gave birth to her 12th child - doing more than her fair share to stem Russia's population decline - was stunned to find that little Nadia weighed in at a massive 17.1 lb (7.75kg).
Nadia was delivered by caesarean section in the local maternity hospital in the Altai region on September 17, joining eight sisters and three brothers, a local reporter said

WOW!!! Baby born 15 weeks early

2007-10-10T10:55:00.000-07:00

Amazing article about a baby born at 25 weeks gestation and fascinating photos!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=484264&in_page_id=1811

4D Scan of MY BABY!!!!!!

2007-10-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

Now! I have never posted a video before so lets hope this works!

This was the 4D scan I had done today at nearly 29 weeks! Baby is definitely a girl (I saw it in 3D) phew! - the pink nursery can stay!

She hid behind her arm for alot of it but showed us her face in the end - I cant decide if she is either very cute or looks like Gollum.

My wriggly bump :)

2007-09-20T03:46:00.000-07:00

This is my bump today at somewhere between 26+27 weeks - do you think its big??

Fascinating Video!!

2007-09-12T03:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.createhealth.org/latestscans.html

Have a look at this video footage of scans at various stages of pregnancy - wonderful!

Birth News!!!

2007-09-12T03:14:00.000-07:00

Remember this blooming beauty from further down the page?

Beautiful twin babies born on Tues 4th September!

Weighing 6lb 1oz and 6lb 4oz.

It doesn't get more beautiful than this!! Congratulations

38 Weeker....

2007-09-03T01:31:00.000-07:00

Lovely bump here, baby born 4 weeks later at 42 weeks.

Bump owners comment made me laugh "My bump at 38 weeks - to think I was so proud that "I hadn't got stretch marks"... I just couldn't see them from above :-)"

Beautiful Collection of Breastfeeding Images

2007-09-03T01:24:00.000-07:00

This selection of breastfeeding photos are from http://www.mammydoula.co.uk/ - the website belonging to a FAB doula in London!

If you have any breastfeeding images they would be gratefully received over at Mammy Doula I'm sure!

A cut of independence

2007-09-02T15:20:00.000-07:00

Fascinating shot of a baby just born by c-section, the cord about to be cut - making her truly her own little person.

What a cutie there on the scales!!

40 Week Bump ....

2007-09-02T15:17:00.000-07:00

Wearing that bump with pride :) Gorgeous

Bumptastic!

2007-09-02T15:07:00.000-07:00

Fabby bump pic here - I do love to see a fellow stretch marked bump. I always tell my kids that my marks are my "battle scars" I had to gain to get them - worth every one too!

De Ja Bump

2007-09-02T15:03:00.000-07:00

This bump really reminds me of my own - right down to the way my piercing has gone!

2007-09-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

Now it might be because I'm getting tired but this photo makes me giggle - the fridge in the background jumps out at me - is it full of gherkins and jam or some other craving fodder? Makes me think also that the fridge is full of delights and so is the belly :)

Lovely smooth bump that looks "all baby"

Oi! You in there, when are you coming out!

2007-09-02T14:59:00.000-07:00

This photo made me chuckle, if I look menacingly down at the bump - will labour start!!

Lovely neat bump for 40 weeks

Three generations of smiles

2007-09-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

I bet baby is smiling inside too :) Grandma looks so proud!

T-6 and looking serene!

2007-09-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

This photo was taking 6 days before "due date" and you look so calm, serene and cute!

Twinny Bump

2007-09-02T14:53:00.000-07:00

There are two little bundles of joy in that there bump :)

Much respect to multiple mums, I struggle carrying one, cant imagine the heartburn, backache, tiredeness etc with two!

But of course double the joy :)

A very gorgeous baby number 4

2007-09-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

Hows this for an impressive bump! Fantastic! Amazing how neat everything else is around the bump !

And yet another blub making, broody inducing image of mum meeting baby for first time - ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Special Moment

2007-09-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

This is a really beautiful photo of that very special first feed - magical!

.......and the bump that contained that beauty

This photo makes me really excited for my baby to come out and have that first feed, there is nothing that can compare (forgetting the agony on latching on of course....)

Taking a quick dip!

2007-09-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

No, you aren't looking at a page in a catalogue at the swimwear models section! Oh, to look like this in a bikini!

Oh and BTW loving your furniture!

Breastfeeding Beauty!

2007-09-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

I just LOVE photos of breastfeeding - so beautiful.

Look at the expression on this little ones face - on one photo locked eyes with his Mother, looking up with such love, devotion and gratitude for the yummy milk and in the other he is looking straight at the camera as if to say "Get me, I'm having my milk!"

Sexy Mama!!

2007-09-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

Here is proof that pregnant does NOT mean frumpy!

Work that sexy body!

This shot was taken 5 months pregnant.

Bump2Bump

2007-09-02T14:07:00.000-07:00

If every a more blatant reminder that we are ALL different and no two pregnancies are the same !!

The difference in gestation between these two pictures is just 2 weeks! 32 weeks on the left and 30 on the right!

ALL baby!

2007-09-02T14:00:00.000-07:00

There doesnt seem to be an ounce of flab anywhere !!

Tiny bum, big bump!

40 weeks and FANTASTIC bump

2007-09-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

This one is a belter (as they say in Newcastle!) Absolutely gorgeous

WOW! What a bump!

2007-09-02T11:35:00.000-07:00

Check out this bump pic of Katie Holmes - amazing!

The miracle of birth - amazing photos of a water birth

2007-09-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

These photos were kindly sent to me as an opportunity to show the miracle of birth in progress.

I am very honoured to display them, hope you enjoy them.

I feel really moved looking at them as it is quite simply amazing!!!

Embrace that bump!

2007-09-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

I love these photos - from a friend who is due a few weeks ahead of me. Taken at almost 28 weeks - how lush!

Blooming Gorgeous

2007-09-02T11:13:00.000-07:00

Both of these bumps look really similar to me - about same size and dimensions and both gorgeously smooth and lovely.

Not a wobble in sight!

All shapes and sizes

2007-09-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

This lovely bump was taken at 39 weeks pregnant! Lovely and neat (about the size I am now I think)

Just like everything else, in pregnancy everyone is different.

Bump Tattoos

2007-09-02T11:05:00.000-07:00

This tattoo still looks really good - silly me getting a tattoo all around my belly button, it looks hideous now it is all stretched out after 3 pregnancies!

Please excuse the trackie bottoms on the top pic, I had been decorating and used my husbands!

Post baby diet motivation

2007-09-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

When this baby arrives in December I will be pinning this photo on my fridge of Heidi Klum, this is her after 3 kids!

Beautiful bump sequence

2007-09-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

Im particularly jealous of smooth stomach on this one

Nicole looking much better

2007-09-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

Nicole Richie is looking so much better since she fell pregnant, I just try not to think about it too much that we are roughly the same stage along.......

Amazing changes

2007-09-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

These two pictures are 20 weeks apart - first at 19 weeks, second at 39 weeks.

Its amazing how the body changes isn't it? Pre pregnancy jeans still fitting in first pic and barely a bump and then a fully developed little human by the second one - gorgeous!

Make mine a pint!

2007-09-02T09:26:00.000-07:00

No alcohol is one of the [many] tedious things about being pregnat but some alcohol free lagers are actually not too bad. However, these adverts for non alcoholic beer would have me reaching for the real thing to drown my sorrows I think!!

Pregnant and Glamorous

2007-09-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

If this is you a) could you post to let us know how many weeks you are on both photos and b) heres a virtual wolf-whistle, you look great!

Colourful Bump!

2007-09-02T09:07:00.000-07:00

I think this is a GREAT idea, think I will get my two to have a go at colouring me in - great way to include your older children in enjoying the pregnancy and bonding with the bump :) Great momento to show baby when they grow up too!

Beautiful Bump

2007-09-02T09:02:00.000-07:00

If the owner of this bump would like to claim it and comment on this photo and tell us how many weeks you were, how you felt about your bump etc etc that would be great :)

2007-09-01T15:46:00.000-07:00

Isn't pregnancy amazing?

2007-09-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

No really!......it is isn't it! I'm lying here now, in bed on the laptop and obviously squishing my little 24 wk old baby girl foetus because she is wriggling and poking around urging me to move so that she can get comfortable!

We are communicating already - I often play a "game" with her, poking my belly in different places and waiting for a poke back. Feels like I am connecting with her in some fun way when I do that.

My belly is pretty ugly from the outside - quite saggy at the bottom (where current bump hasnt yet filled out space taken up by last bump!), covered (and I MEAN covered) in stretch marks, and a hideous, hugely regretted tattoo all around my belly button!! It may not be the most flawless belly but what is going on underneath the wobbly skin right now is a miracle - I can't help than get overwhelmed that in approximately 16 weeks the baby girl inside my body will be sleeping next to me and yet 16 weeks ago at 8 weeks pregnant she was barely the size of a large grape!

It is because of this respect and awe at what my body is performing that I thought I would put this blog together and encourage other women to post their beautiful bumps for all to see - I get SO SICK of comments about such as "Massive" "Huge" "Fat" "Oh my god is it twins!" "HOW LONG do you have left?" - its as if I have failed some sort of test because my pregnant bump is, ok, pretty massive! It leaves me feeling fat and unattractive when I should just be lovin' my body and what it is doing!

So............I will start with one of mine from my last pregnancy and hope that others would like to share their pics to build up a library of bumps that regardless of shape or size are ALL beautiful!!!