During my first pregnancy I was diagnosed with Sciatica. It was as painful as hell then, and I'm sad to say, it returned to haunt me around the twelfth week of my current pregnancy. It's not easy managing with sciatica, especially since it's one of those illnesses that can't be seen.
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve which travels from your lower back, down your legs, and to your feet, becomes inflamed. It usually happens because of the growing size and weight of the baby, which causes pressure on the back, thus creating a painful tingling down the leg. It can be difficult to walk for long periods or stand up for too long.
For me, sciatica has restricted my mobility in the sense that I'm not able to stand for too long, and I also need to keep my feet up quite a lot of the time. But I do have a few things that help which I thought would be useful to share...
First of all I tend to stick to wearing flat shoes or boots most of the time. Clarkes do a special range of trainer shoes which have a special arch called 'wave walk', which basically helps to absorb shock and strain when you walk. I bought these during my first pregnancy and am still using them three years on. They're great little runners when you need to walk for long periods with your little one.
The second thing is using a gym ball. Make sure you find one which is suitable for your height and try to use it to sit on whilst at the desk. It helps to keep the back upright and reduces pressure on the legs.
I used to practice Yoga during my first pregnancy and kept it up now as well. It is an excellent way to stretch those lower limbs and also helps prepare for birth, with specific breathing and meditation techniques. Do remember to inform your instructor about any conditions you suffer though, so that they can get an idea of which postures may help you.
Now coming on to the most relaxing part of pregnancy - massage. I have a a masseuse who comes over once a month and she is definitely worth it. I had to try a few before I felt comfortable and it's also advisable to ask the person doing the massage to see certificates or proof that they are qualified to carry out pregnancy massage, especially if you have sciatica or suffer from Pelvic Girdle Pain (which is a loosening of the pelvic area and can cause extreme pain.)
Saturday 3 December 2011
Thursday 1 December 2011
Midnight pregnancy snacks
Two very healthy midnight snacks (although it probably isn't a good idea to wait until midnight to eat these... what with all that heartburn and all!)
- Double cheese on toast (2 slices of wholemeal bread spread with philladelphia and topped with gruyere cheese - then grill) - lots of calcium for baby and you
- Wholemeal toast with almond butter and a drizzle of honey - think vitamin E, good for your skin (but I'd go easy on the honey!)
- A tall glass of carbonated water
Quinny Buzz 3 Vs Bugaboo Bee
Like many parents I wanted to buy the best buggy on the market when my first daughter was born. I discussed the options with many friends and family members before making my decision and most people suggested the Quinny Buzz 3. My husband and I were inclined to buy something which was easy to use and an smooth glider, and as we were living in the 'regions' at the time we decided to go for it and buy the Quinny. At the time this seemed like a very good decision - and it was, for a new born baby. It just started getting very tiresome when my little one started getting bigger and I started getting, well let's just say, smaller (by the waist!)
First off the Quinny Buzz is not light, it weighs in at 12.8kg, as it's made primarily for heavy use and has all-terrain tyres. This is great for parents who live hilly areas, or where you need a little more leverage and help. It also has a unique automatic 'gas-spring' unfolding system which makes it easy to build up, but it takes an awful lot of work when trying to put it back together again. I've had a few tricky situations where my fingers almost got caught in the latches. Having said that, the pushchair seat is detachable which allows for the car seat to be popped on and off the chassis with a single move. It's super easy to use with a young baby - but only till the age of about six months, when most babies need a little more leg room. It's also inadvisable to keep the baby in a car seat for long periods as it can place strain on their developing spine, so you do have to switch to the pushchair quite soon.
Once they're on the seat, the great thing about the Quinny Buzz for toddlers is it's comfortable padded seat and adjustable leg rest; and my daughter never struggled to get into the pushchair as it was so comfy, even if she was in it for long periods (however, this was usually no longer than an hour.) The clip on bag was also a handy and well-thought-out add-on, but with a tiny basket underneath I think they needed to add something substantial - and the bag certainly made life a lot easier.
One of the biggest design flaw with the pushchair is that you cannot fold the buggy down with the pushchair in it, so you have to keep adjusting the seat to the correct position, remove the seat, and then fold down the chassis. Now if you have a big enough car boot this isn't such a big problem as you'll have space to put the chassis in one section and the seat in another. But most cars (and I think mine has a fairly large boot!) wont allow for the two to go in without removing the two back wheels first. This can be a complete nightmare when trying to get in and out of places quickly with a toddler, or even worse, a baby who still can't walk. I am aware that this flaw has now been corrected with Quinny's latest Moodd.
The second issue is that although a universal buggy board may be fitted on to the Quinny Buzz it is not very practical. As the board and mechanism to fix the board on in the first place is so large it is a bit awkward to maneuver. Second, the chassis cannot be folded down once the board is on. So again, you have to remove it first and then close the chassis. So not only would you have to remove the pushchair, and the wheels, you'd have to disassemble the board as well. All in all, this would take around ten minutes - and I'm sure most mums will agree, this is ten minutes we cannot afford to lose!
In comparison, we've now decided to buy the Bugaboo Bee this time. I was very reluctant to buy this buggy first time around because I mainly associated it with 'generation bling' mothers, but I really wish I had done a little more research at the time.
Ideal for busy urban parents on-the-go, the Bugaboo Bee only weighs 8.5kg, which makes a huge difference to a new or expectant mum. It easily collapses with or without the pushchair seat and like the Quinny allows the carseat to be placed on and off the chassis, but this time you can either keep the pushchair on, or take it off. Maneuverability is as good as, if not better than the Quinny, as it is much lighter and smaller. The great things are the height adjustable backrest and position tilting seat.
But best of all the Bugaboo range comes with it's own Wheeled Board, which initially takes some time to clip on, but once it's there then there's no need to take it off and the buggy will collapse and assemble up with the Board still on it - Brilliant for my little one!
 |
| Quinny Buzz 3 |
Once they're on the seat, the great thing about the Quinny Buzz for toddlers is it's comfortable padded seat and adjustable leg rest; and my daughter never struggled to get into the pushchair as it was so comfy, even if she was in it for long periods (however, this was usually no longer than an hour.) The clip on bag was also a handy and well-thought-out add-on, but with a tiny basket underneath I think they needed to add something substantial - and the bag certainly made life a lot easier.
One of the biggest design flaw with the pushchair is that you cannot fold the buggy down with the pushchair in it, so you have to keep adjusting the seat to the correct position, remove the seat, and then fold down the chassis. Now if you have a big enough car boot this isn't such a big problem as you'll have space to put the chassis in one section and the seat in another. But most cars (and I think mine has a fairly large boot!) wont allow for the two to go in without removing the two back wheels first. This can be a complete nightmare when trying to get in and out of places quickly with a toddler, or even worse, a baby who still can't walk. I am aware that this flaw has now been corrected with Quinny's latest Moodd.
The second issue is that although a universal buggy board may be fitted on to the Quinny Buzz it is not very practical. As the board and mechanism to fix the board on in the first place is so large it is a bit awkward to maneuver. Second, the chassis cannot be folded down once the board is on. So again, you have to remove it first and then close the chassis. So not only would you have to remove the pushchair, and the wheels, you'd have to disassemble the board as well. All in all, this would take around ten minutes - and I'm sure most mums will agree, this is ten minutes we cannot afford to lose!
In comparison, we've now decided to buy the Bugaboo Bee this time. I was very reluctant to buy this buggy first time around because I mainly associated it with 'generation bling' mothers, but I really wish I had done a little more research at the time.
 |
| Bugaboo Bee |
But best of all the Bugaboo range comes with it's own Wheeled Board, which initially takes some time to clip on, but once it's there then there's no need to take it off and the buggy will collapse and assemble up with the Board still on it - Brilliant for my little one!
Number two... feeling a-okay!
So, let me introduce myself and my family...
'Mummy' - I'm a thirty-something-year-old stay at home mum who previously working in the public sector (much to the envy of my friends who work in the private sector, I've taken my perks already and have decided to take a short career break to raise my young family!) Having waited what I'd call a very long time to get married and start a family I love my life right now and wouldn't change a thing... I am the author of a blog called Random Ramblings which some of you may have come across (if you haven't feel free to click on the link and have a browse) and having overcome the drastic changes of my life since 2008 - getting married and having a baby within the first year of my marriage, and literally being on a roller coaster ride with my little one since then - I feel now is the time to start writing again.
'Me' - My little girl is as much of an angel as she is a little gremlin! Having turned two in September she has recently joined Montessori and is loving (although she keeps reminding us that she "does not like it" and would rather stay at home with us!) But all in all, my little chatterbox is, I would say, a bit different from your average two year old. Many would describe it easy to have one child in the house, but with her energy and enthusiasm, she really does keep me on my toes... Oh, and she's anxiously awaiting her new baby (which by the way, she calls "new baby".)
'Hubby' - I'm really going to try and limit how much I mention my hubby, purely because he is a rather blog-shy person. A lawyer by profession, he is a strong believer in privacy... Need I say more? But obviously, I will bring him in from time to time... just for, ummm, context! ;)
'Mummy' - I'm a thirty-something-year-old stay at home mum who previously working in the public sector (much to the envy of my friends who work in the private sector, I've taken my perks already and have decided to take a short career break to raise my young family!) Having waited what I'd call a very long time to get married and start a family I love my life right now and wouldn't change a thing... I am the author of a blog called Random Ramblings which some of you may have come across (if you haven't feel free to click on the link and have a browse) and having overcome the drastic changes of my life since 2008 - getting married and having a baby within the first year of my marriage, and literally being on a roller coaster ride with my little one since then - I feel now is the time to start writing again.
'Me' - My little girl is as much of an angel as she is a little gremlin! Having turned two in September she has recently joined Montessori and is loving (although she keeps reminding us that she "does not like it" and would rather stay at home with us!) But all in all, my little chatterbox is, I would say, a bit different from your average two year old. Many would describe it easy to have one child in the house, but with her energy and enthusiasm, she really does keep me on my toes... Oh, and she's anxiously awaiting her new baby (which by the way, she calls "new baby".)
'Hubby' - I'm really going to try and limit how much I mention my hubby, purely because he is a rather blog-shy person. A lawyer by profession, he is a strong believer in privacy... Need I say more? But obviously, I will bring him in from time to time... just for, ummm, context! ;)
Welcome!
Welcome to Mummy n' Me! A brilliant new blog all about my life as a stay at home mum with a beautiful two year old little girl, and another one on the way. Here I'll be sharing my accounts of living with and growing with a toddler and my experiences of my second pregnancy. But don't worry, it's not all about life as a mum, I'll also be providing useful links and insights into some the most amazing things out there for women (mainly mums!) ...So read and explore my world!
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