Hola friends!

I am a week overdue and very uncomfortable. I don’t think I have ever been so impatient in my life. The wait is agonising. Come on baby!

Pregnancy can be the best and worst time in your life. It can hold joys such as: feeling your baby move around inside you; your partner being able to feel the baby kick; a sense that you’re creating a real life inside you.

It can also cause pain and aches and an awful lot of discomfort. So I’ve put together a list of ways that can make things just that little bit easier.

SLEEP

Easier said than done, don’t worry I know. But, also very very important and will make you feel tonnes better if you can manage it. Remember that taking an afternoon nap is not weak, it’s completely okay to curl up in bed when you’re feeling low or drained and take a nice relaxing cat nap.

SMALL MEALS AND SNACKS

Whether or not you suffer from morning sickness it is vital that you keep your stomach full for the most part. Your baby is in there sucking out all of the nutrients it wants and so you need to make sure you’re taking in more in order to keep you own energy levels up. You need to put the weight gain out of your mind and eat what and when you want. You’re meant to put on weight, you’re growing a baby!

TREAT YOURSELF TO A MANICURE

Or a pedicure! Or even a massage! During pregnancy it is so easy to feel low and groggy because you’re putting on weight and you’re lethargic all the time (or a lot of the time) and your clothes stop fitting properly and some days it can just feel like there’s no point in even washing your greasy hair. Well, have a shower and book yourself a nice treat that will cheer you up and make you feel fresh and beautified once more, it does wonders for your mentality.

GET YOURSELF A PREGNANCY PILLOW

This is possibly one of my top pieces of advice. These can be super expensive so definitely do your research first but I got mine for £20 on eBay (and I’m pretty sure there were some even cheaper than that for those on a budget). It provides immense support for both your ever growing bump and your poor strained back at night but it’s also proven super handy for during the day. I have loved taking naps with mine and using it just to lean on in bed or on the sofa. Literal lifesaver.

INDULGE ON YOUR CRAVINGS

Cravings can be insanely weird for some people. Mine were ice lollies, crushed ice and a Beauty Blender. Yes a beauty blender. Oh, and cheesy doritos. But that wasn’t as strong a craving and I love those all the time anyway. However, I don’t normally like ice in drinks but I couldn’t stop eating crushed ice from our freezer dispenser. I specifically loved it in a nice glass of Pepsi Max, but literally 3/4 ice, topped up with Pepsi. As for the beauty blender… How mad is that? I’ve never been one to ‘bow down’ to fashion and beauty trends as I find they’re a waste of a lot of money most of the time, but throughout my pregnancy I really wanted a beauty blender, not to use, just to wet and squeeze… You’re probably thinking ‘what?’ well so was I but until I gave into the burning desire to play with one of these little pink sponges my mood was drastically worse. I was fidgety and anxious and jumpy all the time until I eventually gave in and bought one of the Superdrug ones and my life improved. Instantly. It was crazy but it did teach me that whilst pregnancy your cravings control you and it is perfectly okay to allow that as it will make you feel ten times better.

LET PEOPLE HELP YOU

Even if you’re the most independent person in the world you’re going to need help whilst your baby grows. I’m the kind of person that will just keep pushing even if something is proving difficult but even I started to find things really really difficult and that actually annoyed me immensely. Things as simple as putting on shoes for example. What I mean to say is it is okay for people to help you out during this time. It is okay not to be Miss Independent all the time.

START A DIARY OR JOURNAL (if you don’t have one already)

With all your feelings messing around, hormones going crazy and your body changing a lot, it can be a lot to take in – especially if you’re only pregnant for the first time – and there’s not always someone you can talk to. Even when people say you can talk to them you don’t always feel like you actually can, or particularly want to. So, for the time being, keeping a diary or journal can be a great escape – a way to release all of your inner feelings without taking anything out on anyone else.

GET A HAIRCUT

Similar to the manicure/pedicure/massage theory, it’s a way to make yourself feel a little bit more glamorous and pampered. Or, as it was for me, a way of accepting that you’re changing and that’s okay. I’ve had long hair for most of my life and when I found out I was having Edie I suddenly decided to cut basically all of my hair off and it felt great! It was such a ‘mum’ thing to do but I was really happy with my decision.

EXERCISE

It can be super hard to exercise but during pregnancy it is also very very important. It will also – apparently – make labour easier. Even if it’s just a walk to the shop or round the block. The fresh air can be really rewarding too.

STAY HYDRATED

Drinking is always important, especially in summer or the warmer months/days. However, during pregnancy this importance double, triples maybe so just keep drinking. Your body and your baby will thank you for it.

HAVE A BUBBLE BATH

I am not a bath person but I think I took a bath every other day (sometimes every day) for the last three weeks of my pregnancy – or what should have been the last three – partly because it was meant to help induce labour (it didn’t) and also because it is super relaxing and puts your muscles to rest.

HAVE A BABY SHOWER

Who doesn’t love a party? A nice gathering with your family and friends can really improve your mood and make you feel better about the pregnancy if you’re not enjoying it. It did for me anyway. Plus it’s a fab way of getting gifts for your soon-to-be arrival.

PACK YOUR HOSPITAL BAG

This made me feel so ready and so prepared. Although, that maybe didn’t help with the impatience I was feeling. However, it’s always better to be over prepared than underprepared – you don’t want any surprises when you’re not ready!

FIND A NAME

Coming up with Edie’s name made me feel so accomplished and it sort of turned her more real to me, like a real person. Some people don’t choose a name until their baby arrives – perfectly okay in my opinion – but I loved knowing what she was going to be called almost all the way through. You don’t have to reveal it like I did but just knowing what your new baby is going to be called can be so comforting sometimes.

GO BABY CLOTHES SHOPPING

I loved baby shopping throughout my pregnancy. I ended up with probably way too much but that’s okay I’ll sell a lot of it on or donate it to a needy cause once I am finished with it. It just filled me with excitement to pick out all of the cute little things that would make my baby look adorable. Again though it added to the impatience of having to wait for her to actually show up.

IGNORE THE UNWANTED AND UNHELPFUL ADVICE

People will offer their advice left, right and centre. I decided very early on that I was going to bottle feed from the beginning because I needed to go back to work as early as I could. This was met with all kinds of comments and at one point I was very overwhelmed by all of the negativity I was getting. All you have to do is breathe and ignore the comments you don’t want to hear. Focus on the people that are being positive around you and helping you out in a good way.

So there you have my list of little pieces of advice that should help you to enjoy this hard time.
If you’re pregnant and having a hard time I hope this helps you out. Or if you know someone who is pregnant remember that this can be very difficult for them at times and they need your support not your judgement.