On sleep deprivation

I brought it on myself, really. Seven months in and after a touch of successful night weaning, and I thought we had it nailed. That was it! My baby slept through! Life could resume as normal. I was even cocky enough to mention it in this blog. Of course, my baby had other ideas. First …

Life with a newborn… what I wish I’d known

If only I had known this day would actually come. I'm sitting on my couch, with a hot cup of tea, a sleeping baby in his cot and a brain which is almost fully functioning after a mostly undisturbed night of sleep. But then, seven and a half months is a long time. Getting to …

The waiting game: Advice for overdue mamas

Spoiler alert: I've only gone and had my baby. Seven whole weeks ago, in fact. My little gremlin is dozing in his bouncer as I write, and with my mind finally starting to function again, albeit very slowly, I thought I'd share some advice for anyone going through the waiting-to-give-birth game. One of the very …

Essential purchases for trimesters 1, 2 and 3

Shopping when you're pregnant is a different beast to those pre pregnancy days. For a start, there are hardly any clothes that fit in the bloody shops. But in addition, I've found myself having to buy ever more ridiculous accessories to help me get through each stage. Having found the whole thing a bit mystifying, …

Why being pregnant in January rocks

My belly is the size of a small shipping container. My ribs hurt. I now have only one dress left that fits. But our little bean is now a great raging kicking beast, and thinking about this time last year, when I was blissfully ignorant of an impending miscarriage, makes me feel extremely grateful to …

Nine lessons from the second trimester

This time, er, last trimester, I was firmly in survival mode; still feeling sick, still keeping my pregnancy a secret, and wondering when and if this longed-for pregnancy start to feel tolerable, let alone enjoyable. There I was, safely into the second trimester and frankly, I felt just a shit as I had a week …

Second trimester – not very much like a honeymoon

I figured after weeks of silence that perhaps I should fess up about something that's been really bothering me. I'm not enjoying being pregnant very much. This is not something that I admit lightly. I remember very clearly thinking that I would give my right arm to fall pregnant, and fizzing with resentment at any woman …

Single people should be allowed fertility treatment too

The tabloids are at it again, screaming with indignation at new United Nations proposals that single men and women should be considered infertile. It's not as if anyone actually wants the dubious honour of the infertile tag.  It's a definition given to couples who have tried to get pregnant for a year without success - …

‘Don’t worry’ – the most annoying phrase ever invented?

I've finally cracked it. The most irritating phrase in the English language isn't claiming to be 'confused.com', or anything with the word 'literally' shoved in front of it. It isn't even saying 'hashtag awesome' or 'yolo' (I am aware I'm showing my age). No. The gold medal for most annoying phrase ever uttered has to …

20 weeks in – and I’m finally enjoying it

I feel a little cheesy writing this. I mean, I've tried to style this blog as an informative, unsentimental, witty take on the trials and tribulations of an imperfect pregnancy. It hadn't really occurred to me that I would find myself in a soppy, ditsy state wanting to shout from the rooftops about feeling so happy it's …