New Look: Maternity collection re-launch!

High Street favourites, New Look, have just re-launched their Maternity range with a bang! They’ve created a dedicated section on their site to shop and explore – with styling and fit guides, as well as how to dress like celebrity-mothers-to-be.

New Look are also offering yummy mummy favourite brands exclusively online – check out Mamalicious Maternity and Heavenly Bump Maternity.

Along with the site relaunch there are some really nice Spring/Summer pieces available. It’s also worth noting that their Jeans range come in a variety of sizes and leg lengths! 34″, 32″, 30″ and 28″ – which is absolutely brilliant considering I’m a petite mum-to-be. This is the first retailer that I’ve so far seen offering a variety of leg lengths – so kudos to New Look!

Here are some of my favourite styles that I’m just going to have to purchase!

Mama.Licious Hillary V Neck Dress, £39.99. Click here to purchase exclusively at NewLook.com

Jersey Maxi Dress, £19.99. Click here to purchase exclusively at NewLook.com

Mama.Licious City Striped Long Tee, £21.99. Click here to purchase exclusively at NewLook.com


28″ Skinny Jeans, Was £15.99 Now £10.99. Click here to purchase exclusively at NewLook.com


3 Pack of bump bands, £9.99. Click here to purchase exclusively at NewLook.com


2 Pack of full length Leggings, £14.99. Click here to purchase exclusively at NewLook.com


Butterfly Dress, £27.99. Click here to purchase exclusively at NewLook.com

MM.

UNIQLO: Undercover – New Childrenswear.

 

I was browsing Uniqlo.com in search of baggy shirts that would be big enough to fit over my massive bump; when I saw this new range – “Uniqlo Undercover“. A clothing range for families of today, in collaboration between Uniqlo and Jun Takahashi’s UNDERCOVER clothing label. I’d always said how the brand should branch out into Childrenswear – and here it is (albeit limited in styles!).

Here are my favourites – obviously, I’m biased towards Boy clothing now that we’re having a boy, but there are some cute Girls and Unisex styles too!


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Kids U:U Zip up Parka, Green, £49.90. Click here to purchase this style online at Uniqlo.com


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Kids U:U Oxford Shirt, Blue, £19.90. Click here to purchase this style online at Uniqlo.com

Kids U:U V-neck Long Sleeve Cardigan, Blue, £29.90. Click to purchase this style at Uniqlo.com

Kids U:U Rain Coat, Blue, £39.90. Click here to purchase this style online at Uniqlo.com

Kids U:U Cotton V-neck T-shirt, Yellow, £7.90.Click here to purchase this style at Uniqlo.com

 

There are also some Babies styles arriving at Uniqlo.com on 16th April, so keep checking back for those!

MM.

Weekly Update: 22 Weeks Pregnant

Baby size at 22 weeks: 28cm long.

Baby weight at 22 weeks: 430g.

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I’m feeling great – still! Definitely feel like I’m getting enough sleep, so have more energy. My bump is pretty massive – although the baby boy inside is in proportion! So that’s good.

Baby Boy is still moving about lots and lots. He’s certainly enjoying himself.

We were at both UCLH and Broomfield this week. Will be writing up the results of both visits shortly.

 

So what is happening to baby boy this week?

Fig 1: http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/fetaldevelopment/22weeks/

 

Your baby’s legs aren’t curled up so tightly to his tummy now. This means he can be measured from the top of her head to his heels, instead of his bottom. He is proportioned like a newborn, albeit a thinner version since his baby fat hasn’t yet developed.

Although he’s getting heavier every day, his skin still appears wrinkled and translucent because he needs to gain more weight. His lips are distinct and his eyes are formed, though the coloured part (the iris) still lacks pigment. The pancreas, essential in the production of hormones, is developing steadily.

He can now hear when you talk – try singing or reading to them and see if you get any kicks in response.

MM.

Weekly Update: 21 Weeks Pregnant

Fig 1: www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/fetaldevelopment/21weeks/

 

Baby size at 21 weeks: 27cm long.

Baby weight at 21 weeks: 360g.

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I’m feeling great so far this week (today I’m 21+2 weeks today). My skin has all of a sudden cleared up and my hair is really shiny. I’m still having massive issues with my Sciatic nerve however and feeling breathless really quickly when walking up the street.

Baby boy however is having a whale of a time in my tummy! He’s moving around loads, I can feel him doing somersaults and kicking and punching! I’m only sad that DP can’t feel it yet.

This week we’re at the hospital twice. On Tuesday we have an appointment at the Fetal Medicine Unit at UCLH for another Echocardiogram. Then at Broomfield on Wednesday for an appointment with the Midwife and Consultant. Will post an update soon after each appointment.

 

So what is happening to baby boy this week?

The umbilical cord is growing thicker and longer in order to provide your baby with more nutrients and oxygen. Although most of the nutrition your baby needs is delivered via the umbilical cord, the developing digestive system allows small amounts of sugars to be absorbed from the amniotic fluid your baby swallows.

Until now your baby’s liver and spleen have been producing red blood cells. Around now your baby’s bone marrow starts to make them too. By the time they’re born, your baby will be producing all the red blood cells they need.

In baby girls, the uterus is fully developed now and baby boy’s testes are starting to descend. This usually takes two or three days. Occasionally this fails to happen, and some baby boys will need a minor operation after birth to bring the testes down.

MM.

20 Weeks Pregnant: Happy half-way day!

Today I’m 20 weeks pregnant… and this is how we look!

I’m absolutely loving having a bump, although I’m feeling pretty massive. Feeling bigger than I probably should, but it’s probably all the water I guzzle down! I just need to buy some more Maternity clothing to proudly show it off a bit more! A lot of my usual wardrobe is casual and loose fitting – so I’d like more tighter fitting clothing.

Most people usually have a scan at Week 20, mine will be performed at the Fetal Medicine Unit at almost 22 weeks as I will be having another Echocardiogram. But this is fine, some hospitals perform the ’20 Week scan’ between 18 and 22 weeks anyway.

So – how is baby doing and what changes are occurring at Week 20 then?

Fig: www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/fetaldevelopment/20weeks/

Up until now your baby has been measured from crown to rump but from this point on the measurement will be from crown to heel – and this week he is about 26cm long and is steadily gaining weight. Your baby weighs about 220-250 grams (about 8 to 9 ounces) and measures approximately 22 cm (about 8.7 inches). You could cup the little guy in the palm of your hand.

Your baby is truly starting to experience the world around him, limited though it may be. His brain has been working overtime developing the nerve centres dedicated to his senses, and they’re coming alive. He’s more responsive to the changes in the world around him: your activity, sounds in the environment, and even the taste of the amniotic fluid.

You’ve probably felt your baby rolling, diving, and kicking inside your belly. Now you might also feel a rhythmic jerking. No, he’s not tapping out a tune; he’s hiccuping. Most babies get the hiccups in utero, possibly due to an immature diaphragm having spasms. There’s nothing you can do to stop the hiccups, but there’s no need to-they won’t harm your baby now or after he’s born.

Out of breath? You may start to feel a bit puffed out after going up just a short flight of stairs. Some breathlessness is normal and may become more pronounced over the rest of your pregnancy as your expanding uterus (womb) pushes up against your lungs.

Check back next week for what’s happening at Week 21!

MM.

Happy New Year!

My first post of 2012! Pretty exciting! I’m going to have a baby this year! Now that IS exciting. Exciting, exhilarating and well, scary! But I cannot wait!

I just wanted to give a quick note that today I am 10 weeks and 4 days. I feel huge. I have a proper bump. If I hadn’t have had an early scan already, I would definitely not be mistaken for having twins! I will have to take some photos of my bump in progress!

I’ve had a really bad cold the past few days – which I have struggled with at times due to not being able to have medication. But at least I’ve had a few days off because of the New Year, so have just slept and rested my feet up. Bliss. It’s back to work tomorrow though. BOOOOO!

Hope you all had enjoyable Christmasses and New Year celebrations – wishing you all the very best in 2012!

MM.

Keeping Mum: I salute you, Jessica Simpson.


I just had to write a post on the pregnancy ‘rumours’ circulating the lovely Jessica Simpson. Now, I have done A LOT of pregnancy research in the past 2 years leading up to TTC… I am by no means an expert, but Jeez Louise, Jessica Simpson has definitely got a bun in her oven! A six month bun by all rumour accounts. But why is she keeping mum about it? She looks positively glowing – she looks REALLY well. Part of me thinks, well, it’s nobodies business really… but then again, it’s so obvious she’s pregnant, and quite far along in her pregnancy, so why the ridiculous oversized bags in front of her tummy? Maybe she’s uncomfortable with the way she looks? Maybe the pregnancy wasn’t planned? Maybe (probably) she’s waiting for a highly lucrative magazine deal. Who knows!

I’ve had a great time watching Jessica’s recent ‘maternity’ outfits – don’t think she can hide behind those massive handbags for much longer though! Take a look at her recent outfits below:

 

 

Beyonce proudly displays growing bump in new video.

It was the news we’d all been waiting for from celebritydom, Beyonce and Jay-Z expecting their first child together. Beyonce had never been shy of the fact she wanted to start a family with her husband; even pointing out prior to her announcement that she wanted to start a family before she was 30, “I always said I would have a baby at 30. But I also said I was going to retire at 30. So I don’t know.I am not retiring, I tell you”.

Here’s a sneak peak of Beyonce in her brand new, 60s inspired music video for her latest single, which is appropriately titled, ‘Countdown’. You’ll also notice that Beyonce proudly displays her growing baby bump throughout the video (previews this weekend).