Another Daisy Mum Blogs ......

.... not only about her journey in Lazy Daisy® antenatal classes but also about her pregnancy and her hopes for her birth!

Due to the popularity of our pregnancy and birth video diary series with much loved Daisy Birthing® mum Jess, we jumped at the chance of featuring Yorkshire based mum Lucy.  Lucy has not only joined us to enjoy Daisy Birthing® classes (during pregnancy number 2) but has also enrolled as an antenatal teacher in training (in order to bring more classes to mums in the Yorkshire area - specifically Halifax)!  So this seems the ideal chance to track her journey through pregnancy, birth, motherhood and training!

Lucy introduces herself, her bump and her family situation today, talks honestly about why she joined a Daisy Birthing® antenatal class and also talks about 'feeling unprepared' even 2nd time around!

Lucy would love to receive your comments ....... so feel free to post them here!

Life with a six week old baby!

Jess talks about the highs and lows of her first weekend away with a 6 week old baby in tow ..... (and tot at home)

This week she is also missing home and her own mum in Oz, and as a new mum reflects on family.

Easter, tots and family get togethers!

This week Jess blogs about her perfect family Easter, hunting for eggs and how she pretended to be pregnant in the butchers!!!!

So how can we make sure people don't mistake us for being pregnant post birth?!?  Jess shares tips on her favourite cream Mama Mio

Siblings and Sickness and Baby Soothing!

This week Jess reflects on night feeds whilst poorly and on her top parenting tips, including how to help your older child adjust to a new baby.  There is a great post too from our resident writer Penny Alexander, which looks at books which can be useful Best books for siblings to be

Jess also thinks back to life 3 years ago, and the New Mums course she attended with Lazy Daisy.  Our perinatal calm and soothe course was extremely popular for new mums, looking at everything from swaddling, soothing, sleep, colic and even baby ailments.  Much of it is now found in our tinies class, learning as you do, but it has also very much shaped the New-Born module designed to meet local childrens centre needs (and with 19 of our teachers training in this module in September, soon mums across the UK can share these tips Jess values so much!)

Tummy's and Babies!

A really interesting video blog from Jess this week, in which she explores the topic of split recti muscles!

This is a beneficial watch for any mum-to-be, but will also be of huge interest to our teachers, as of course many of our Daisy Birthing moves will help prevent the recti muscles splitting too early and our postnatal moves (found within our Daisy Baby classes) can provide gentle recovery through breathing and movement together!

Yes you are spot on Jess - poor core stability can be an issue for the tummy muscles (we want to strengthen the transverse muscles - so the bottom of the corset - to help the vertical muscles ease gently apart during pregnancy rather than splitting).  L for Labour, pictured here, is a great pose for helping this!

Mind the Gap!

Jess describes the techniques she is using postnatally to close her gap.

Tongue Tied Babies

This week Jess talks to us about her experiences over the past few days of feeding a tongue tied baby - and reflects on whether all midwives should be able to address this issue, without ward referral.

A really useful piece for any mum who may be wondering whether their baby has an issue but also for mums to be, to help further their knowledge and awareness (plus reassure them this is easily addressed should it occur)!

Thank you Jess - beautiful picture of your children together!

Meet Arthur ......

On Friday 9th March 2012, baby Arthur arrived!  Jess was a complete super star, in labour for over 48 hours ....

Not a home birth, but Jess describes how she so enjoyed the period she spent labouring at home, including her long walk in the park (and membranes releasing in an unusual place) .... Her adaptability to change and her positivity to this, is something I hope our birth confidence classes can give to all mums!

Despite such a long haul and experiencing rapid waves of contractions which were for a long period very intense, but not production effective dilation, Jess still gave birth to Arthur naturally.

She has to be commended for this wonderful result - it is such an achievement to have a vaginal delivery after such a long period of labouring (tiredness can cause adrenalin to rocket and result in a need for section or assisted delivery).  What's more, she still achieved this (and in just 4 pushes) despite having to opt for pain relief which she hadn't initially banked on ....

40 weeks pregnant and definitely counting....

Last week when she signed off we said it was the last you'd see of her pre baby.... but ever the professional, here she is blogging in at week 40 of her pregnancy and dare we say a little fed up!

This week Jess talks about the Bishop Score (good girl!), Sweeps, Leap Year babies and Doulas.

She also reflects on the book featured on ITV This Morning recently 'French Children Do Not Throw Food'.  I have to say the book came in for a bit of a knocking on ITV and Twitter although the author agrees that it does focus on a very specific demographic of French Parents and she is not trying to state this is how everyone does things in France or should do things .... have a read and see what you think!

39 weeks and almost there .....

As Jess posted her final pre birth video blog, her submission statement was "hope the baby comes soon, I'm sooo tired".

Being 39 weeks pregnant with another tot at home is definitely an exhausting time, but I think you will all agree she looks amazing in her maternity shots (taken by Sara Thomaswww.maternityandbabyphotographer.co.uk)

38 weeks pregnant and photographing a birth (and it wasn't hers!)

This week Jess talks about the amazing experience of being able to photograph the birth of beautiful baby Brinkley and about bearing down in labour!

I think the pictures can do their own talking this week, so enjoy the wonder that is labour and tune into Jess's musings at 38 weeks!

Snow, birthing Shirts and maternity Pads!!!!

And despite the snow and sickness bugs, Jess is here - 37 weeks pregnant and checking in!

This week Jess talks about sickness bugs (Aghhh!), her week's highlight of  waking up on Sunday and having a family snow day and her top tips for packing her hospital bag (even though she is still on cue for a home birth!).

Jess has some great tips about maternity pads (yes maternity pads - all dignity goes out of the window when blogging pregnant) and we have our own top tips to add to her brilliant suggestions, below!

SOooo over being sick!

Sheer dedication!  Jess talks to us this week, 36 weeks pregnant and feeling poorly!  Thank you Jess and get well soon.

She talks about how she is sooooo over being sick, about pushchair shopping (but what colour!!!), washing muzzies and good old perineum stretches and massage!  Plus she reveals where she hopes to have this baby!

"Yes Jess, you are correct you can use edible oil for your perineum massage" ...  but if you can't face the massage, the stretch we use in Daisy Birthing classes is a good option (although as Jess correctly states, not suitable for ladies with SPD as it involves abducting the leg).  Here she is pictured here on all fours, getting ready to work her pelvic floor and perineum;  get those knees back a little Jess, behind your hips, as it will help to open your pelvis!

Jess's Birth Journey - Episode 2 of 7

Piles and Bump Painting!

Following the success of Episode 1 ODBBEM - One Daisy Baby Born Every Minute! (which has had over 600 views already), Jess could have found herself a little tongue-tied at the thought of chatting to you all!

But no, a whole 8minutes this week from this amazing lady (now 35 weeks pregnant), who is proving to be one of Lazy Daisy's most popular contributors.  This week Jess takes you through her experience of piles,  braxton hicks and even bump painting!

Jess's Birth Journey - Episode 1 of 7

Hi I'm Jess, mum of 1 and 34 weeks pregnant with baby number 2.  Here in my pregnancy and birth video blog I talk to you all about life as an expectant mum with a toddler in tow, about my hopes for my own birth (and whether this will be at home or in hospital), about my experiences of Daisy Birthing® classes 2nd time around and the great debate ..... as a professional photographer, should I have a photo shoot of my labour and my own baby's birth!

Enjoy and feel free to leave your comments here!